Walsh leads the charge again as Cork U20s ease past Déise to secure home semi-final 

Cork's Barry Walsh scores the opening goal against Waterford during the Munster under20 HC at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

Munster U20 HC: Cork 3-21 Waterford 0-18 

A one-sided second-half at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, allied to a much closer affair at the Gaelic Grounds, has delivered Cork a home semi-final, against Clare, in the Munster U20 hurling championship.

Going into this evening’s final pair of round-robin fixtures, Cork enjoyed the worst score difference of the three teams - Clare and Limerick the other two - tied on three points and in contention for semi-final involvement.

Victory over winless Waterford would, at the very least, progress Noel Furlong’s young charges to the semi-final, but whether they'd be home or away for that semi-final would be determined by the outcome of the Clare-Limerick clash at the Gaelic Grounds.

As matters turned out, Clare’s four-point margin of victory on Shannonside was not sufficient to prevent Cork leapfrogging them in the round-robin table and so the Banner will travel to Páirc Uí Chaoimh for next Wednesday’s semi-final, with Tipperary awaiting the winners.

When the pair clashed on the opening evening of action at Sixmilebridge, Cork were desperately fortunate to come away with a share of the spoils.

This particular fixture carried none of the bite or zip that was evident in Sixmilebridge or later rounds. 

It was a fixture that was flat throughout and completely flatlined when Cork ran in an unanswered 2-3 between the 38th and 47th minute to take a four-point interval lead and turn it into an uncatchable 12-point advantage.

Goal number two of the evening was created by the finisher of their first-half opener, Barry Walsh, who had spotted half-time sub Johnnie Murphy drift in behind the cover.

Six minutes later, Walsh was celebrating his second and Cork’s third after putting away a penalty earned by the fetching of Barry O’Flynn.

Beyond victory and securing home semi-final comforts, management will take comfort from the six-point contribution of subs Adam O’Sullivan, Oisín Fitzgerald, Mark O’Brien, and John Wigginton Barrett.

Neither side would have been at all pleased with their opening half effort. Cork registered seven wides and were overall careless with possession. Handling and the first touch were not summer sharp.

Waterford were no better. They registered eight first-half wides and were denied a Ben O’Sullivan goal by a superb Daniel O’Connell save. Their short-passing, particularly when attempting to play out from the back, often left manager Ken McGrath spinning around in frustration.

The aforementioned O’Connell save came directly after Barry Walsh had batted in a superb individual goal for the hosts on the quarter-hour mark. 

And while Waterford failed to deliver an immediate reply, a pair of Tom Carey frees and an O’Sullivan point meant they did succeed in cancelling out the green flag and returning the margin to the minimum across the ensuing four minutes.

Ross O’Sullivan and Jack Twomey traded white flags thereafter to again leave the margin at the solitary, but from there to the break, Cork were the sharper of the teams in front of goal, even if their build-up play, at times, was a touch more complicated than it needed to be.

A Barry O’Flynn pair, Walsh from the placed ball, John Murphy, and Ross O’Sullivan’s second took Furlong’s side back down the tunnel four in front.

For Waterford, the defeat stretched to 13 games and three years their winless run at Munster U20 level.

For Cork, all focus on renewing acquaintances with their first-round opponents, a game that ended with three red cards flashed.

Scorers for Cork: Barry Walsh (2-4, 0-4 frees, 1-0 pen); F O’Brien, A O’Sullivan (0-3 each); J Murphy (Dromina, 1-0); R Deasy, B O’Flynn, R O’Sullivan (0-2 each); D O’Connell (free), Ben Walsh (sc), J Murphy (Mallow), J Wigginton Barrett, O Fitzgerald (0-1 each).

Scorers for Waterford: T Carey (0-9, 0-9 frees); J Twomey (0-3); M Hartley (0-2); E Spellman, M Morrissey, B O’Sullivan, P Cummins (0-1 each).

CORK: D O’Connell (Dromina); D Cashman (Bride Rovers), J O’Brien (Fermoy), D O’Leary (Ballincollig); E Guinane (Valley Rovers), D Murnane (Carrigtwohill), T Wilk (Cobh); Ben Walsh (Killeagh), P O’Shea (Erin’s Own); J Murphy (Mallow), Barry Walsh (Killeagh), R Deasy (Ballymartle); B O’Flynn (Sarsfields), R O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh), F O’Brien (Erin’s Own).

SUBS: A O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig) for R O’Sullivan (HT, inj); J Murphy (Dromina) for Murnane (36); J Wigginton Barrett (St Finbarr’s) for O’Shea (41); M O’Brien (Douglas) for F O’Brien (54); O Fitzgerald (St Catherine’s) for O’Flynn (57).

WATERFORD: A Reade (Ballyduff Lower); A O’Neill (Ballygunner), D Lalor (De La Salle), B O’Connell (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty); S Mackey (Fenor), C Keane (De La Salle), C Ryan (Brickey Rangers); J O’Keefe (Lismore), E Spellman (Fourmilewater); T Carey (Passage), J Twomey (De La Salle), C Tobin (Ballygunner); M Hartley (Ballygunner), P Walsh (Fourmilewater), B O’Sullivan (Lismore).

SUBS: J McDonnell (Tallow) for Keane (15, inj); M Morrissey (Fourmilewater) for Walsh, P Cummins (Brickey Rangers) for O’Keefe; C O’Sullivan (Ballygunner) for O’Neill (both 46); S Fleming (Ballygunner) for Spellman (48).

REFEREE: A Tierney (Tipperary).