Young Rebels must reset for rematch with Déise

Cork meet Waterford in Friday night's Munster MHC decider

Thu, 15 May, 2025 - 19:00

Therese O’Callaghan

Three weeks ago Cork defeated Waterford in round 4 of the Electric Ireland Munster MHC by six points (1-21 to 1-15) in Páirc Uí Rinn. It ensured a perfect round-robin campaign for the Rebels, guaranteeing qualification for the final with a game to play.

Already-eliminated Tipperary were accounted for the following week in a dead-rubber encounter which meant Cork finished top of the table with four wins from four and a healthy scoring difference of +31.

Second-placed Waterford with three wins are +11, scoring 4-72 and conceding 2-67.

You can be sure though, Cork manager Fergal McCormack will be telling his charges to be wary of that result on April 25 and that it will count for nothing when the same two teams collide in Friday night’s provincial showdown in FBD Semple Stadium, throw-in at 7.35pm.

A lot was made of Cormac Deane’s performance against the Déise last month, and rightly so, when the son of Joe rowed in with an exceptional eight points from play. He is a talented player and had one of those great days when everything went right for the Killeagh teenager.

Deane apart, this Cork forward unit are finding plenty of space and have scored 8-87 in their four outings, albeit giving up 5-65.

There is some positive injury news too with the return of Denis Fitzgerald after the Bride Rovers’ defender missed the Tipp clash. He takes his place at full-back instead of Tom O’Flynn while Callum Coffey starts in place of Sam Ring in attack with both O’Flynn and Ring on the bench.

The roll of honour lists Cork with 34 titles (eight behind leaders Tipperary), their most recent success was in 2021 when they defeated Waterford. The Déise, with four titles, are seeking a first triumph since 2009 having contested five deciders since.

For James O’Connor and his squad, the question is how much they have learned from the Cork loss and how much they have improved in the past few weeks.

Certainly their round 5 performance against Clare suggests they are moving in the right direction and the manner in which they dug out a result in what was effectively a semi-final (1-21 to 1-15) will have boosted their ambitions. Cormac Spain’s 1-12 was a significant tally, as well as their impressive fourth quarter showing that ultimately got them over the line.

From that victorious team management has made one alteration handing a starting spot to Roanmore’s Caoilinn Reville at wing-forward with Tommy Kennedy held in reserve. It represents a first championship start for Reville after he was introduced in all four matches to date.

CORK: T C Walsh (Aghada); D Heavin (Russell Rovers), D Fitzgerald (Bride Rovers), C Lawton (Midleton); M T Brosnan (Glen Rovers), B Carroll (Dromina, Capt), C Garde (Lisgoold); T A Walsh (Carrigtwohill), J Counihan (Watergrasshill); R Donovan (Fermoy), C Deane (Killeagh), C O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh); S Coughlan (Passage), C Coffey (Na Piarsaigh), E O’Shea (Ballinhassig).

Subs: C Galvin (Sarsfields), R Dineen (Erin’s Own), E Hogan (Éire Óg), S Ring (Carrigtwohill), M Quill (Blackrock), C Hanratty (Carrigaline), T O’Flynn (Sarsfields), D Winters (Courcey Rovers), A Dunlea (Sarsfields).

WATERFORD: J Comerford (Ballygunner, Capt); C Lynch (Geraldines), D Murphy (St. Mary's East), D Keane (De La Salle); B Penkert (Mount Sion), H Quann (Lismore), C Power (De La Salle); G O'Shea (St. Mollerans), E Burke (Roanmore); C Reville (Roanmore), J Power (Ballygunner), S Power (De La Salle); D Murphy (Roanmore), C Spain (Ballygunner), J Shanahan (Erins Own).

Subs: D Duffy (Ballygunner), A Walsh (Abbeyside Ballinacourty), A Power (Ballygunner), C Brennan (Butlerstown), J Zeljkovic (Tramore), T Kennedy (Mount Sion), P Quann (Dungarvan), E Walsh (Stradbally), E McHugh (Roadmore).