Battling Blues bounce back to rock City
They twice came from behind to overtake Cork in a first-half of constant movement and excitement. And after jumping into the lead before half-time they defied Cork throughout a tense and dramatic second-half.
The most fascinating feature of an absorbing match was the manner in which the teams departed from their traditional roles to produce the sort of entertainment that has long been associated with these Munster derbies.
On this occasion it was Cork who attempted the more ambitious game-plan. They showed plenty of initiative and their adventurous team formation was refreshing. When they scored after just 18 seconds it looked as if their enterprise would be handsomely rewarded.
A more conservative role was forced upon Waterford, not from choice of course, but due more to Cork's relentless determination to drive forward. Waterford, so long the proud stylists, had to show the more intransigent side of their nature as their defensive qualities were subjected to the most searching of examinations.
They came through this test brilliantly and their success reflected good organisation, confident teamwork and an impressive appetite for hard work.
Nobody epitomised their attitude more than player/manager Alan Reynolds who set an inspiring example in central midfield.
His attitude was sharpened, of course, by his former association with Cork and Waterford responded in exhilarating fashion to his leadership. Goalkeeper Dan Connor was immense behind a defence that was as rugged and as unyielding as a breakwater in face of waves of Cork attacks.
Centre-backs David Breen and Pat Purcell were immense and, overall, Waterford showed a collective will for the battle that served them well throughout a long second-half when Cork succeeded in compressing the game into Waterford's half of the pitch.
Cork will look back on this game and wonder why they came away without a point. They will reflect upon the fact that they failed to beat Waterford in four matches last season two were drawn and will be obliged to accept that Waterford's confidence probably owed much to that relative success.
Yet they must inevitably arrive at the conclusion that they cannot hope to win matches while making defensive mistakes that cost them so dearly on this occasion. One of Waterford's goals came from the penalty spot, another was an own goal and the third came after Waterford were afforded three opportunities to finish in a goalmouth scramble.
Yet it looked so good for Cork as they scored the quickest goal of the season a strike from Kevin Doyle after just 18 seconds. Colin O'Brien took a pass from George O'Callaghan wide on the right and his pass inside was struck accurately past Dan Connor from 25 yards by the alert Doyle.
Full-back Neal Horgan was unlucky to be forced off with a suspected broken bone in his leg after just 13 minutes and his replacement, Billy Woods, conceded a penalty with a mistimed tackle on Willie Bruton. Daryl Murphy struck the first equaliser from the resultant penalty.
Danny Murphy scored his first goal for the club when his free from the right swirled in over the head of goalkeeper Connor to put Cork in front again after 23 minutes but Waterford tied up the points with two goals in 10 minutes just before the half-time whistle.
First it was Willie Byrne who gifted them their second equaliser when he deflected a shot from Kevin Waters into his own net in the 41st minute. Then Pat Purcell turned in a pass from the busy Willie Bruton four minutes into added time.
Devine; Horgan (Woods 13), D. Murray, Byrne, Murphy (Kearney 85); C.T. O'Brien, Sweeney (Nwanko 78), O'Callaghan; O'Flynn, Fenn, Doyle.
Connor; O'Brien, Breen, Purcell, Leahy; Sullivan, Reynolds, Mulcahy, Waters; Bruton (Clifford 90), Murphy.
D. Hanney (Dublin).
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