Waterford 1-21 Cork 1-11
By Eoghan Cormican, Páirc Uí Rinn
The Waterford U21 hurlers scored their first championship victory in six years at Páirc Uí Rinn this evening.
The Déise hadn’t won in Munster since 2009 and neither had they ever recorded a championship win on Cork’s home patch, both facts corrected in most emphatic fashion.
Cork won last year’s corresponding fixture by 3-18 to 0-16, but were out of contention from early in the second period, the visitors outscoring the Rebels 0-6 to 0-3. A further four unanswered points from Patrick Curran (0-2), Shane Bennett and Colin Dunford opened up a nine-point gap entering the final quarter.
Luke Meade momentarily closed the deficit with a 56th minute goal, Shane Bennett cancelling out the major with a green flag at the other end as the clock spilled into time added on.
Waterford had returned to the dressing room 0-9 to 0-6 in front, and possibly could have been further ahead with Stephen Bennett and Austin Gleeson guilty of four poor wides.
Cork centre-back Conor Twomey adopted the sweeper role as the Rebels operated with a two man full-forward line. Their high-octane approach countered the lack of bodies inside and the home outfit forged 0-4 to 0-2 clear after 11 minutes – Martin Brennan (0-2), Kevin O’Neill and Mark O’Connor (free) on target.
Waterford eventually made their passes stick in attack and hit the front through Patrick Curran (two frees and one ‘65) and Shane Bennett. The gap was extended to three by the break, Curran adding two more placed ball efforts.
In the end, it proved a comfortable quarter-final win for the travelling contingent.
Teams and Scorers
Scorers for Waterford: P Curran (0-12, 0-7 frees, 0-1 ’65); Shane Bennett (1-4); A Gleeson, C Dunford, Stephen Bennett, R Donnelly, DJ Foran (0-1 each).
Scorers for Cork: L Meade (1-1); M O’Connor (0-3 frees), M Brennan (0-3 each); D Geary (0-2) C Twomey (0-1 free), K O’Neill (0-1 each).
Cork: P Collins (Ballinhassig); D Browne (Kanturk), A Dennehy (Charleville), S O’Donoghue (Inniscarra); D Noonan (Glen Rovers), C Twomey (Newtownshandrum), N Cashman (Blackrock); R Cahalane (Ballymartle), M Brennan (Fermoy); D Casey (Charleville), K O’Connor (Mallow), K O’Neill (Watergrasshill); M O’Connor (Douglas), A Spillane (Castlelyons), L Meade (Newcestown).
Subs: D Geary (Fermoy) for K O’Connor (26 mins), D Lee (Na Piarsaigh) for M O’Connor (40), K Histon (Cobh) for Noonan (51), S Hegarty (Dungourney) for Browne (59).
Waterford: B Nolan (Roanmore); S McNulty (De La Salle), C Gleeson (Fourmilewater), K Bennett (Ballysaggart); M Harney (Bonmahon), T De Búrca (Clashmore Kinsalebeg), T Devine (Modeligo); R Donnelly (Dungarvan), C Dunford (Colligan); A Gleeson (Mount Sion), D Lyons (Dungarvan), Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart); Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart), DJ Foran (Portlaw), P Curran (Dungarvan).
Subs: M Kearney (Ballyduff Upper) for Donnelly (44 mins), Cathal Curran (Dungarvan) for Harney (51), B Phelan (Ballinameela) for Foran (57), B O’Sullivan (Ballygunner) for Shane Bennett (60).
Referee: F Horgan (Tipperary).