It's Waterford vs Cork in the Munster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Finals on Saturday night in Dungarvan (throw-in 7pm)! GAA.ie caught up with both Cork's Mark Collins and Waterford's Paul Whyte to get their views ahead of the meeting between Na Déise and the Rebels in Fraher Field! Tickets for Waterford vs Cork in Dungarvan are available from selected SuperValu and Centra stores nationwide and from the venue on matchday - U16's are just €5 while adult tickets are available for €15 if bought before matchday - visit http://www.gaa.ie/tickets/where-to-buy/ to find a SuperValu and Centra store closest to you!
Saturday May 27
Munster SFC Quarter-Final
Waterford v Cork, Fraher Field, 7pm
It was a strange spring for the Cork footballers, seven Allianz Football League Division Two matches brought mixed results.
Two wins, three draws, and two defeats ensured Cork claimed seven points, but a serious promotion bid wasn’t launched.
It means that Cork enter the Munster SFC especially eager to make an impact, particularly following last year’s provincial defeat to Tipperary.
That was a significant setback for Cork, who subsequently defeated Limerick and Longford before losing to Donegal.
The Round 4B Qualifier against Donegal provided glimpses of Cork’s ability, but Paddy McBrearty’s 0-11 haul proved decisive.
During the League Colm O'Neill and Paul Kerrigan supplied cameos of class earning Cork points when required.
The March 26 win over Derry was a notable triumph with O'Neill and Kerrigan combining to score 0-16 in that fixture.
Mark Collins intelligent link up play from centre forward is vital too for Peadar Healy's charges. Selector Eamonn Ryan feels that Cork have the potential to be a serious force again.
“It is in their own hands, really," Ryan says. "I do think it is going to happen. I can’t say when, but I do genuinely think it is going to happen. They are that committed that it is going to happen for them.
“It could take the tiniest thing to turn it, some fella just grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck and others being inspired by that. It is very easy trot out very intellectual ideas about how it could be done. It is quite conceivable it will happen like turning on a switch. I am hoping it will some day and we’ll take off from there.”
Tom McGlinchey continues to extract committed performances from Waterford, who started their Division Four campaign impressively before a worrying slide.
Victories over London and Wicklow had Waterford nicely primed, but they subsequently suffered five defeats on the spin.
In 2016 Waterford caused Tipperary some problems before the Premier County eventually pulled clear and the Qualifiers brought a narrow 0-12 to 0-8 defeat against Leitrim.
Waterford left Carrick-on-Shannon nursing plenty of regrets, but they will be anxious to pose questions of Cork’s resolve on Saturday evening.
Paul Whyte is an accomplished attacker, while Tadhg O hUallachain, Donie Breathnach, and Gavin Crotty will be spearheading Waterford’s challenge.
Taking a prized scalp is what Waterford crave, but Cork are fully aware that this could turn into a dangerous encounter so the visitors will be focused.
WATERFORD: Stephen Enright; Brian Looby, Thomas O'Gorman, Tadhg O hUallachain; James McGrath, Stephen Prendergast, Ray O'Ceallaigh; Tommy Prendergast, Michael Curry; Michael O'Halloran, Paul Whyte, Conor Murray; Donie Breathnach, Joey Veale, Gavin Crotty.
