Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship

CORK 3-17 WATERFORD 2-5

By Denis Hurley at Semple Stadium, Thurles

Unfortunately for Cork, a 15-point win over Waterford in Thurles was not enough to reach the Munster MHC final.

Had Clare prevailed against Limerick in Ennis, then all five counties would have been tied on four points and Cork might have advanced on scoring difference, but instead the Shannonsiders’ narrow win means they face Tipperary in the decider.

Cork can be proud of their effort, though. Having fallen behind to a 10th-minute Ciarán Keating goal for Waterford, they responded well through Jack Cahalane, Shane Barrett and Darragh Flynn before a goal from captain Shane Barrett had them 1-4 to 1-1 front and by half-time their lead was 1-9 to 1-2.

The advantage was extended further as Pádraig Power and Cahalane had points early in the second half, while Waterford’s situation was made tougher by the loss of Sam Fitzgerald to two yellow cards.

Cork continued to push with points from Barrett, Cahalane and corner-back Cian McCarthy and in the 52nd minute their quest received a further boost. When Cormac O’Brien’s dropping free wasn’t dealt with by the Waterford defence, Cahalane’s goal effort was blocked, but Power was able to convert the rebound.

However, Waterford responded with points from Keating and Michael Kiely and sub Oisín O’Gorman netted just after his introduction to reduce the gap to nine again. Three Cork points did make it 12 once more and Barrett got his second goal right at the end, but events elsewhere meant that the win wouldn’t be sufficient.

Scorers for Cork: Shane Barrett 2-2, Pádraig Power 1-2, Jack Cahalane 0-5 (5fs), Darragh Flynn, Alan Connolly, Cathal Hickey 0-2 each, Ethan Twomey, Cian McCarthy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Waterford: Ciarán Keating 1-2, Oisín O’Gorman 1-0, Michael Kiely 0-2 (2fs), Aidan Organ 0-1.

CORK: Donncha McCarthy; Cian McCarthy, Niall O’Riordan, Ciarán O’Brien; Luke Horgan, Cormac O’Brien, Cillian O’Donovan; Ethan Twomey, Darragh Flynn; Kevin Moynihan, Cathal Hickey, Daniel Hogan; Shane Barrett, Pádraig Power, Jack Cahalane.

Subs: Olan Broderick for Flynn (45), 23. Alan Connolly for Cahalane (54), Cian O’Donovan for McCarthy (59).

WATERFORD: Dean Beecher; Jack Ó Floinn, Cian Wadding, Rory Furlong; Kevin Mahony, Gavin Fives, Ryan Tierney, Michael Kiely; James Power, Sam Fitzgerald; Tom Gallagher, Ciarán Keating; Oisín Ó Ceallaigh, Caolán Mac Craith, Aidan Organ.

Subs: Christopher Kavanagh for Organ, David Byrne for Tierney (both half-time), Gavin Corbett for Mac Craith, Paddy Leevy for Gallagher (both 48), Oisín Ó’Gorman for Keating (55).

REFEREE: Philip Kelly (Tipperary).