Patrick Horgan of Cork in action against Calum Lyons of Waterford during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 4 match between Cork and Waterford at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork.
Munster SHC Round 4
CORK 2-30 WATERFORD 2-17
By Denis Hurley at Páirc Uí Chaoimh
A strong finish saw Cork pull away from a resilient Waterford side before an attendance of 26,521 in Saturday evening’s Munster SHC tie at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
While the visitors’ hopes of progressing to the All-Ireland series had ended with defeat at home to Limerick last week, they put in a strong display for three-quarters of this encounter before Cork’s attacking depth helped them to finally ensure the victory.
Patrick Horgan finished with 1-10 for John Meyler’s side, who now have four points ahead of next Sunday’s final group game, against Clare in Cusack Park. The attacker had opened the scoring with a free before finding the net in the fifth minute, showing lovely control from an Alan Cadogan delivery before firing beyond Billy Nolan.
However, that blow wasn’t fatal for Waterford, who had the strong wind, and they slowly came into the game as Cork failed to build on the fine start. Stephen Bennett was the scorer-in-chief for Páraic Fanning’s side with Calum Lyons strong in the half-back line and they reduced the deficit to just a point on three separate occasions. Unfortunately for them, an equaliser remained elusive and Shane Bennett and Thomas Ryan couldn’t make the most of goal chances.
Cork, too, failed to capitalise on opportunities as Nolan, making his championship debut, saved from Séamus Harnedy and Bill Cooper, but after the latter Cork kept play alive and Cooper’s pass found Alan Cadogan, who drilled the ball to the net for a 2-9 to 0-10 advantage.
By half-time, it was 2-11 to 0-11 and though Peter Hogan opened the second-half scoring for Waterford, Horgan’s massive free from behind his own 65 suggested that Cork would remain in control.
They were tested when Stephen Bennett batted home a Waterford goal from Thomas Ryan’s pass, but five points in a row settled Cork, with Horgan very much to the fore and Cadogan and centre-back Mark Ellis on target too.
They were seven ahead after Horgan’s tenth on 48 minutes and though Shane Bennett got a second Waterford goal, Cork stayed steady. Subs Shane Kingston and Conor Lehane had points as they got five of the next six to finally put doubts about the outcome to bed and another replacement, Tim O’Mahony, scored two at the death as they had 13 to spare by the end.
Scorers for Cork: P Horgan 1-10 (0-9 frees), Alan Cadogan 1-2, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Séamus Harnedy, Shane Kingston 0-3 each, Tim O’Mahony, Mark Coleman 0-2 each, Mark Ellis, Bill Cooper, Daniel Kearney, Luke Meade, Conor Lehane 0-1 each.
Scorers for Waterford: Stephen Bennett 1-8 (0-7 frees), Shane Benneett 1-2, Jack Prendergast, Peter Hogan 0-2, Austin Gleeson (sideline), Calum Lyons, Jamie Barron 0-1 each.
CORK: Anthony Nash; Seán O’Donoghue, Eoin Cadogan, Niall O’Leary; Robert Downey, Mark Ellis, Mark Coleman; Bill Cooper, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Daniel Kearney, Séamus Harnedy, Luke Meade; Alan Cadogan, Patrick Horgan, Aidan Walsh. Subs: Shane Kingston for Walsh (41), Conor Lehane for Kearney (49), Christopher Joyce for Downey (55), Robbie O’Flynn for Meade (65), Tim O’Mahony for Cooper (67).
WATERFORD: Billy Nolan; Shane McNulty, Conor Prunty, Darragh Lyons; Calum Lyons, Tadhg de Búrca, Conor Gleeson; Jamie Barron, Mikey Kearney; Shane Bennett, Brian O’Halloran, Jack Prendergast; Thomas Ryan, Stephen Bennett, Peter Hogan. Subs: Stephen Roche for Kearney (half-time), Austin Gleeson for Ryan (48), Colm Roche for O’Halloran (53), Shane Fives for Lyons (55), Michael Walsh for Prendergast (64).
Referee: John Keenan (Carlow).
