Waterford got their first Allianz HL Division 1A points of the year, overcoming 14-man Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.
The opening stages were very tight, as the first 18 minutes had 12 points, evenly shared, with the sides level on five occasions.
Patrick Horgan was Cork’s scorer in chief, deadly accurate from frees, while Pauric Mahony was similarly reliable for Waterford, who also had Austin Gleesonn weighing in impressively with a point from wing-back.
After Horgan levelled for Cork at 0-6 each, he then netted a goal, batting a shot past Stephen O’Keeffe in the Waterford goal after he had done well to take down Bill Cooper’s delivery following a nice pass from goalkeeper Anthony Nash to the wing-forward.
Just a minute later, Waterford had established parity once more after Mikey Kearney goaled for them, the centre-forward showing good footwork to quarry a chance when a clearance wasn’t properly dealt with by the Cork defence.
Gleeson put them in front and Horgan replied with his fifth for Cork, who then had captain Séamus Harnedy sent off following an incident involving Waterford full-back Barry Coughlan.
Waterford made immediate use of their extra human resources, necklacing three quick points together, two from Mahony and one by Gleeson.
Though Horgan pulled two back for Cork, the second following a good team move, Waterford ensured they led by three, 1-12 to 1-9, at half-time Mahony had two more frees to bring his tally to six.
Waterford with their first win of this year's Allianz Hurling League, beating Cork, Watch the Full-Time Highlights here on GAANOW! pic.twitter.com/S5LFGjv8EJ
— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 25, 2018
Cork upped the tempo on the resumption, scoring four of the first five points, two from Horgan and one each from Tim O’Mahony and Mark Ellis, to tie the game at 1-13 each.
It was only a brief flicker of hope, however, as Waterford reimposed themselves with Mahony scoring another three frees to pull away.
Horgan pulled one back again, his tenth point, but they only managed one more in the remainder, and that from corner-back Colm Spillane.
Waterford had subs Stephen Bennett and Stephen Roche on target while Mahony finished with ten points. Cork had a late goal chance but sub Shane Kingston’s shot was well saved by Stephen O’Keeffe to ensure the points headed east.
Cork: Anthony Nash; Conor O’Sullivan, Eoin Cadogan, Colm Spillane (0-01); Christopher Joyce, Tim O’Mahony (0-01), Darren Browne; Mark Ellis (0-01), Mark Coleman; Bill Cooper, Dean Brosnan, Conor Lehane (0-02); Alan Cadogan, Séamus Harnedy, Patrick Horgan (1-10, 0-09f).
Subs: Robbie O’Flynn for Lehane (35), Lorcán McLoughlin for Joyce (55), Luke Meade for Brosnan (58), Michael Cahalane for O’Sullivan (65), Shane Kingston for Cooper (66).
Waterford: Stephen O’Keeffe; Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors; Tadhg de Búrca; Philip Mahony , Conor Gleeson, Austin Gleeson (0-04, 0-01f); Jamie Barron (0-01), Kevin Moran; Maurice Shanahan, Mikey Kearney (1-01), Pauric Mahony (0-10, 0-08f); Tom Devine, Colin Dunford (0-01).
Subs: Stephen Roche (0-01) for Shanahan (49), Brian O’Halloran for Dunford (49), Stephen Bennett (0-02) for Devine (57), Jake Dillon for Kearney (57).
Referee: Seán Cleere (Kilkenny)
