Cork beat reigning champions Waterford today in a thrilling Munster SHC final on a scoreline of 3-16 to 3-12 in Semple Stadium Thurles.
Waterford were very much in charge in the early stages of the first half, but as the half wore on missed points and some indiscipline gave Cork a chance to pin them back. The match opened with both sets of players knocking heads and soon after Eoin Kelly had opened the scoring for Waterford there was trouble between Paul Flynn and Pat Mulcahy. Dave Bennett then knocked over a free for Waterford. Cork were shaken by a third Waterford point, but were level within seconds when Setanta O’hAilpin got on the end of a great ball in, eluded the last Waterford back and from a tight angle drove home.
John Mullane for Waterford got a point and then a goal when he capitalised on some dithering by the Cork backs to drill it straight home. From this stage Waterford began to exert their dominance and Cork just couldn't get into the game. A point scoring spree from Eoin McGrath, Dave Bennett and Paul Flynn had Waterford six points ahead at one stage. Then Cork began to get a handle on the game. Niall McCarthy got their first score for 15 minutes and Waterford began to miss simple points and give away silly frees. The half time score was 1-09 to 1-04 in favour of Waterford.
Cork opened the second half in fine style. Niall McCarthy handpassed to Setanta O’hAilpin who drove the sliotar off the croassbar for Joe Deane to knock over the point. It was the first of six points without response from Waterford until they won a free through John Mullane and, instead of pointing, Paul Flynn passed it short to Mullane who rocketed it into the back of the net. The third goal of the game would be followed by three more, one from Cork’s Alan Brennan after some good work by Setanta O’hAilpin and Alan Brennan, another from Waterford’s John Mullane who turned the defence inside out before finding the net, followed closely by a third from Cork’s Joe Deane when he stole in behind the Waterford full back line to drive home and leave Cork in the lead.
While these goals were being scored simple points were being missed, but for the last ten minutes normal service was resumed with points coming from Cork’s Alan Browne, Ben O’Connor and John Gardiner, while Waterford tried to stay in touch through Paul Flynn and Dave Bennett. Waterford, however, began to lose discipline and in the 72nd minute Paul Flynn was sent-off. It made no difference as Cork were cruising to victory by that stage on a scoreline of 3-16 to 3-12.
Filed by Barry J Whyte
