Eoin Kelly continued his free-scoring start to the Allianz NHL Division 1A as he helped Waterford beat Cork 0-16 to 0-12 at Walsh Park this afternoon.
Kelly was at his talismanic best, tallying up 0-09 (7f), as the Deise beat their Munster rivals for the third time in four league meetings.
Playing into the wind, Cork struck five points from play to trail by 0-10 to 0-07 at half-time – Kelly hit six frees for the hosts.
Points from Joe Deane and Patrick Cronin (0-02) saw the Rebels keep in touch, but Waterford powered clear with Kelly, Ken McGrath and Seamus Prendergast clocking over the clinching scores.
The result sees Waterford out on their own at the top of the Division 1A table, with four points out of a possible four and a mouth-watering clash with Clare to come next.
Waterford boss Justin McCarthy made a couple of changes to the side he named during the week, with Tom Feeney and Stephen Molumphy ruled out. Eoin Murphy started at right corner-back, with James Murray a new inclusion and the hosts began with a half-forward line comprised of Dan Shanahan, Kevin Moran and Barry Mullane.
Cork are still without the O’Connor twins, Ben and Jerry, although the pair did return to the fray for Newtownshandrum during the week, while Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and Pat Mulcahy were other notable absentees.
In dry, but overcast, conditions, Waterford moved into an early three-point lead before Cork struck back, initially through Neil Ronan who fired over as the half trickled towards its midpoint.
Watched by a crowd close to 6,000, Kelly was the half's outstanding player as he continued the form which saw him rifle over ten points in Waterford’s opening league win over Wexford.
But Cork were never far behind and they hit a purple patch when scores from Cronin and Niall McCarthy (0-02) reduced the arrears to 0-07 to 0-04.
Prendergast and Diarmuid O'Sullivan, who remains at full-forward for Cork, added their names to the scoresheet as the home side maintained that three-point buffer for the break.
An expectant crowd had to wait until the ninth-minute of the second half before either side could add to their tallies – the lively Prendergast was the man to fire over.
Points from the unusually quiet Deane, who was eventually replaced by O'Sullivan's younger brother Páidí, and Cronin, who rapped over on 51 and 54 minutes, lifted the Rebels briefly.
But Waterford always seemed to have a slight edge and their hunger for the ball and willingness to work for their team-mates was very evident throughout.
Cork's day was just about summed up when normally influential midfielder Tom Kenny was replaced by 1999 All-Ireland hero Mickey O’Connell, who failed to make the necessary impact.
Waterford added some quality scores in the final quarter, with Kelly powering over a 70-metre drive from way out near the sideline and centre-back McGrath outdoing him with a free from 80 metres out.
Páidí O'Sullivan, who was disappointingly stretchered off late on, ended a scoreless 12-minute spell for Cork when he flung over a 66th-minute free and, while Waterford ‘keeper Clinton Hennessy was forced to make a point-blank save in injury-time, the hosts’ lead was never truly threatened.
Waterford: C Hennessy; E Murphy, D Prendergast, A Kearney; J Kennedy, K McGrath (0-03, 2 '65', 1f), J Murray; M Walsh (0-01), E McGrath; D Shanahan, S Prendergast (0-02), E Kelly (0-09, 7f); C Carey, K Moran (0-01), B Mullane. Subs used: J Nagle for Mullane (30 mins), N Jacob for Carey (63).
Cork: D Óg Cusack; W Sherlock, K Cronin, B Murphy; J Gardiner, R
Curran (0-01), C O'Connor; K Murphy, T Kenny; P Cronin (0-03), N McCarthy (0-03), K Canty; N Ronan (0-01), D O'Sullivan (0-01), J Deane (0-02, 2f). Subs used: M O'Connell for Kenny (45 mins), P O'Sullivan (0-01, f) for Deane (50), T McCarthy for Canty (59), J O'Callaghan for P O'Sullivan (68).
Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly).
