As Davy Fitzgerald crouched in celebration on the sideline and the public address roared 'up the Déise', there was no doubting that Waterford are a live force in Championship 2024. The points weren’t secure until the end but the hosts were never led from Jamie Barron’s second-minute goal. They still needed Stephen Bennett’s 58th-minute penalty, which saw Ciarán Joyce black-carded, and Cork were down to 13 for a spell when Damien Cahalane was sent off for a second yellow. Alan Connolly’s late goal brought the Rebels back into contention but down three and with little more than 30 seconds left, their sideline signalled for the Blackrock man to point a late free. They wouldn’t get a chance for a goal as Patrick Curran slotted the clincher.
