Cork Prove Just Too Strong

Waterford’s interest in this years All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship ended in disappointment in Thurles on Sunday afternoon last, when Cork proved marginally too strong in what was an entertaining game, but one that could not be counted amongst the classics that we often speak about when the two counties clash.

As expected, it was just a puck of the ball that separated the sides after seventy minutes of hurling.

The final outcome was in doubt right to the end, and had lady luck shun on Waterford, the county could not be looking forward to another appearance in an All-Ireland semi final in the coming weeks.

There is an old adage that goals win games and sadly from a Waterford perspective in this game, it was to prove correct in this game. Cork hit the only goal of the game on 16 minutes when Jamie Coughlan, a call up for Conor Lehane who had to cry off on Saturday evening following a bout of illness finished to the net.

All year goal scoring was a problem for Waterford. Eight competitive games were played in 2012 and in these games just six green flags were raised for Waterford.

Michael Ryan, Ken McGrath and Sean Cullinane have been ratified to remain in charge again in 2013 and no doubt that as the local championships enter the knockout stages in the coming weeks that they as well as members of their back room staff will be trying to take in as many games across the grades as is possible in a bit to find some new talent that might be able to hit the goals which were lacking this year, if given the chance.

Will they be able to find the players that will solve our problems is hard to know. Yes there is some good young players coming through, as we have seen from the Minor and Colleges scene in recent years, but the step up from these levels to Senior Inter County Hurling and all its demands is huge and right now its hard to know are the players ready for such a jump.

Waterford began this game poorly. After fifteen minutes, Waterford trailed 0-5 to 0-2 and within seconds that defecate was doubled when Coughlan found the Déise net meaning that the signs were not looking good for Waterford.

However, credit the players and credit those on the line. They rolled up their sleeves and Waterford began to hit back. Maurice Shanahan moved into the full forward line, John Mullane came out the field, Kevin Moran moved to the middle of the field and Philip Mahony went to the wing back position.

The moves worked a treat and Waterford hit eight of the next ten scores which saw the sides draw level with three minutes of the opening half to play. And when Maurice Shanahan pointed the wheel had turned full circle with thirty five minutes played.

However, seldom do you see a Cork side roll over. The might have relinquished a good lead, but they managed to finish the stronger of the two sides and in first half stoppage time they hit two unanswered points to retire to the dressing rooms leading 1-9 to 0-11.

For much of the second half, Waterford dominated, and at the hour mark, Waterford were leading by three points.

Cork came back and put in a storming finish. They made better use of what they had on their bench and many of those that came in for the closing stages of the game were able to make telling contributions including Cathal Naughton who makes a habit of putting in some of his better performances when facing a white shirt.

Waterford did have chances in the closing minutes of the game to draw if not win the game.

Eoin McGrath for a long time to come will have nightmares watching the ball slip from his grasp when a score was on the cards. Shane Casey too was guilty of a bad miss near the end, and then there was the chance that hit the post and no Waterford player was able to capitalise on the ball coming back into play. What we would have given at that point to have someone like Tony Browne or Eoin Kelly two players who we know who can react to a dropping ball to be lurking in front of the Cork goal at the time.

And so another inter-county year comes to an end in Waterford. It has been a long one and at times a little controversial. Many will be disappointed that the county will not get our now annual visit to Croke Park in August. Our report card will read much the same as in other years, ‘doing well but could do better’ and we might have dropped a grade in the processes.

We could see some changes in 2013, but hopefully they will be kept to an absolute minimum. Rumours and counter rumours will do the rounds in the coming weeks and months in relation to the likes of Tony Browne, John Mullane, Eoin Kelly, Seamus Prendergast and possibly Eoin McGrath. It would be nice to see as many as these players remain involved for another year or two.

We know we have some very good young players coming through. Stephen O’Keeffe, Philip Mahony, Stephen Daniels, Gavin O’Brien and Dean Twomey are amongst those that got their chance to impress this year and all have done well. In the last few years players like Noel Connors, Pauric Mahony and Maurice Shanahan etc. were given their chance by Davy Fitzgerald.

However for them and for others involved that are still relatively young in the panel, if the likes of Tony Browne, Seamus Prendergast and John Mullane are not around, they could find it harder to make the real big break through and become the players we know that they could become, as the older players will play a vital roll in their progress. Every county has their quota of experienced players involved with the panel and it’s vital that we too have them.    

Cork: A Nash; S O'Neill, S McDonnell, B Murphy; T Kenny, E Cadogan, S Óg O hAilpin; D Kearney, P Cronin; N McCarthy, C McCarthy, J Coughlan; P O'Sullivan, L O'Farrell, P Horgan. Subs: D Sweetman for D Kearney, C Naughton for N McCarthy, J Gardiner for E Cadogan, S Moylan for J Coughlan, L McLoughlin for C McCarthy.

Scorers: P Horgan 0-7 (4f), J Coughlan 1-1, C McCarthy 0-3, P O'Sullivan, P Cronin, C Naughton 0-2 each, L O'Farrell, S Óg O hAilpin 0-1 each.

Waterford: S O'Keeffe; N Connors, L Lawlor, S Daniels; T Browne, M Walsh, K Moran; S Molumphy, Philip Mahony; M Shanahan, S Prendergast, Pauric Mahony; J Mullane, S Walsh, T Ryan. Subs: E McGrath for T Ryan, S Casey for S Walsh, R Foley for T Browne.

Scorers: M Shanahan 0-9 (6f, 1 '65'), P Mahony 0-3, J Mullane, S Walsh 0-2 each, T Browne (1f), S Prendergast, S Molumphy 0-1 each.

Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath)