Cork outclass Waterford and advance to meet Clare

A crowd of just over 22,000 saw Cork easily fends off Waterford in a replayed Munster Senior Hurling Quarter Final at Thurles.

Two weeks ago the two sides fought out an exciting battle at the same venue which the outcome of was in doubt until the final whistle despite the fact that Waterford at one stage held a nine point advantage.

In the drawn game, the fact that so many of the Cork forwards that impressed in helping their side reach last years All-Ireland disappointed, but on this occasion, the Cork forwards impressed throughout, with Patrick Horgan, Seamus Harnedy and Conor Lehane the pick of the bunch.

Waterford never reached the same intensity in their play that they showed in the replayed game.

With Cork slow out of the traps in the last number of games they played, a good start just as they had in the drawn game was a must for Waterford, but despite hitting the first score of the game it never happened.

The early exchanges saw Pauric Mahony and Seamus Harnedy swap scores, but Waterford were to receive an early wallop when Noel Connors who carried an injury into the game was forced off and was replaced by Padraig Prendergast.

Hindsight is always a great thing, but you have to question the wisdom of starting a player that is likely to have to go off with an injury as it could mean that a sub would have to be used early on, something that could well cost the side later as other players begin to tire.

Patrick Horgan gave Cork the lead for the first time but it was wiped out quickly when the impressive Colin Dunford stuck his first championship score for Waterford.

Brian O’Sullivan edged Waterford back in front on twelve minutes, but it was to be the last time in the game that Waterford lead as Patrick Horgan levelled matters two minutes later and from here on in, it was Cork all the way.

Horgan hit a points tally in the double digits for Cork in this game and on the quarter of an hour mark he edged Cork back in front with a point from play that it could just as easily have gone under the Waterford Crossbar.

Another Horgan effort and one from Bill Cooper followed which gave the Rebels a 0-6 to 0-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Seamus Harnedy and Conor Lehane knocked over points for Cork to give them a 0-8 to 0-3 advantage on nineteen minutes, but Pauric Mahony would pull a point back for Waterford a minute later.

Horgan and Harnedy followed with efforts from Horgan again and Mahony had Cork in front by six with twenty-seven minutes played.

Alan Cadogan put Cork seven in front which was followed by an effort from Daniel Kearney which had Cork looking like victors with some ease even if the second half and the closing minutes of the first half were still to come.

Two minutes from time, Cork won a penalty and it was no surprise to see net-minder Anthony Nash make his way up the field to strike from twenty metres, or more correctly lift the ball from twenty metres.

The Kanturk Club mans striking at goal have been a source of debate over some time but sooner rather than later the G.A.A. will have to look at penalty taking or striking close in frees if for nothing else but for the safety of players.

As soon as Nash lifted the ball his Waterford counterpart raced out of the Waterford goal and when the Cork man actually struck the ball there was literally inches between the two. The Ballygunner Club man managed to save the penalty but on the rebound Bill Cooper popped the ball over the bar which gave Cork a 0-14 to 0-5 lead at the break.

The Nash Penalty/Free as they have become known was to be debated at this year’s convention but the topic was removed from the Clár. However, how long more the GAA can allow things as they stand to continue remains to be seen.

While some will say that there is nothing wrong with what Nash and other goalkeepers are now going, sooner rather than later someone is going to get hurt.

What Stephen O’Keeffe did today will have others trying the same, GAA officials will have to ask themselves if what the Ballygunner Club man did today is within the rules?

While he is to be congratulated in showing great bravery, the question has to be asked should Johnny Ryan have asked for the penalty to be retaken as the rules state that those on the line have to remain on their line until the ball is struck and not lifted.

On the way Nash takes penalties, maybe Officials can introduce a rule (or maybe enforce one that exists) whereby a player advances past the point where a free is to be taken to strike it, the free is cancelled and the ball is thrown in between two players.

However a rule could also be introduced whereby if a player wants to lift and run with the ball before striking it, there would be nothing to stop him bringing the ball away from the goal before striking after lifting.

Cork hit the first score of the second half two minutes after the restart when Conor Lehane dissected the posts.

Shane O’Sullivan pulled a point back for Waterford but it was followed with a brace of Patrick Horgan scores which gave Cork a 0-17 to 0-6 lead on forty minutes.

The impressive Colin Dunford pilled another point back for Waterford but Conor Lehane from a long Anthony Nash delivery soon had Cork back in front by eleven.

Waterford introduced the experienced duo of Maurice Shanahan and Stephen Molumphy for the injured Colin Dunford and Brian O’Sullivan, but Waterford were too far behind to make any real impact and with Waterford struggling for goals all year, this is exactly what was needed to crawl back into contention, but Waterford never looked like raising a green flag.

Pauric Mahony and Daniel Kearney swapped scored to keep Cork eleven points up with twenty three minutes still to play which was followed by a Patrick Horgan brace.

Shane Walsh pulled a point back for Waterford at the start of the final quarter, but it was goals that Waterford needed at this point.

Conor Lehane and Christopher Joyce hit points inside a two minute spell which had Cork leading by twelve, which was followed by a great save from Stephen O’Keeffe from a Patrick Cronin effort.

Bill Cooper put Cork thirteen in front just before Paudie O’Sullivan made his return to Championship hurling after a year out due to injury and within a minute of coming on the Pebble from Cloyne had his name on the score sheet.

Austin Gleeson struck a brace and Pauric Mahony slotted over a sixty-five to leave Waterford trailing by thirteen with six minutes of the game remaining.

Credit Waterford however, they did not give up and Shane Walsh was unlucky not to have raised a green flag with five minutes to go but his shot was stopped by Anthony Nash.

Paudie O’Sullivan landed another score with four minutes to go after which Rob O’Shea and Richie Foley swapped scores.

Austin Gleeson hit his third of the game with a minute to go and seconds later Cork sub Stephen Moylan ended a miserable afternoon for Waterford when he got on the score sheet with a score that gave cork a 0-28 to 0-14 lead.

Cork now play Clare in next weekends semi finals, while for Waterford, a tough game against Kilkenny or Galway, Dublin or Wexford, Laois or Antrim or maybe Offaly awaits in a few weeks.

CORK: Anthony Nash; Shane O’Neill, Damien Cahalane, Stephen McDonnell; Christopher Joyce, Mark Ellis, Lorcan McLoughlin; Daniel Kearney, Alan Walsh; Seamus Harnedy, Bill Cooper, Conor Lehane; Alan Cadogan, Patrick Cronin, Patrick Horgan. Subs: Stephen Moylan for Alan Cadogan (59), Brian Lawton for Alan Walsh (59), Paudie O’Sullivan for Daniel Kearney (60), William Egan for Lorcan McLoughlin (64), Rob O’Shea Bill for Cooper (64).

Scorers: Patrick Horgan 0-10 (5 frees), Conor Lehane 0-4, Seamus Harnedy, Bill Cooper 0-3 each, Paudie O’Sullivan, Daniel Kearney 0-2 each, Christopher Joyce, Alan Cadogan, Stephen Moylan, Rob O’Shea 0-1 each.   

WATERFORD: Stephen O’Keeffe; Shane Fives, Liam Lawlor, Noel Connors; Jamie Nagle, Michael Walsh, Tadhg Burke; Shane O’Sullivan, Kevin Moran; Jake Dillon, Austin Gleeson, Pauric Mahony; Colin Dunford, Brian O’Sullivan, Shane Walsh. Subs: Padraig Prendergast for Noel Connors (5), Richie Foley for Jamie Nagle (41), Maurice Shanahan for Colin Dunford (45), Stephen Molumphy for Brian O’Sullivan (47), Stephen Prendergast for Jake Dillon (51).

Scorers: Paudie Mahony 0-5 (3 frees, 1 ’65), Austin Gleeson 0-3, Colin Dunford 0-2, Brian O’Sullivan, Shane Walsh, Richie Foley, Shane O’Sullivan 0-1 each.  

Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary).