Waterford may well shade it at Thurles

Waterford and Cork have been rivals when it comes to hurling since they first met four years after the formation of the G.A.A.

For much of this time there can be no disputing that Cork have proved to be the better of the two sides. The sight of a red jersey at times would have ‘put the fear of God’ into the Waterford side they were facing.

However, this is no longer the case.

Since the late 1990’s the rivalry between the two has grown and the fear that Waterford may have at times playing Cork no longer exists.

The hammerings that Waterford got at times up to the 1980’s are no longer. Those of us old enough to remember will never forget the Munster Finals of 1982 and 1983. Now when Waterford take on Cork, even on their own soil for underage games, Waterford travel and take the field firmly believing that they can beat the side they are facing.

Maybe the change of mentality has come as a result of the work by a Cork man. In 1997 Gerald McCarthy took over as manager of the Waterford senior hurlers.

Within one year Waterford were paired with Cork in a major final. The two met in the National League Final at Thurles. Much of the opening half of the game was very nip and tuck but at the break Sean O’Farrell’s late goal proved to be the difference as Cork turned around with a 1-6 to 0-7 advantage on the score board.

Waterford took the lead early in the second half but and Alan Browne goal was to again prove crucial as Cork ran out 2-14 to 0-13 winners. Try as they might, Waterford were not able to hall in the damage the goals had done. This game was to proved to be the first of a number of hugely exciting games between the two.

The two sides met for the first time in the championship for the first time in eight year twelve months later. Cork had a very young side out which had many coming from successful underage teams. Waterford went into the game as favourites, a tag that does not always rest well on the shoulders of many Waterford sides. Cork won the game 0-24 to 1-15 and went on to win the All-Ireland that September.

In 2002 it was again back to Thurles for a Munster semi final Waterford were now under another Cork Man – a name sake of the previous manager, and under Justin McCarthy Waterford beat Cork for the first time in a major game for the first time since the 1989 Munster semi final replay, winning 1-16 to 1-15.

The sides met in the Munster Final the following year. Despite Waterford putting three goals past Cork, it was the rebels that won this game on a 3-16 to 3-12 score line.

Twelve months on, the two sides met in the final again, arguably the greatest Munster Final of all time.

This was the year that Waterford finished the game with fourteen men after John Mullane was sent off at the start of the second half. It was the year that Paul Flynn put a free from distance and from a difficult angle to the back of the Cork net, and it was the year that Ken McGrath late in the game soared high into the air to pick the ball out of the air, one of the magic moments in the history of the G.A.A. in Waterford and one that will rival Ned Power’s leap in 1959 as one of the greatest moments of all time. Beating Tipperary in the Munster Final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh two years earlier was magic, the first time Waterford won a Munster Final since 1963. The Waterford players joined by former players carrying the Cup over Youghal Bridge on the way home after the game was also a magic moment, but beating Cork in Thurles in 2004 topped what happened two years previously.

In 2005 the sides clashed twice, Cork winning both games firstly in the Munster semi final at Thurles and later in the year in the All-Ireland quarter finals at Croke Park.

In 2006 Cathal Naughton broke Waterford hearts scoring 1-1 within two minutes of coming on in the All-Ireland semi final at Croke Park. Again Waterford had to settle for second best loosing out 1-16 to 1-15 at Croke Park.

In 2007 the sides met in the Munster semi final at Thurles. Cork were short the services of Donal Óg Cusack, Diarmuid O’Sullivan and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín for their parts in the ‘Semple-Gate Affair’ win over Clare in the quarter finals. Waterford would win a high scoring game 5-15 to 3-18, Eoin Kelly, John Mullane, Dan Shanahan (2) and Paul Flynn netting the Waterford goals.

The sides would meet twice more that year. On July 29 the two clashed in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals at Croke Park. Dan Shanahan, Paul Flynn and Stephen Molumphy would net goals for Waterford in this game in a 3-16 to 3-16 draw and when the two sides replayed on August 5, Dan Shanahan netted twice in a 2-17 to 0-20 win for Waterford.

The next meeting of the two was in the 2010 Munster Final. Tony Browne on the day showed his near twenty years experience wearing a white and blue shirt in this game as he scored a late goal for Waterford following up from a free that was saved on the Cork goal line but the Mount Sion man scrambled the ball over the line to send the game to an historic replay which became the first to be played under lights.

After 70 minutes the game ended in an exciting draw. John Mullane was replaced by Dan Shanahan in extra time and the big Lismore man like Tony Browne in the original game was to show all his experience netting a goal that gave Waterford a 1-16 to 1-13 win.

In 2012 the two clashed in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Waterford led by three points entering the final stages, however, Cork outscored the Déise by 0-7 to 0-1 in the last five minutes to secure a 1-19 to 0-19 win with Jamie Coughlan getting the all important goal.

Twelve months ago the two sides met in the Munster quarter finals.

The game ended in a 1-21 each draw. However, a youthful Waterford side will have felt that they left this game behind them.

Waterford had a disastrous league and little was expected of Waterford in the league. However Waterford were magnificent for much of the game and at one stage held a nine point lead, but once Bill Cooper scrambled the ball past Stephen O’Keeffe Cork began to eat into the Waterford lead and at the end of the game Patrick Horgan put over a free to force the game to a replay.

However the replay proved to be a totally opposite affair for Waterford, as Cork were always well on top and ran out 0-28 to 0-14 winners.

The most recent games between Waterford and Cork may not have been the Classic’s that those in the mid 00’s were, but they were exciting all the same.

The two Munster Championship clashes last year were polar opposites. Waterford should have won the first day. On the second day the better side did win.

Its hard to see this weekend’s National League Final being up there with the Classics. It may not excite the Waterford fans the way the first clash of the two  sides in 2014 did, but it wont disappoint the way the second clash did. I for one would be expecting something in between.

There is some that are saying that neither manager will want to show their full hand of cards in Sunday’s game ahead of the June 7 clash between the two in the Munster semi final at the same venue.

Let’s hope that this will not be the case. For one of these sides it could be their only chance to contest a final this year. For one of the sides they will get to contest and maybe win a Munster Final but not the other. For one of the sides it may be their only chance to contest a final this year. If the winners on Sunday were to end the year loosing the Munster semi final clash between the two and were not to reach the All-Ireland Final through the back door or scenic route, then having the National League Trophy on the sideboard at the end of the year it will be a good year for that side.

Winning their respective semi finals meant a lot to both sides. What it meant to Cork could be seen on the faces of the players and Management after they came from 12 points down against Dublin to win by one.

The same could be said of Waterford. Few gave them a chance against Tipperary and more over after Seamus Callanan won an appeal against his sending off against Offaly in the quarter finals.

Limerick were always favourites to win Division 1B. Wexford would in the eyes of many be the second favourites to win the group. The fact that Waterford finished above both and to win promotion for next years league was a plus for a Waterford side who most would have been happy with just to qualify for the quarter finals.

The tactics used by Waterford may not be enjoyed by most, but it has to be said that the way Derek McGrath has the team playing is effective. The goals which were going past the team last year have not happened this year. The Sliotar has gone into the Waterford net up to now this year in the league.

Players like Austin Gleeson, Stephen and Shane Bennett, Colin Dunford and Tadhg de Búrca are playing good hurling all the year. Derek McGrath has brought them into the team in the last 12 months and they have not let him down, playing with the same confidence of the likes of Dan Shanahan, John Mullane, Tony Browne, Paul Flynn and Ken McGrath did about ten years ago.

This Sunday’s final may not prove to be the Classic that some Cork and Waterford games did in the last decade and a half, but it could well prove to be close. Don’t rule out having to stay in Thurles beyond 5pm on Sunday to see can a winner be found.

As pointed out already, Waterford once feared Cork. This is no longer the case. Every time now Waterford face Cork, the Déise players expect to win.

There will be some that some that will argue that Cork playing Division 1A hurling all along will stand to them.

Maybe so, but remember Waterford have beaten Wexford, the side that knocked Waterford out of the All-Ireland Championship last year. They drew with Limerick who were in last years All-Ireland semi final, albeit Limerick may be missing some players on the night.

And in Waterford’s last two games they beat Galway and Tipperary two sides many are always expecting to be there about come the end of whatever competition they are playing in.

These results will give Waterford plenty of confidence heading into Sunday’s game. Cork supporters in any sport like to think they are the best. They will feel that their side can overcome Waterford on Sunday. Lets face it, Cork are a good side, but are they the best.

The bookies are making Cork odd’s on favourite to win on Sunday. The bookies are often proven to be wrong. For me, I think on Sunday evening Waterford will be celebrating a third league final win, but it could be close.

Paths to the final:

Cork

Round 1 -      Cork    2-17    Kilkenny        1-22
Round 2 -      Cork    1-24    Clare              0-17
Round 3 -      Cork    0-34    Dublin            1-20
Round 4 -      Cork    2-17    Galway           0-20
Round 5 -      Cork     4-21   Tipperary       2-28

Quarter-final  Cork 0-18       Wexford         0-14 Semi-final -   Cork 1-27       Dublin            2-23 

Total Scores              10-158

Total conceded         6-144

Average Scored       27 points

Average conceded 23 points       

Waterford - Division 1B

Round 1 -      Waterford       0-22    Limerick         2-16
Round 2 -      Waterford       3-21    Laois              0-12
Round 3 -      Waterford       2-18    Offaly             1-14
Round 4 -      Waterford       4-30    Antrim            1-10
Round 5 -      Waterford       0-22    Wexford         0-16

Quarter-final   Waterford       0-20    Galway           0-12
Semi-final -      Waterford       1-19    Tipperary       2-15

Total Scores              10-152

Total conceded         6-95

Average Scored       26 points

Average conceded 16 points       

(Averages rounded up or down to the nearest full figure)