Waterford claim third League Title

Waterford are National Hurling League Champions for only the third time in the competitions history after Derek McGrath’s charges beat a fancied Cork side with ten points to spare at the end of seventy minutes of hurling.

In winning this year’s final, Waterford became the first side since Offaly back in 1991 to win the title outside of the top division. On that occasion the Midlander’s beat Wexford 2-8 to 1-10 at Croke Park.

Waterford in front of 17,559 were first to score in this game winning a ’65 almost from the throw in which was converted by Pauric Mahony and quickly added to their early lead as the Ballygunner man put over from play with two minutes played.

Some brilliant work by the impressive Maurice Shanahan soon had Waterford three in front as he converted from play for a good score.

Cork’s first score came from the stick of Patrick Horgan from a close in free and the same player reduced Waterford’s lead to one after he converted another free after a foul on Alan Cadogan who soon had to retire early from this game.

Michael Walsh restored a two point advantage on the scoreboard for Waterford but Patrick Horgan who started brightly for Waterford soon had it down to one once more.

Austin Gleeson is one of the players that has come into the team in the last 12 months that have impressed hugely. He is a player huge value to Waterford and the question is often asked if he is best suited as a back or a forward. Which ever is his best position is up to each individual to decide but which ever it is, he showed his value to the team putting over a sideline cut from about 50 metres to give Waterford a 0-5 to 0-3 lead with twelve minutes played.

Waterford went four up for the first time when Pauric Mahony put over a free and Man of the Match Kevin Moran playing the Captain’s part landed a point from play.

Cork were now showing signs that today was not going to be their day. A Conor Lehane point on 18 minutes did give them hope, but they surly knew it was not to be their day when Stephen O’Keeffe made a save that could well be the save of the year from Seamus Harnedy.

Rob O’Shea floated over a point from play to leave just two between the sides after 22 minutes, but Jamie Barron followed up with a point from the centre of the field for Waterford to give the eventual winners a 0-8 to 0-5 lead with nine minutes of the half remaining.

Three minutes later, fans watching on saw what was surly going to be the hurling highlight of the year as Austin Gleeson on his own 65 ran backwards towards his own goal leapt high into the air and pulled down the ball, then went on a solo run up the new stand side of the field and shot over the crossbar from out near the side-line from about 45 metres putting 0-9 to 0-5 in front.

Patrick Horgan pulled a point back from a free for Cork but Pauric Mahony showed what the Cork man could do, he also could do as he brought Waterford’s points tally to a double digit tally and to give Waterford a four point lead once more.

Bill Cooper made it a three point game on the stroke of half time but Waterford went to the dressing room with a 0-11 to 0-7 lead that they were full value for when Pauric Mahony landed a free deep in stoppage time.

Cork were first to score in the second half after Patrick Horgan put over another free, but Pauric Mahony responded with a similar score for Waterford a minute later after a foul on Colin Dunford.

Conor Lehane, Stephen Bennett and Aidan Walsh all landed scores inside the first five minutes of the second half to leave just three points the difference on the score board.

Another Pauric Mahony free followed to send Waterford back in front by four on 44 minutes and he followed it up with another free won by Jamie Barron.

Twelve minutes into the second half it looked as if Youghal’s Bill Cooper had registered another Cork Point but the umpires waved the effort wide even if TV pictures later showed the Youghal man’s effort had gone inside the post.

Pauric Mahony with his second from play gave Waterford a six point advantage fourteen minutes into the second half and now it was looking as if it was going to be Waterford’s day.

Conor Lehane was Cork’s most industrious forward on the day and he pointed just short of the three quarter point in the game to leave Cork trailing 0-16 to 0-11.

Maurice Shanahan and Seamus Harnedy traded scores to keep Waterford five in front, after which Kevin Moran put over a great point  with just over a quarter of an hour still to play.

Waterford went seven up when Pauric Mahony put over a free following a foul on Maurice Shanahan on fifty-five minutes, but Seamus Harnedy cut Waterford’s lead to six at the second attempt after Stephen O’Keeffe did well to keep the original effort out.

In the past, Dan Shanahan often caused havoc to Cork sides he was playing against and here his younger brother Maurice was doing likewise. With eleven minutes to play he was again fouled and Pauric Mahony made no mistake from the resulting free to give Waterford a 0-20 to 0-13 lead.

Patrick Horgan pulled a point back for Cork from a free with seven minutes left but it was to be but a consolation score.

Two years ago when Waterford won the Minor All-Ireland it was a point from Tom Devine late on in the game that ensured that victory was going to be Waterford’s against Galway and her he wrote himself into the pages of the Waterford G.A.A. History when he finished to the net only moments after he had come on for Colin Dunford.

Waterford continued to mount pressure and a Brian O’Halloran and Seamus Harnedy swapped scores as Waterford lead 1-21 to 0-15 with just five minutes left and when 2007 National League winning Captain Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh landed a point there was no doubting what the final outcome would be in this game.

Conor Lehane and Patrick Horgan from a free pulled points back for Cork, their last scores of the game.

Kevin Moran just as he was announced as the ‘Man of the Match’ landed an inspirational point for Waterford. Waterford added two points in the closing minutes

Waterford will celebrate this win, but they know bigger things are around the corner.

Each year it’s the championship that counts for all the major hurling counties. For Waterford its Cork first in just over a months time. Another win for Waterford there would mean a Munster Final appearance and a place in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals.

To beat Cork next time out will not be easy, but this win will have given Waterford plenty of confidence going into the Munster championship. For now, lets enjoy todays win.

Waterford; Stephen O’Keeffe; Noel Connors, Barry Coughlan, Shane Fives; Austin Gleeson, Tadhg De Burca, Philip Mahony; Jamie Barron, Kevin Moran; Colin Dunford, Pauric Mahony, Michael Walsh; Jake Dillon, Maurice Shanahan, Stephen Bennett. Subs; Brian O’Halloran for Colin Dunford (58), Tom Devine for Stephen Bennett (60), Shane O’Sullivan for Jake Dillon (66), Martin O’Neill for Austin Gleeson (69), Gavin O’Brien for Jamie Barron (71).

Scorers: Pauric Mahony 0-11 (0-8f, 0-1 ’65), Tom Devine 1-1, Kevin Moran 0-3, Austin Gleeson (0-1 sideline), Maurice Shanahan, Michael Walsh 0-2 each, Jamie Barron, Brian O’Halloran, Stephen Bennett 0-1 each.

Cork; Anthony Nash; Shane O’Neill, Aidan Ryan, Stephen McDonnell; Lorcán McLoughlin, Mark Ellis, Cormac Murphy; Daniel Kearney, Aidan Walsh; Bill Cooper, Seamus Harnedy, Rob O’Shea; Alan Cadogan, Conor Lehane, Patrick Horgan. Subs; Paudie O’Sullivan for Alan Cadogan (11), Brian Lawton for Aidan Walsh (49), Luke O’Farrell for Rob O’Shea (49), Damien Cahalane for Aidan Ryan (56), Jamie Coughlan for Seamus Harnedy (70).
Scorers: Patrick Horgan 0-7 (0-7f), Conor Lehane 0-5, Seamus Harnedy 0-2, Aidan Walsh, Bill Cooper, Rob O’Shea 0-1 each.

Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary)