Brave Déise Fall Just Short Against Rebels

Yes, the score board at Fraher Field is correct, and yes the result is that at full time in the Munster Senior Football Championship game.

Cork may be no longer the side that they once were when it comes to football, but they are still ranked well above Waterford and would be expected by most to reach the last eight at least in this year’s All-Ireland Football Championship, so hopefully those that take pleasure out of knocking Waterford Football will realise once and for all, when given a fair chance, football in Waterford is much better than most will give it credit for.

Cork travelled to Fraher Field this afternoon the most fancied of sides, but they needed to points in stoppage time when they had only fourteen men on the field to ensure that “The Biggest Shock in Gaelic Football in Many Years” did not happen this evening.

Waterford pushed Cork from the throw in right to the final whistle and if they can repeat this display in the qualifiers, should Waterford get a home fixture not many teams will fancy coming to Fraher Field.

Heading into stoppage time of which there was seven minutes there was a distinct possibility that the two sides would have to head to Pairc Ui Rinn for a replay, but late points from Com O’Neill and Paul Kerrigan even if Donie Breathnach pulled one back for the home side, ensured that the visiting side advanced to a Munster Semi Final against Tipperary and keep the counties chances of a Munster Final against Kerry being the first game to be played at the new Pairc Ui Chaoimh in early July.

At the break the visitors were a goal in front, but the home side came out the stronger of the two sides for the second half and kicked 1-2 before Cork added to their first half total.

Waterford started the game brightly as Donie Breathnach from a free opened the scoring on five minutes, only for John O’Rourke to equalise. A point from Tommy Prendergast quickly followed and some were wondering even at this early stage how close Waterford would be to Cork at the end of seventy minutes.

Cork hit the first goal of the game on eighteen minutes when Colm O’Neill found Paul Kerrigan and from close range the Nemo Rangers man made not mistake in finding the net using his fist to the ball.

Michael Curry pulled a point back for Waterford before John O’Rourke hit his second of the game, after which Aidan Trihy a late change for Waterford before the game scored followed with another John O’Rourke score to keep the visitors in front by two.

The final score of the opening half went in the way of the visitors, Paul Kerrigan putting the size Five over Stephen Enright’s crossbar, giving his side a 1-4 to 0-4 lead as the sides headed to the dressing rooms with Cork having played into the breeze.

Waterford have not beaten Cork in the Munster Championship since 1960 and early in the second half it looked maybe that that long run without a win over their neighbours might come to an end.

Kilrossanty club man Joey Veale sent in a free around the Cork danger zone and thankfully from a Waterford perspective Gavin Crotty was in the right place to finish to the net to level matters on the score board.

Paul Whyte edged Waterford in front and when Donie Breathnach landed another point the headline makers in the local and national papers were surly dreaming up some creative headlines for their publications.

Cork drew level with efforts from Donnacha O’Connor and then James Loughrey leaving the Rebel Support inside Fraher Field hoping that their side could go and press on using their greater experience in the closing minutes of this battle.

Donie Breathnach edged Waterford in front once more only for Donnacha O’Connor to level matters once more.

The An Rinn Club Man who was outstanding for Waterford over the course of the seventy minutes gave Waterford a 1-8 to 1-7 lead but the visitors followed up with efforts from Paul Kerrigan and Donnacha O’Connor to give them the smallest of advantages on the score board.

The visitors would finish the game with 13 men after Alan O’Connor was ordered off by the County Clare Referee after he fouled Brian Looby who had to leave the field following the foul in the closing minutes and they had had James Loughrey black carded late on by which time they had emptied their bench.

Mark Collins put Cork two in front after which Paul Whyte and Donie Breathnach landed scores to tie the sides 1-10 a piece on the score board.

Injury time scores from Colm O’Neill and Paul Kerrigan looked as if it had given Cork a safe passage to the Semi Finals, but Donie Breathnach with his sixth score of the game left just one between the sides.

But time ran out for Waterford. Had they got something from this game, nobody would have said they did not deserve it.

This result will have got some to sit up and take notice that football in Waterford is nowhere near as poor as some would suggest. Tom McGlinchey’s men deserved to get something from this game for the effort they put in.

Down the years Waterford has not got some favourable draws when it come to the qualifiers. Hopefully when the draws for this year’s qualifiers take place that it will be kind to Waterford and at give Tom McGlinchey’s side a home draw.

Cork: Ken O’Halloran; Kevin Crowley, Michael Shields, Jamie O Sullivan; Tomas Clancy, James Loughrey, Stephen Cronin; Aidan Walsh, Ruairi Deane; Kevin O’Driscoll, Mark Collins, John O Rourke; Colm O Neill, Peter Kelleher, Paul Kerrigan. Subs: Alan O’Connor for Aidan Walsh (11), Donnacha O’Connor for Kevin O’Driscoll (45), Ian Maguire for Ruairi Deane (49), Sean Powter for Stephen Cronin (53), Gary Murphy for Peter Kelleher (63), Barry O’Driscoll for John O’Rourke (65).

Scorers: Paul Kerrigan 1-3, John O’Rourke 0-3, Donnacha O’Connor 0-3, Colm O’Neill (0-1f), Mark Collins, James Loughrey 0-1 each.

Waterford: Stephen Enright; Brian Looby, Ray Ó Ceallaigh, Thomas O’Gorman; Tadhg Ó hUallacháin, Stephen Prendergast, James McGrath; Tommy Prendergast, Michael Curry; Fearghal Ó Cuirrín, Paul Whyte, Aidan Trihy; Donie Breathnach, Joey Veale, Gavin Crotty. Subs: Conor Murray for Ferghal Ó Cuirrín (44), Michael O’Halloran for Joe Veale (49), Lorcan Ó Corraoin for Brian Looby (65), Dylan Guiry for Aidan Trihy (69).

Scorers: Donie Breathnach 0-6 (0-5f), Gavin Crotty 1-0, Paul White 0-2, Tommy Prendergast 0-1, Michael Curry 0-1, Aidan Trihy 0-1.

Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare)