Flashback: Impressive Cork display at U21 saw off Waterford at the Páirc

Cork 1-16 Waterford 1-3

THREE days after the seniors’ stunning win over Tipperary, Cork hurling received another boost with a comprehensive win over Waterford in the first round of the Munster U21 championship at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Ten years ago today, Cork overcame the loss of Aidan Walsh, who was withdrawn from the team in the half-forward line due to the upcoming Cork-Kerry football clash at the weekend, to dominate from start to finish.

Without an All-Ireland in the grade in a dozen years, Cork began rectifying that statistic by putting Waterford to the sword early even if they did accumulate 12 wides in the opening half.

Cork still led by 0-7 to 0-1 after falling behind to Maurice Shanahan’s opening free in the seventh minute, but that was to be the Deise’s only score of the half.

Cian McCarthy and Ryan Clifford contributed five of Cork’s first-half tally between them, but McCarthy’s journey ended abruptly within five minutes of the resumption.

Limerick referee Declan O’Driscoll, who issued seven yellow cards in the first period, which didn’t carry any spite because of Cork’s superiority, showed red cards to the Cork player and Waterford midfielder Owen Whelan for an off-the-ball incident.

It didn’t disrupt Cork’s flow, however, as outstanding midfielder Seamus O’Farrell struck a couple of impressive points early on before Michael Bowles and Mark Collins followed suit.

Cork’s advantage now stretched to 0-11 to 0-1 before Shane Kearney registered Waterford’s second score after 38 minutes.

Yet, entering the closing quarter, Cork’s lead stood at nine points, 0-12 to 0-3, as a rock-solid home defence rarely allowed the Waterford attack a chance of testing keeper Darren McCarthy.

On one occasion the Ballymartle custodian was tested, McCarthy pulled off a stunning save to deny Thomas Ryan’s blinding drive.

All through Cork defenders had the measure of their opponents, particularly Stephen McDonnell and Eoin Keane in the full-back line while Lorcán McLoughlin manned the left half-back role with authority.

Cork emptied their bench in the closing quarter, safe in the knowledge that a semi-final against Tipp was already guaranteed.

And while the outcome was sealed, the game managed to produce two goals in injury-time.

Cork claimed the first following an exciting team move during which Daniel Kearney and Luke O’Farrell created the overlap for substitute Michael O’Sullivan to decorate the move with a fine goal.

And still, the cheering had barely died, when Waterford went up the other end of the pitch to score an even more impressive goal when Brian O’Sullivan beat McCarthy with a stunning shot to the top corner of the net.

It was mere consolation for a well-beaten Waterford side, which found Cork too much of a handful on the evening.

Scorers for Cork: R Clifford 0-6 (0-3 f), M O’Sullivan 1-0, C McCarthy 0-2 (0-1 f), S O’Farrell an L O’Farrell 0-2 each, M Bowles, M Collins, J Nagle, P Gould 0-1 each

Scorers for Waterford: B O’Sullivan 1-0, M Shanahan 0-2f, S Kearney 0-1

CORK: D McCarthy; S McDonnell, E Keane, C O’Sullivan; J Nagle, W Egan, L McLoughlin; D Kearney, S O’Farrell; M Collins, C McCarthy, M Bowles; L O’Farrell, T Murphy, R Clifford.

Subs: P Gould for Murphy, R White for Collins, M O’Sullivan for Bowles, G O’Connor for Nagle, F Keane for Clifford.

WATERFORD: S O’Keeffe; N Connors, B Coughlan, S Kearney (Dungarvan); J Prendergast, P Mahony, S Daniels; S Fives, O Whelan; R Fenton, M Shanahan, S Kearney (Ballyduff Upper); B O’Sullivan, S Aherne, T Ryan.

Subs: A Connors for Fenton, P Prendergast for Daniels, P Donovan for Ryan, S Power for Aherne.

Referee: D O’Driscoll (Limerick).