Munster U20HC: Cork stay focused as they open with win over Waterford

Waterford 1-10

Cork 0-21

Cork lived up to their billing as favourites with a comfortable win over Waterford in their oneills.com Munster U20HC opener at Fraher Field on Friday night.

The eight-point winning margin for Ben O’Connor’s side betrays the concession of a late goal by Waterford sub Conor Tobin but prior to that Cork were well in command, having established a nine-point half-time lead.

A crowd of 2,377 brave souls were present, rewarded at least by an easing of conditions for a while in the second half after a tempest had reigned in the opening period. However, Cork’s supremacy, established early, was never in danger of being shaken.

It was scarcely surprising, given the past success enjoyed by those in red and white – 11 of the successful 2021 minor side started and two more had been part of that panel, while seven of the team gained U20 medals as Cork made it three in four years at that grade last year.

Even so, favouritism can be able to decay into complacency and over-confidence but there was never a sign of the visitors having taken their eye off the ball.

While the opening Cork point, a first-minute Jack Leahy free, was answered by one from Waterford’s Charlie Treen, seven unanswered points followed from the Rebels. Leahy was unerring from frees and also rounded off a good move involving wing-backs Cillian Tobin and James Dwyer while Diarmuid Healy sent over a pair of fine efforts. The Dungourney man was to finish with ten points.

With Waterford playing a sweeper, Cork captain Darragh O’Sullivan was able to operate as a sweeper, a role he was able to operate smoothly and efficiently, while Tobin, Healy and Tadhg O’Connell, among others, provided aerial dominance around the middle sector.

After Treen got Waterford’s second point on the quarter-hour mark, Cork replied with a wonderfully-worked score as the ball was worked from deep through the hands of O’Sullivan, fellow corner-back Denis Cashman and centre-back Oran O’Regan to end with an O’Connell score. David Cremin, Leahy – his seventh – and William Buckley added points to make it 0-12 to 0-2 after 22 minutes.

The same gap still pertained in injury time, 0-14 to 0-4, when Waterford senior star Patrick Fitzgerald – well-marshalled by Kevin Lyons throughout – got his first of the evening but a pair of Leahy frees moved Cork 11 clear on the resumption.

Frees from Fitzgerald and Treen (two) did give Waterford their most fruitful scoring patch after that, 0-16 to 0-8 with 20 minutes left. After Leahy’s ninth, Fitzgerald went for goal from a 20m free but the effort was repelled.

Cork’s scoring rate dropped after that as the rain resumed and the benches were emptied, but the win had long been secured. They might have had a late goal when sub Ross O’Sullivan was fouled for a penalty after turning over a short puckout but goalkeeper Paudie O’Sullivan fired just over.

Ben Walsh – the only graduate from last year’s minors to start – added a late point, as did Ross O’Sullivan, to leave them 11 clear before Tobin grabbed a late consolation goal for Waterford, touching home a Treen free.

Even so, Cork are securely up and running, with Clare to come to Cork next Friday night.

Scorers for Waterford: C Treen 0-8 (0-7f), C Tobin 1-0, P Fitzgerald 0-2 (0-1f).

Cork: J Leahy 0-10 (0-8f), W Buckley 0-3, D Healy 0-2, Ben Walsh, D Cremin, T O’Connell, P O’Sullivan (0-1 penalty), R O’Sullivan, C Tobin 0-1 each.

WATERFORD: S Ryan; C Ryan, D Lalor, C Keane; A O’Neill, B O’Connell, F Hallinan; E Spelman, D Walsh; S Mackey, C Treen, M Mahony; M Morrissey, P Fitzgerald, J Twomey.

Subs: M Burke for Hallinan (half-time), C Tobin for Morrissey (40), J O’Keeffe for Walsh (45), B Callaghan for Mackey (48), J Power for Spelman (52).

CORK: P O’Sullivan (Fr O’Neills); D Cashman (Bride Rovers), K Lyons (Ballygarvan), D O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig); J Dwyer (Ballincollig), O O’Regan (Erin’s Own), C Tobin (Bride Rovers); M Finn (Midleton), Ben Walsh (Killeagh); T O’Connell (Ballincollig), W Buckley (St Finbarr’s), D Healy (Lisgoold); E O’Leary (Glen Rovers), D Cremin (Midleton), J Leahy (Dungourney).

Subs: P O’Shea (Erin’s Own) for Tobin, A O’Sullivan (Ballinhassig) for O’Connell (both 49), Barry Walsh (Killeagh) for O’Leary, R O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh) for Leahy (both 51), B Nyhan (Clyda Rovers) for Cremin (59).

Referee: C Doyle (Tipperary).