Munster Minor Hurling: Cormac Deane stars as Cork finish well to book final spot
Cork's Cormac Deane shoots at goal, shadowed by Waterford's Hugo Quann, during Friday's Electric Ireland Munster MHC game at Páirc Uí Rinn. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Cork secured a place in the Electric Ireland Munster MHC with a game to spare as a strong final quarter saw off Waterford at Páirc Uí Rinn on Friday night.
With 21 minutes left, Cork led by 1-10 to 0-12, preserving their one-point half-time lead, but Shane Power’s second levelled again and then the visitors scored a goal.
When goalkeeper James Comerford came out to take a free, Cork’s Michael Tadhg Brosnan – who impressed after moving to centre-back in the second half – did well to stop it going over the bar, but the ball fell to Shanahan who finished well to the net: 1-13 to 1-10.
Cork’s play had not been as fluent as their opening two games, their response to the goal showed character, maturity and no little composure.
Six straight points put them three ahead before Waterford scored again, with Deane setting the run going before testing Comerford with a low shot – it was saved but O’Sullivan scored the consequent 65 and it was level following a nice Eoghan O’Shea point.
Tom A Walsh claimed the puckout, allowing Deane to put Cork back in front, with two O’Sullivan frees franking their advantage. At the other end, the authority of Denis Fitzgerald at full-back kept things tight.
Waterford’s drought ended through sub Andrew Power and then Cormac Spain to leave it a one-point game with eight minutes left before Cork pushed on again.
Deane was firmly in the zone, reeling off three to bring his tally to eight, matching that of O’Sullivan, who sent over another free.
That left it 1-20 to 1-15 with two minutes remaining, with Cork goalkeeper Tom C Walsh having to keep the ball out following a scramble before O’Sullivan got his ninth of the night to confirm the win and spot in the decider. They may yet renew acquaintance with Waterford there – their clash with Clare next week is essentially a semi-final tie as they are level on points.
In the first half, Deane excelled with three early points as the hosts moved into a 0-5 to 0-3 lead but Waterford, making good use of aerial supremacy, responded with four points in a row between the 13th and 22nd minutes, three of them from Spain (two frees).
Even that scoring run was somewhat misleading, however – the sides were tied at 0-5 when Cork did well to engineer a goal chance on 19. From a troublesome position in their own left corner, Colm Garde and Tom A Walsh linked before captain Bobby Carroll’s delivery was taken down brilliantly by Deane to give him an avenue goalwards but Comerford saved well, at the expense of an unconverted 65.
Despite pushing ahead, Waterford were wasteful with a number of scoring opportunities, though, and Cork moved back in front with a goal five minutes before the half. While there was some fortune attached as Garde’s point attempt dropped short and deceived Comerford in the wet conditions, the determination of midfielder Jack Counihan – excellent throughout – to keep the ball in play and get it to Garde meant their luck was earned.
While Jack Power’s third for Waterford tied matters, Cork went in leading following a good Ruairc Donovan score after a Brosnan free broke inside.
While an O’Sullivan free had put Cork 1-8 to 0-9 in front on the resumption, Waterford responded well. Shanahan set up Shane Power for a point, then he was fouled for a free that Cormac Spain sent over and he followed that with a score of his own, his third of the night.
O’Sullivan and Ruairc Donovan replied to put Cork back in front on 38, but there were more twists and turns to come.
C O’Sullivan 0-9 (0-8 f, 0-1 65), C Deane 0-8, C Garde 1-0, R Donovan 0-2, E O’Shea, J Counihan 0-1 each.
J Shanahan 1-3, C Spain 0-6 (0-4 f), J Power 0-3, S Power 0-2, A Power 0-1.
TC Walsh (Aghada); D Heavin (Russell Rovers), D Fitzgerald (Bride Rovers), C Lawton (Midleton); MT Brosnan (Glen Rovers), B Carroll (Dromina), C Garde (Lisgoold); TA Walsh (Carrigtwohill), J Counihan (Aghada); R Dineen (Éire Óg), C Deane (Killeagh), R Donovan (Fermoy); E O’Shea (Ballinhassig), C Coffey (Na Piarsaigh), C O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh).
S Coughlan (Passage) for Dineen, S Ring (Carrigtwohill) for Coffey (both 41), C Hanratty (Carrigaline) for Donovan (53), E Connolly (Dungourney) for Counihan (60+1).
J Comerford; C Lynch, D Murphy, D Keane; B Penkert, H Quann, C Power; T Kennedy, P Quann; E Burke, J Power, S Power; C Spain, G O’Shea, J Shanahan.
A Power for P Quann (half-time), C Reville for Burke (47), D Murphy for T Kennedy (57), E McHugh for S Power (60+1).
C O’Donovan (Tipperary).
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