Three reasons why Cork beat Waterford to move into Munster hurling final

FIRST-HALF DISPLAY

The strength of the wind was shown early on as Waterford goalkeeper Billy Nolan stroked a free over from his own 45 while some Cork fans expressed their displeasure at short passing movements being employed to work the ball out.

Cork’s periods of possession – and time-wasting over dead balls, some punished and some not – served to eat up the clock though, denying Waterford a chance to build a lead. The Déise were also guilty of failing to maximise their chances.

GOAL THREAT

As ever, a key component in deciding the outcome – Cork scored two goals and won by six points, whereas Waterford missed a few on top of the one they scores. Stephen Bennett had an early free saved and hit the post with a second-half chance, Jamie Barron shot wide when being fouled and there was almost a Mark Coleman own goal.

It’s not to say that Cork would have lost had the green-flag situation been different but the goals, and the timing of them, were key in pointing them to victory.

COMPOSURE

Sometimes, it feels that, like Rory McIlroy, Cork need to have an opponent pushing them in order to bring out their best.

Eight ahead early in the second half, some “brutal” – in the words of Pat Ryan – wides denied them an easier procession to the finish line. 

Equally, though, when Waterford came back to within a point midway through the half and then three in the closing stages, Cork were able to push clear again.