Allianz HL: Cork on top throughout as Waterford seen off in opener
Declan Dalton of Cork scores his side's second goal, a penalty, during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A match against Waterford at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Cork’s defence of the Allianz Hurling League title opened with a comfortable victory over Waterford at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday afternoon.
A crowd of 20,464 was present for Ben O’Connor’s first game in charge at the venue – the fourth successive ‘regular’ home league game to have a crowd in excess of the teens – while the result extends to eight the unbeaten record at the venue across league and championship.
Given that Cork were able to start ten of the All-Ireland final starting side and a callow Waterford lacked their Ballygunner contingent as well as a number of other key names, a home victory was to be expected but the manner in which they asserted themselves will be pleasing to the new manager.
A strong display of crisp and sharp hurling gave the hosts a 2-16 to 0-9 half-time lead against the Division 1B champions of 2025 and, while the second half lacked the same intensity, the destination of the two points was always certain.
Cork had the lead inside 30 seconds of the start as Mark Coleman’s nice diagonal pass was well-controlled by Declan Dalton before he fired over. It was the first of a tally of 1-4 for the Fr O’Neill’s man, who operated in the full-forward line alongside Alan Connolly, while debutant William Buckley rotated between the inside sector. All three were to find the net, combining for 3-10.
Connolly had the first goal, in the 18th minute – and by that stage Cork had already amassed an 0-11 to 0-3 lead, with the half-back line of Cormac O’Brien, Robert Downey and Coleman proving a plentiful source for scoring opportunities.
The goal came in similar fashion: corner-back Seán O’Donoghue picked up possession on his own 65 and fed a searching ball to Dalton. While he could have gone for his own score from a tight angle on the right, he unselfishly played across to Connolly, who finished from close range.
While Reuben Halloran’s points, from play and dead balls, helped Waterford to slowly build their scoring output, Cork’s lead had grown to 12 points, 1-15 to 0-6, by the time the second goal came, just before the half-hour.
Diarmuid Healy, lively throughout, found Brian Roche on the run and, while Mark Fitzgerald’s foul on him began outside the large rectangle, referee Johnny Murphy deemed the offence to be worthy of a penalty and a black card. There was never any doubt that Dalton would extend the punishment by drilling past Billy Nolan.
By half-time, they were 13 to the good and Coleman and Buckley had nice points early in the second half, the latter after O’Donoghue, new captain Fitzgibbon and Roche.
Waterford did get a chance to slightly erode what had become a 15-point deficit when they were awarded a black-card penalty – Robert Downey the guilty Cork player – and Shane Bennett netted. However, Cork hit back instantly; Alan Walsh, not long on, forced a turnover that saw Connolly gain possession and played in Buckley to finish one-handed, despite being fouled.
The St Finbarr’s man would finish with 1-4 to his name, while another debutant, Hugh O’Connor, came off the bench to add a point as Cork eased clear, Halloran’s frees for Waterford notwithstanding, while Niall O’Leary excelled in defence. The visitors finished with 14 as Seán Walsh was dismissed for a late off-the-ball incident.
Bigger tests await – beginning with Galway in Salthill next Saturday night – but the Rebels are up and running.
W Buckley, D Dalton (1-0 penalty) 1-4 each, A Connolly 1-2 (0-1 f), D Healy 0-4, D Fitzgibbon (0-1 f), S Barrett 0-3 each, M Coleman 0-2, T O’Connell, B Roche, H O’Connor 0-1 each.
R Halloran 0-13 (0-8 f, 0-2 65), S Bennett 1-0 penalty, J Barron 0-2, D Lyons, S Walsh, C Lyons 0-1 each.
P Collins; N O’Leary, D O’Leary, S O’Donoghue; C O’Brien, R Downey, M Coleman; T O’Connell, D Fitzgibbon; B Roche, S Barrett, D Healy; W Buckley, D Dalton, A Connolly.
A Walsh for Dalton (42), H O’Connor for Barrett (47), M Mullins for Downey (55), E Roche for D O’Leary (50), R O’Flynn for Healy (61).
B Nolan; C Prunty, D Lalor, C Keane; I Daly, M Fitzgerald, Shane Bennett; D Lyons, S Mackey; R Halloran, J Barron, J Fagan; J Power, S Walsh, C Treen.
J Booth for Fagan (8, injured), B Lynch for Lalor (20, injured), C Lyons for Power (41), M Kiely for Booth (51), M Power for Daly (58).
J Murphy (Limerick).
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