Cork cruise against Waterford comes with an asterisk, but William Buckley seized his moment

Expected from the outset – deemed even more likely once both sets of teams were announced – Cork’s first competitive game under Ben O’Connor finished in a victory that caught no one by surprise.

Waterford’s total absence of resistance did little to test Cork, or to reveal much about them either, but that can hardly be laid at the Rebels’ door. They were ruthless, clinical and expansive in attack.

Once the tone was set, there was no easing off.

Only six of Waterford’s starting team at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday were starters in the opening round of last summer’s Munster Championship against Clare. They were; goalkeeper Billy Nolan, defenders Iarlaith Daly, Conor Prunty and Mark Fitzgerald, midfielder Darragh Lyons and forward Jamie Barron.

Even allowing for experimentation and the absence of their Ballygunner contingent, it was still a deeply underwhelming display from the Déise.

Free-taker Reuben Halloran and Jamie Barron were the only forwards to score from play, and between them they accounted for all but two of Waterford’s total from open play.

That the contest became one-sided was no surprise. How quickly it got there was.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS 

In truth, this had the feel of a glorified challenge game. Cork’s trip to Salthill this weekend should provide a far more accurate measure of where O’Connor’s side are, and will likely represent the first genuinely competitive examination of his tenure so far.

Nonetheless, there was plenty for Cork fans to look out for, including first starts for the returning Daire O’Leary, along with debutant William Buckley. Both Hugh O’Connor and Alan Walsh also made their first competitive appearances from the bench.

Cork’s full-back line was scarcely tested – Daire O’Leary had little to do – but O’Connor wasted no time making an impression after coming on, popping over a tidy point and getting on a healthy share of ball late on.

Walsh, too, looked comfortable in his cameo, making an excellent catch and forcing a turnover on a Waterford puckout that directly led to Cork’s third goal.

But it was the man who converted that third major – William Buckley – who impressed the most. He seized the opportunity to impress, and even delivered a couple of stylish finishes, too.

His goal, after Walsh’s earlier turnover, Alan Connolly gathered possession and his clever pass allowed Buckley to finish to the net one-handed. 

The St Finbarr’s clubman then followed that with a point that will have drawn comparisons – on his knees, under pressure – to a certain Brian Corcoran, which moved his tally to 1-4.

Cork’s first goal was just as slick. Seán O’Donoghue picked out Declan Dalton, who turned Conor Keane and squared for Connolly to finish. By then Cork were already shooting at will, but the goal put the contest firmly beyond Waterford’s reach.

TARGET PRACTICE 

For long spells of the opening half, this was target practice. Eighteen scores from 26 attempts is an excellent return. Cork’s first wide didn’t arrive until the 12th minute, by which point they were already 0-9 to 0-1 clear.

The tempo dipped slightly after the break as Cork settled into control, but there was still value in the exercise – especially for players pushing for starting roles. The likes of Tommy O’Connell, Brian Roche and Cormac O’Brien will benefit from having a full 70 minutes, in which all three impressed.

Cork’s shooting stats v Waterford – scores (misses):

William Buckley 1-4 (2) 

Declan Dalton 1-4 (0) 

Alan Connolly 1-2 (0-1 f) (3 f) 

Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-3 (0-1 f) (1) 

Shane Barrett 0-3 (1) 

Mark Coleman 0-2 (2 (1 f)) 

Brian Roche 0-1 (1) 

Tommy O’Connell 0-1 (1) 

Hugh O’Connor 0-1 (0) 

Alan Walsh 0-0 (2) 

Micheál Mullins 0-0 (1) 

Misses include wides, short, off posts and saved efforts.