Shot maps tells the story of Cork's dismantling of Waterford
Cork's Declan Dalton shoots to score his side's second goal of the match against Waterford. Pciture: ©Inpho/Tom Maher
Cork’s win over Waterford may have bordered on the routine, but it is one that will be banked with real satisfaction given how unforgiving Division 1A has become since its reduction. Relegation once felt like a remote threat for the top sides, but it’s far more cutthroat under the new format.
Two from seven will drop, and slow starts are no longer a luxury.
In that context, Ben O’Connor will have been pleased not just that Cork got off the mark, but with how emphatically they did so.
A blistering opening burst – ten points from their first ten shots – set the tone early. From there, Cork slipped into cruise control, coasting through the contest and never allowing the Déise a foothold. Yet even when that purple patch inevitably eased, the Rebels’ dominance never wavered.
Their half time conversion rate stood at a very impressive 72% (18/25) and only dropped to 65% (28/43) after the second period. From play, Cork’s conversion rate finished at 69% (25/36).
Of Cork’s 15 misses – wides, short and saved attempts all included – seven of those shots were taken from beyond Waterford’s 65. Just six misses were registered inside the 65m line between both halves, including Diarmuid Healy’s goalbound effort in the latter act that was brilliantly saved.
Of course, Waterford’s lacklustre display and failure to produce any sort of resistance is a factor, but take nothing away from Cork’s shooting exhibition, especially in the first half.
While Waterford’s left flank proved a profitable avenue, Cork were far from one dimensional. Chances were being fashioned and finished from all areas, with Healy’s saved effort the only goal attempt that did not end in green.
Declan Dalton showed incredible composure to tee up Alan Connolly, and his finish was excellent for the first goal.
Dalton then dispatched the penalty with a level of precision that few, if any, other than the Fr O’Neill’s clubman can offer, while William Buckley too was excellent when finishing Cork’s third major.
Darragh Fitzgibbon and Shane Barrett were Cork’s best shooters from range on Sunday, while Buckley, Dalton and in particular Diarmuid Healy, all pulled off some brilliant scores from tight angles.
The first half in particular was when Cork were flying, especially as Mark Coleman and Robert Downey enjoyed such superiority in the half back line and were able to find the inside forwards with plenty of medium to long range passes.
Cork’s meeting with Galway in Salthill will of course be a more challenging test, but this was about as convincing as a start to the Allianz Hurling League title defence can commence.
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