Cork U20s primed for huge Waterford challenge

While the absence of Barry Walsh is an obstacle to overcome, Cork U20 manager Noel Furlong hopes that a collective effort can compensate for his absence against Waterford.

The Rebels take on the Déise at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field tonight (7.35pm), seeking a second victory in three round-robin games.

The home side have yet to register a point but their losses to Clare and Tipperary were by a point each and Furlong expects a near-knockout feel.

“It’s massive, absolutely massive,” he said, “and there are head-to-head implications and everything.

“Dungarvan is always a difficult place to go and obviously Waterford are very well-managed by James O’Connor, who I know well from his time in Carrigtwohill.

“That management won the minor All-Ireland last year and they’ve been unbelievably competitive in their two games to date, very unlucky to lose by a point in both of game.

“This game is definitely a season-definer for us. It sets us up to progress in the competition if we can get a result down there.”

Cork come in on the back of a fortnight’s break since beating Limerick, with the time since allowing for greater cohesion.

“You learn most by playing championship games and we’ve two under the belt now,” Furlong said.

“We were able to get a good block of training done on our shape, structure, cohesion, puckout routines – just our general hurling sharpness.

“Similar to last year, the further we go in this competition, the better we’re going to get. That’s all coming together now very nicely and we’re primed now and looking forward to a good battle against Waterford.”

They will of course be without Walsh due to a decision by the Cork senior management. The Killeagh man has scored 2-25 in the two games so far – it’s unlikely any one player will replicate his output but Furlong will be looking for them to match it in the aggregate.

“That’s exactly it,” he said.

“We’re the highest scorers in the competition by a good bit – now, in saying that, Barry is the highest scorer himself, he’s our free-taker and obviously a leader within the group.

“We have full faith in our overall squad and the other players that we have as well and we’ve no doubt they’ll be stepping up to take on more responsibility.”