Late heroics give Cork victory over Waterford in Munster U20HC
Cork's Finn O'Brien attempts to break past Waterford's Conor Lynch during the Fulfil Munster U20HC at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field in Dungarvan. Picture: Howard Crowdy
A huge show of character from Cork earned them victory over Waterford in Wednesday night’s Fulfil Munster U20HC clash at Cappoquin Logistic Fraher Field.
Having led by 0-6 to 0-5 at half-time, Cork – without Barry Walsh due to senior commitments – fell behind as Waterford made use of the elements in the second half.
David Comerford’s fourth point of the night made it 0-12 to 0-9 with 11 minutes remaining, but the Déise were to score just once more as Noel Furlong’s side dug deep.
Johnny Murphy, who had been denied a goal by a block from corner-back Darragh Keane shortly beforehand, cut the gap with a fine point and Jack O’Brien’s ninth of the ninth, a free, left the minimum in it – that deficit was removed when captain Barry O’Flynn scored a beauty from the sideline.
Cork had the lead for the first time in the second period thanks to a lovely Finn O’Brien score but Comerford kept his nerve to nail a big free, 0-13 each on 56.
The hosts wasted two chances to go back in front though and Cork forged ahead again as sub Craig O’Sullivan did brilliantly to block down a clearance and fire over and then, as normal time was about to expire, a free from goalkeeper Oisín Walsh broke and Conor Noonan reacted quickest to make it a two-point game.
Waterford searched for a goal and sub Tomás Carey had searing slalom only for it to end with an over-carrying call while sideline cut from deep ended up going wide. The clock was just about to reach the allotted 63 minutes when hardworking Cork sub Jack Counihan was fouled and James O’Brien ensured he finished with ten.
One last Waterford attack came to nothing, with Hugo Quann’s shot blocked, fittingly, by Cork corner-back Darragh Heavin, who was superb throughout.
The win moves them top of the table on scoring difference, albeit with four points from three games while Clare and Tipperary have four from two – the counties clash next Wednesday. Unfortunately for Waterford, the result means qualification hopes ended after losses of one point, one point and three points.
While the strong wind towards the estuary favoured Cork in the first half, it was diagonal and did not favour a feast of long-range shooting.
They had the lead inside 35 seconds as Ben Walsh and Zack Biggane combined for James O'Brien to score but thereafter Waterford had the upper hand for the bulk of the half. Nice points from Conor Tobin and Mark Hartley had James O’Connor’s side in front.
Then, after Walsh levelled with a good free, the Déise attackers combined to good effect, with Hartley evading challenges before setting up Tobin for a 0-3 to 0-2 lead.
O’Flynn tied the game again before Paddy Spellman’s pass allowed Shane Power to make it 0-4 to 0-3 for the home side – that was followed by the first of two good goal chances for Cork.
From an Oisín Walsh puckout, wing-forward Zack Biggane did brilliantly as he won possession and carried the ball forward before releasing Conor Noonan but the midfield could not find the target.
Hartley’s second on the quarter-hour, exchanging passes with Comerford from a sideline cut, made it 0-5 to 0-3 before Cork responded well, with O’Brien landing a free and then getting his fourth point following good work from Barry O’Flynn and Jack O’Brien.
From there, they might have netted as a good move saw Johnny Murphy set O’Flynn away on a knifing run – he passed to Finn O’Brien, who found the target but with James Comerford in the way.
Another O’Brien free did give them the interval lead but the upper hand was lost as Waterford had a blistering start to the second half. Comerford scored a free and then one from play when loose Cork play was turned over; Keane was the engineer for Tobin’s third and Hartley’s long-ranger made it 0-9 to 0-6.
Two from O’Brien kept Cork in touch, but Waterford looked to have the momentum without pulling clear. It was 0-11 to 0-9 when Keane denied Murphy and Cormerford’s point immediately after gave the sense it was to be Waterford’s night but Cork had other ideas.
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