Munster U20FC: Cork power into decider with big victory over Waterford 

Cork: 0-33 (0-2-29) 

Waterford: 1-9 (1-1-7) 

A powerful performance from Cork saw them dismiss the challenge of Waterford by 21 points in the Dalata Hotel Group Munster U20 Football Championship Phase 2 Round 3 clash at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Wednesday evening.

Ray Keane’s charges now progress to the provincial final, where they will face Kerry in Tralee.

The Rebels were in control from start to finish. At no stage did a Waterford victory look likely. In the absence of Dara Sheedy, the likes of Seán Coakley and Dylan O'Neill shone up front, while Frank Hurley and Peter Rose once again excelled in defence.

It was, however, another strong team display. Cork led by eight at the short whistle, and the second half proved straightforward, though they will be disappointed to have conceded a soft goal at the start of the new half.

Cork needed just 12 seconds to open their account, Gary Holland pointing after Darragh Clifford won the throw-in to set the move in motion.

Waterford were clinical early on — white flags from Callum Boyle and Ben Qualter giving them a brief lead. It would be the only time the visitors were in front.

Cork responded with three unanswered points — two from Coakley and one from O’Neill to move 0-4 to 0-2 ahead after 10 minutes. From there, it was one-way traffic.

By the 17th minute, all six Cork forwards were on the scoresheet as they moved 0-9 to 0-2 clear and dominated every sector. Luke Shorten added his second before Joe Brennan raised an orange flag, a rare highlight for Waterford on a difficult evening.

Coakley, in excellent form, tapped over his fourth point — Cork’s first from a free — before the hard working Odhran Foley pushed them 0-12 to 0-4 ahead with seven minutes to the break. The sides traded the final four points of the half, leaving Cork comfortably in front, 0-14 to 0-6, at half-time.

Waterford made the perfect start to the second half when Diarmuid Mackle capitalised on sloppy Cork play to finish to the net two minutes after the restart. Cork’s response was immediate and emphatic: O’Neill kicked a two-pointer and then a standard point to restore a 0-17 to 1-6 advantage after 34 minutes.

Cork hit three of the next four points before Foley received a black card for a deliberate pull back with 19 minutes remaining. Even with 14 players, the Leesiders remained in control. Waterford landed two quick frees to reduce the gap to 0-20 to 1-9, but O’Neill and Clifford replied to steady Cork once more.

By the 52nd minute, Cork were 0-27 to 1-9 ahead as the game petered out. A Miskella free and a neat point from substitute Luke Murphy stretched the lead further.

Cork finished strongly, hitting the last four points, with sub Denis O’Mullane’s effort the pick of them.

The Rebels march on.

Scorers for Cork: S Coakley 0-9 (1 2pt, 0-2 f), D O’Neill 0-6 (1 2pt), D Miskella 0-4 (0-2 f), R Barrett, L Shorten 0-3 each, B Curtin (0-2 45), O Foley 0-2 each, G Holland, L Murphy, D O’Mullane, D Clifford 0-1 each.

Waterford: D Mackle 1-1, J Brennan 0-4 (1 2pt, 0-2 f), C Royle, P Bagnall, P McCarthy (f), B Qualter 0-1 each.

CORK: B Curtin (Valley Rovers); F Hurley (O’Donovan Rossa), P Rose (Ballincollig), M Ahern (St Finbarr’s); S O’Leary (Kilmurry), C McCarthy (St Colum’s), O Foley (Bishopstown); D Clifford (Éire Óg, capt), M O’Brien (Ballinora); D Miskella (Ballincollig), L Shorten (Tadhg MacCarthaigh), G Holland (Bishopstown); S Coakley (Douglas), R Barrett (St Finbarr’s), D O’Neill (Carbery Rangers).

Subs: A Keane (Kinsale) for S O’Leary (h-t, inj), D O’Mullane (Kilmurry) for D O’Neill (45), H Wixted (Bishopstown) for G Holland (47), B Corkery-Delaney (Carrigaline) for R Barrett (48), L Murphy (Barryroe) for O Foley (51).

WATERFORD: C Drohan; A Ryan, B Boland, N Fahey; D Nyhan, F O’Brien, D Jacob; D Mackle, D Colleran; A Curran, B Qualter, C Power; J Brennan, P McCarthy, C Royle.

Subs: C Cotter for P McCarthy (22-26, temp), C Cotter for N Fahey (h-t), P Bagnall for C Power (38), E Adebayo for D Nyhan, D Murphy for A Curran (both 53), J Foley for D Colleran (55), J Hickey for A Ryan (60, blood).

Referee: Chris Maguire (Clare).