Cork see off Déise to get a shot at redemption
Before a ball was pucked in this year's Munster SHC, the talk was all of a potential trilogy. Cork were cock-a-hoop after winning a first National League title since 1998 and with Limerick chasing a record seventh provincial title in a row, the smart money was on the counties meeting three times this summer.
Now? For Cork fans, there's a slight sense of be careful what you wish for.
Part 1 took place last weekend and there was a touch of a Hammer Horror about it: Cork being sliced and diced in a manner not seen since the 2021 All-Ireland final when Limerick again stuck the knife in. Cork and Waterford battle for possession. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Part 2 will take place — once again — at the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday, June 7. It's then that we will get another measure of Pat Ryan's team.
He's not trying merely to dampen the hype machine by claiming his side will be 'huge underdogs'. Not after they struggled past a Waterford side that could have folded when being hit for 1-4 without reply in the third quarter of yesterday's final round Munster game and were suddenly trailing by eight. And that was facing into a stiff wind that was in Cork's favour for the second half.
Brian Hayes had calmed nervy Cork hearts with a goal less than 20 seconds after the restart. Tim O'Mahony got a block on Paddy Leavey to force a turnover and fed Darragh Fitzgibbon who played in the April Player of the Month to find the net. Conor Prunty had battled manfully to curb the St Finbarr's player but there was a sense that Cork were ready to cut loose. Especially when Shane Barrett showed that electric burst, that made him an All-Star last year, to sprint through and flash another goal effort just wide. Sean Walsh of Waterford races clear of Cormac O'Brien of Cork. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
When Hayes then very unselfishly laid the ball off to Patrick Horgan to pick his spot across the body of Waterford goalkeeper Billy Nolan, it looked like Cork were back to their thrilling, flashy best — all pace and angles of running.
At 2-18 to 0-16, there was every sense that it could go the way of so many of Cork's other performances at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, most notably the 10-point beating of Tipperary in the Allianz League final.
Instead, Waterford dug deep. Prunty and Mark Fitzgerald in particular refused to buckle at the back. Darragh Fives emptied the tank around the middle before his forced substitution and Stephen Bennett showed all his guile and leadership up front. Cork were committed to pressing high and going man-to-man and left themselves a bit open at the back. And the match came to the boil in thrilling fashion coming up to the hour mark.
Dessie Hutchinson's introduction further sparked Waterford and after he pinged a point, Bennett latched on to a Kevin Mahony delivery, spun Eoin Downey after winning the one-vone tussle and smuggled a snap shot to the net. Darragh Fitzgibbon of Cork has his helmet grabbed by Conor Prunty of Waterford. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Then came the game's turning point. Bennett again found a way to win possession and flashed a shot from a tight angle across the goal only for it to hit the butt of the post and rebound out. Jack Prendergast did nab the next point but Darragh Fitzgibbon pushed the gap out to four and then another of Cork's gilded bench — Shane Kingston — added another. Such is the quality Cork have in reserve that the same player even did a nutmeg to win a free — stopping the ball going out over the endline by flicking it back through his own legs.
Bennett kept the Rebels honest by tagging on four different frees but two huge Cork points — one from impressive wingback Cormac O'Brien and another monster free from the sideline from Darragh Fitzgibbon — carried the Leesiders to the finish. The big impact off the bench from the likes of Diarmuid Healy was critical too.
But the manner in which Cork failed to kick on with a strong wind behind them in that final quarter means that Limerick will start as strong favourites for the final.
Encouraging signs for Cork? Alan Connolly hit three points in the first half and was a dangerous presence in the full-forward line. Horgan, too, calmly went about slotting his frees and helped Cork into a 0-13 to 0-12 lead at half-time. Brian Hayes of Cork, right, celebrates with team-mate Patrick Horgan. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Sean Walsh and Patrick Fitzgerald showed that this Waterford team have plenty of youthful promise and they were central to another fast start.
Waterford were unhappy that Mark Coleman escaped a black card for what they felt was a goalscoring opportunity during that purple patch with Stephen Bennett fouled. And his 20-metre free was subsequently saved.
Cork gradually found their rhythm though, Ciarán Joyce, O'Brien and Mark Coleman getting through a lot of work around the half-back line and Seamus Harnedy proving himself such a ball-winner.
But there remains a sense that the 16-point defeat by Limerick in the previous round has put a dent in Cork's confidence. When they hit 2-4 without reply to surge eight ahead, the odds were against a tense finish or that Waterford would come within the width of the post of making it really interesting.
Next up is another full house for Part 2 of the trilogy.
This time, Cork will be hoping it plays out very differently.
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