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Irish Examiner
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Cork survive late drama against Waterford to claim Munster minor title
Munster MHC final: Cork 1-20 Waterford 2-15 Cork held on to claim victory in the Electric Ireland Munster MHC final at a sunny FBD Semple Stadium on Friday night. Waterford's comeback from five points down in the 62nd minute to make it a one-point game made for a dramatic finish. Cormac Spain, who tallied 2-10, fired a brilliant goal for Waterford in the fourth minute of the seven second-half additional minutes, 1-15 to 0-19, it followed a Dylan Murphy point. Immediately Cork sub Sam Ring went down field and raised a green flag. Jack Power then claimed a high delivery in around the danger area and was fouled, Spain clinically fired the close-in free to the bottom corner of the net, 2-15 to 1-19. With the result up for grabs Ring was fouled and Craig O'Sullivan sent over the free from out the field for a two-point cushion. Waterford will have regrets, especially their first-half inefficiency. But it was Cork who stuck to the script after victory in the round-robin as well to clinch a first title since 2021 and their 35th in total. There was an unfortunate leg injury to Callum Coffey in the second half but in a lovely gesture he was brought onto the field afterwards with his team mates gathering around him along with the John Doyle Perpetual Cup. Fergal McCormack's side started with four points to Waterford's one with Ruairc Donovan getting the scoreboard moving. Within a minute Spain had replied, but Cork responded well with hard-working midfielder Tom A Walsh who also received the Player of the Match award, getting in on the act. By the 10th minute Waterford gained parity with Spain the main provider but it was Murphy's white flag that drew them level four points apiece. Cormac Deane then pushed Cork in front as Tom C Walsh brought off a fine save from Shane Power. Meanwhile Cork piled on the pressure, beginning with the excellent movement of a very active half-back line of Michael T Brosnan, captain Bobby Carroll and Colm Garde. Up front they struck five points without reply. Waterford were getting no return from their own puckouts and eight first-half wides - six for Cork - contributed to their downfall. When Denis Fitzgerald blocked a Spain shot on goal, another opportunity went amiss. The Déise trailed 0-11 to 0-6 at the end of the half. Noticeably Cork's scoring was distributed between six players to Waterford's three. They extended the lead to seven 10 minutes into the second half. Despite the margin growing and goal chances going astray at both ends, James O'Connor's side started to work their way back. Coffey was stretchered off and this caused a delay, however with 10 minutes remaining the score was 0-16 to 0-12. It was the eight additional minutes that provided all the drama. Scorers for Cork: C O'Sullivan (0-8, 0-3 frees), S Ring (1-0), T A Walsh (0-3), R Donovan, R Dineen, C Deane and E O'Shea (0-2 each), S Coughlan (0-1). Scorers for Waterford: C Spain (2-10, 1-6 frees, 0-1 65), D Murphy (0-2), J Zeljkovic, H Quann and S Power (0-1 each). CORK: T C Walsh (Aghada); D Heavin (Russell Rovers), D Fitzgerald (Bride Rovers), C Lawton (Midleton); M T Brosnan (Glen Rovers), B Carroll (Dromina, Capt), C Garde (Lisgoold); T A Walsh (Carrigtwohill), J Counihan (Watergrasshill); C O'Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh), C Deane (Killeagh), R Donovan (Fermoy); S Coughlan (Passage), C Coffey (Na Piarsaigh), E O'Shea (Ballinhassig). Subs: R Dineen (Erin's Own) for J Counihan (half-time), S Ring (Carrigtwohill) for C Coffey (41 inj), C Hanratty (Carrigaline) for E O'Shea (51), D Winters (Courcey Rovers) for S Coughlan (63). WATERFORD: J Comerford (Ballygunner, Capt); C Lynch (Geraldines), D Murphy (St. Mary's East), D Keane (De La Salle); B Penkert (Mount Sion), H Quann (Lismore), C Power (De La Salle); J Power (Ballygunner), E Burke (Roanmore); G O'Shea (St. Mollerans), S Power (De La Salle), C Reville (Roanmore); J Shanahan (Erins Own), C Spain (Ballygunner), D Murphy (Roanmore). Subs: J Zeljkovic (Tramore) for E Burke (half-time), T Kennedy (Mount Sion) for C Power (36), P Quann (Dungarvan) for C Reville (56). Referee: Ciarán O'Donovan (Tipperary).
Irish Examiner
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Powerful Déise finish secures Munster final place
Munster MHC: Waterford 1-21 Clare 1-15 Fraher Field was rocking and roaring in the last quarter as the Waterford minor hurlers finished like a train to set up a Munster final with Cork on May 16. The sides were level nine times before Cormac Spain's long range free bounced into the back of the Clare net five minutes from the end. Late points from Spain and substitutes Caoilinn Reville and Pierce Quann raised the volume levels even higher. 1-6 without reply sent the Déise through to their first provincial decider since 2021. "That last 15 minutes was heroic stuff," manager James O'Connor stated. Midfielder Jack Power put on an exhibition of high fielding that ignited the home crowd. The Ballygunner man made eight clean catches. "Jack would have that in his bag of tricks! He is a unique talent. For me, he is one of the best minors in the country. It was like stuff you saw back in the 80s and 90s! It was brilliant to watch." Power outshone Waterford top scorer Cormac Spain who finished with 1-12. Paul Rodgers, younger brother of Clare senior Mark, was a constant menace at full forward for the visitors. He shot 1-8 including a blistering second half strike. In glorious sunshine, Waterford led 10-9 after an opening half where the sides were level on seven occasions. The hosts could have been further ahead as they registered seven wides and two balls short. The score of the half came on 14 minutes when Jack Power motored forward and offloaded to Jamie Shanahan who spun around like a ballerina before he sent the ball between the uprights. Power made three terrific catches. Cormac Spain sent over five points for the Déise including two from play. Zak Phelan stuck to his task however and won two balls off the Ballygunner hot shot. Gearoid O'Shea also got two from play while Dylan Murphy nailed a beauty from the scoreboard corner. Clare had six different scorers. Paul Rodgers supplied three points. He enjoyed a great tussle with Conor Lynch on the edge of the square. Waterford goalkeeper James Comerford saved a low shot from Graham Ball in the eighth minute. Points from Spain (free), Shanahan and Shane Power made it 13-9 to the Déise within four minutes of the restart. Rodgers nailed a free in response. On 36 minutes, Rodgers was pulled back by Lynch as he tried to advance on goal. Referee Kevin O'Sullivan signalled advantage as Rodgers rifled a shot past Comerford at his near post (1-10 to 0-13). Comerford was on his toes to intercept another Clare goal chance moments later as John Barry couldn't pick out Liam Murphy. Three Rodgers frees left the visitors a goal to the good entering the final quarter (1-14 to 0-14). Clare sub James O'Donnell bore down on goal with twelve minutes left but couldn't finish from a tight angle. Two Spain frees cut the gap to one. The number thirteen then hared down the end line and flashed the ball across the face of goal and wide. The teams were tied with five minutes to go when a Spain free, from inside his own half, hopped off the surface and deceived Clare goalkeeper Leon Talty. There was only one winner after that. Scorers for Waterford: C Spain 1-12 (1-8fs, 1 65), S Power, J Shanahan, G O'Shea 0-2 each, P Quann, C Reville, D Murphy 0-1 each. Scorers for Clare: P Rodgers 1-8 (6fs, 1 65), J Barry 0-2, E Cleary, D Kennedy, L Murphy, I O'Brien, J Gibbons 0-1 each. WATERFORD: J Comerford (Ballygunner); D Murphy (St Mary's East), C Lynch (Geraldines), D Keane (De La Salle); B Penkert (Mount Sion), H Quann (Lismore), C Power (De La Salle); J Power (Ballygunner), E Burke (Roanmore); S Power (De La Salle), J Shanahan (Erin's Own), T Kennedy (Mount Sion); C Spain (Ballygunner), G O'Shea (St Mollerans), D Murphy (Roanmore). Subs: C Reville (Roanmore) for Kennedy (40), P Quann (Dungarvan) for Burke (49), E McHugh (Roanmore) for S Power (61). CLARE: L Talty (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield); D Murrihy (Inagh Kilnamona), J O'Halloran (Sixmilebridge), Z Phelan (Sixmilebridge); E Crimmins (Newmarket- on-Fergus), D Kennedy (Ballyea), C Daly (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield); G Ball (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield), E Cleary (Ballyea); G Marshall (Parteen Meelick), J Barry (Inagh Kilnamona), J Gibbons (Whitegate); I O'Brien (Cratloe), P Rodgers (Scariff), L Murphy (O'Callaghan's Mills). Subs: J O'Donnell (Broadford) for Gibbons (41), D McInerney (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Marshall (54), N Belenko (Tulla) for Barry (61). Referee: K O'Sullivan (Cork)
