Cork proved far superior to Waterford in this Munster Under-21 hurling semi-final at Walsh Park last night. For 10 minutes after the break the home side, fired by a lucky goal, played brilliant hurling and actually took the lead after trailing by 0-12 to 0-6 at half-time.
During that period, Waterford scored a 1-5 to a solitary point for Cork, the goal coming a minute after the resumption when a long delivery from wing back James Murray deceived Bernard Rochford in the Cork goal. However, Cork reasserted their superiority and with senior players Neil Ronan and Ben O'Connor in great form, shot 1-10 without reply between the 42nd and 54th minutes.
Cork: B Rochford; P Sexton, M Fitzgerald, D McNamara; A Fitzpatrick, M O'Callaghan (0-1), J Barrett; A O'Connor (0-2), J Olden; J O'Connor (0-1), N Ronan (0-5), E Fitzgerald (0-6); V Cusack, B O'Connor (0-5), N McCarthy (0-2). Subs: J Egan (0-2) for Cusack, G McCarthy (0-1) for N McCarthy, C McCarthy (1-1) for Olden, P Dineen for O'Callaghan.
Waterford: J O'Donnell; R Rice, J Phelan, J O'Donovan; J Murray (1-0), V O'Shea, A Kirwan; E Kelly, G Power (0-3); P Fitzgerald (0-5), S Prendergast (0-3), D Howard (0-1); J Mullane (0-3), B Wall, E McGrath. Sub: S Barron for Wall.
Referee: W Barrett (Tipperary).