GAELIC GAMES/Waterford 0-18 Cork 0-17:SIX THOUSAND fans revelled as arch-rivals Waterford and Cork served up a five-star thriller at sun-splashed Fraher Field in Dungarvan yesterday.
While Cork can justifiably consider themselves unlucky not to have come away with at least a share of the points nothing should detract from a tremendous Waterford performance.
Waterford raced into an early three-point lead, with Richie Foley converting a brace of frees and man-of-the-match full forward Shane Walsh hitting the first of five sweet points from play.
Pa Cronin, who rampaged throughout in the middle of the field and had by far the better of matters with the returning Ken McGrath, got Cork off the mark with a fifth-minute point, and from there to the interval the sides traded scores.
In an effort to break the Cork midfield dominance, Waterford moved Stephen Molumphy to the sector in a swop with McGrath.
Shane Walsh, who tormented the Cork defence throughout, set up Séamus Prendergast for the game’s best goal chance in the 41st minute, but three Cork defenders somehow managed to form a last- gasp defensive phalanx and the golden chance was lost.
Cork responded with an equalising point from centre back Brian Murphy, and when Pat Horgan pointed one of his half-dozen scores from frees in the 46th minute the Rebels were in front for the first time.
With every passing minute a good game was getting better, and a great John Mullane point had the sides level again as the excitement mounted. Three more times the sides traded points, and Foley’s equaliser from a 67th-minute pointed free inside his own half left one believing the contest would end in an honourable draw.
There would however be a final and decisive twist.
A menacing Cork attack was broken up outstanding teenage corner back Darragh Fives, and up popped another defender, Kevin Moran, to rifle over what proved to be the winning point in the 69th minute.
WATERFORD: A Power; D Fives, W Hutchinson, N Connors; D O’Sullivan, M Walsh, K Moran (0-2); R Foley (0-5, frees), K McGrath; P Mahony (0-1), S Prendergast (0-1), S Molumphy; J Mullane (0-3), S Walsh (0-5), M Shanahan (0-1). Subs: E Kelly for McGrath (46 mins); T Ryan for O’Mahony (64 mins).
CORK: D Óg Cusack; S McDonnell, E Dillon, C O’Sullivan; J Gardiner (0-1, 65), B Murphy (0-1), W Egan (0-1); L McLoughlin (0-1), P Cronin (0-1); T Kenny, C McCarthy (0-1), N McCarthy (0-1); P Horgan (0-6, 0-4 frees), P O’Sullivan, L O’Farrell (0-3). Subs: R Curran for O’Sullivan (56 mins); J O’Connor (0-1) for McLoughlin (58 mins); B O’Connor for P O’Sullivan (63 mins); C Naughton for N McCarthy (64 mins); M Cussen for Farrell (69 mins).
Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath).
