Stakes even higher for both teams next week

HURLING ANALYSTThe beaten Munster finalists will have little time to recover as they face a testing All-Ireland quarter-final the following week

THE OLD cliché of a game of two halves comes to mind, but it is better to take the jar half-full philosophy and credit Waterford and Cork with a dramatic Munster final. While the first half was largely forgettable, the second half had all that is great about hurling with three tremendous goals and one at the death that I think gave us the fairest result. It leaves us with the prospect of these two teams renewing rivalry in a week’s time and that is something to savour.

That Tony Browne should score that fourth goal of a hectic finale is a tribute to his longevity. I mean, for a player in his 37th year to react with such speed and power after Eoin Kelly’s injury-time free was initially blocked will have no one begrudging the outcome. The draw was well deserved for Waterford, even if the reason for the free that ultimately led to the levelling goal wasn’t immediately clear to any of us in the stadium.

This match was very much about the second half, so why not get the first half over and done with. Waterford had the best of it. Cork weren’t allowed dominate the way they did against Tipperary and all in all it was very forgettable. Mike “Brick” Walsh was a daunting presence for Waterford and John Mullane, who played very well throughout, should have scored his goal chance. But for all their play, Waterford should have been more than one point ahead. At 0-8 to 0-7, it was most untypical of what was expected from these two teams, a real damp squib.

The second half was an entirely different affair, like chalk and cheese. It was terrific stuff, with firstly Waterford and then Cork looking to have got the upper hand. Brick Walsh continued to be outstanding in the Waterford half-back line and, when Eoin Kelly and Mullane added good points to put Waterford four points clear, I thought the game was slipping away on Cork.

The introduction of the Cork substitutes was vital in turning matters around, especially bringing on Michael Cussen, as up to the 60th minute only Ben O’Connor of the forwards had managed to score. The scores were all coming from defenders or midfield.

Cussen curbed the influence of Walsh straightaway and also brought an attacking edge by scoring himself. Niall McCarthy played well all through but it was only after Cussen’s introduction that the Cork forwards, who had been largely outplayed by the Waterford defence, started to get primary possession. John Gardiner and Ronan Curran in defence along with Tom Kenny in midfield became increasingly influential as the match went on and later on Paudie O’Sullivan’s introduction also was a help.

This Cork surge brought goals and the quality of the first three goals – Cork’s two and Waterford’s reply – was top class. The pass from Ben O’Connor set up Aisake Ó hAilpín – who had struggled to escape the mostly illegal attention of Liam Lawlor – who dispatched a great goal; and, then, barely after we had time to draw breath, the Ben O’Connor goal that put them five points clear was even better and seemed to have swung the match Cork’s way. It looked ominous for Waterford at that stage.

But Waterford showed great character in the way they responded. I’ve always believed Eoin Kelly has a tremendous capacity to conjure up goals and the way he executed Waterford’s first goal was as good as you will see anywhere. Donal Óg Cusack, who had a tremendous game throughout, and who had saved from Kelly in the first half and controlled the ball with remarkable skill, didn’t stand a chance with a bullet-like shot on this occasion.

There may be some queries about the awarding of the free that ultimately led to the equalising goal but, with something like seven defenders on the line, the odds were still in Cork’s favour. Kelly, though, has an unbelievably strong shot. Cusack did well to block that first effort but the way Browne reacted quicker than anyone says a lot about the man. I recall him shipping a hard challenge a little earlier but he still had it in him to be there for the final say.

A draw was a fair result but it is even more important to win the replay next weekend, as whoever wins will have a four-week break before the All-Ireland semi-final while the losing team will be straight back in for a quarter-final against one of the qualifiers.

These are two teams that don’t hold back and who are very physical, so that is bound to impact on whichever team comes out on the wrong end of the result next time.

I’d worry a bit about Cork, particularly their attack. Niall McCarthy is having a very good year and Ben O’Connor was their only real scoring threat for three-quarters of an hour and the two starting corner-forwards didn’t feature at all.

Waterford will be the happier side after rescuing the draw on this occasion. On the day they had enough possession to win but didn’t maximise it and they can improve. Davy Fitzgerald has introduced new players who have certainly added to the team and created a deeper panel.

Noel Connors, Shane O’Sullivan and Richie Foley were outstanding and Kevin Moran did very well until he tired. This allowed veterans Dan Shanahan and Ken McGrath to be held in reserve until later in the game.

I said going into the match it was very hard to see who would win because there isn’t much between the two teams and this result has confirmed that. It won’t be any different next weekend.