Waterford off the mark as Harnedy red costs Rebels

WATERFORD claimed their first Allianz HL Division 1A points of the current campaign as they pulled away from 14-man Cork in the second half yesterday. The visitors had led by 1-12 to 1-9 at half-time after a surge in the wake of Cork captain Séamus Harnedy’s 25th-minute dismissal, but despite losing Conor Lehane to injury, Cork came out strongly at the start of the second half. Two points from Patrick Horgan — he would finish with 1-10 — were allied to scores from Tim O’Mahony and Mark Ellis and with Waterford only having a long-range Austin Gleeson free in response, the sides were level at 1-13 each. However, that was as good as it got for Cork as they would add just two more points in the final 21 minutes, while Waterford reasserted their superiority with a trio of frees from Pauric Mahony and late scores from subs Stephen Bennett and Stephen Roche ensured that they took the points. The sides were level five times as 12 points were shared in the opening 18 minutes before Horgan struck for a goal after Bill Cooper’s delivery. Waterford immediately responded as Mikey Kearney netted and Gleeson put them in front only for Horgan to level. Cork then lost Harnedy (above) after an incident with Barry Coughlan and Waterford finished the half stronger to take that three-point lead into the break.

WATERFORD: S O’Keeffe; S Fives, B Coughlan, N Connors; T de Búrca, Philip Mahony, C Gleeson, A Gleeson; J Barron, K Moran; M Shanahan (S Roche 48), M Kearney (J Dillon 57), Pauric Mahony; T Devine (S Bennett 57), C Dunford (B O’Halloran 48). Scorers: Pauric Mahony 0-10 (8f), A Gleeson 0-4 (1f), M Kearney 1-1, S Bennett 0-2, J Barron, C Dunford, S Roche 0-1. CORK: A Nash; C O’Sullivan (M Cahalane 64), E Cadogan, C Spillane; C Joyce (L McLoughlin 54), T O’Mahony, D Browne; M Ellis, M Coleman; B Cooper (R O’Flynn h-t), D Brosnan (L Meade 58), C Lehane; A Cadogan, S Harnedy, P Horgan. Scorers: P Horgan 1-10 (0-9f), C Lehane 0-2, C Spillane, T O’Mahony, M Ellis 0-1. Referee: S Cleere (Kilkenny).