WALSH GOAL INSPIRES DÉISE DISPLAY AS REBELS FALTER
WATERFORD will meet Clare on Sunday for a place in the final of the Munster Hurling League after they overcame Cork with a strong second-half display in Mallow last night. The visitors had trailed by 1-11 to 0-12 at half-time in what was manager Páraic Fanning’s first game in charge. Michael O’Halloran struck a point for the Rebels immediately after the restart but Waterford hit back as Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh, beginning his 17th year on the county panel, bagged a goal. Thomas Ryan then put the Déise ahead and they would not relinquish the lead. Having trailed by 0-4 to 0-3 after 10 minutes, Waterford scored seven of the next eight points, with Stephen Bennett — who finished with 13 points — Jamie Barron and Mikey Kearney all on target. However, just as it looked that Cork had allowed the game to slip away from them, they responded well. First, Aidan Walsh’s goal got them back in the game and then Declan Dalton’s free-taking saw them eat into the lead. Cormac Murphy was another to find his range and by half-time John Meyler’s side were ahead. O’Halloran struck at the start of the second half but Walsh responded as Waterford pushed on impressively, with Ryan scoring twice and Barron getting his second as they led by three. Cork stayed in touch but trailed by six points with six minutes left. The Rebels had one last kick but Bennett and substitute Jack Prendergast got Waterford over the line.
WATERFORD: B Nolan; S McNulty (K Bennett 70), S Fives, N Connors; J Henley, M O’Brien (C Prunty 55), K Moran (A Gleeson 66); J Barron, M Walsh (S Roche 56); DJ Foran, M Kearney, B O’Halloran; T Ryan, S Bennett, C Roche (J Prendergast 67).
Scorers — S Bennett 0-13 (12f), M Kearney 0-4, M Walsh 1-0, J Barron, K Moran, T Ryan 0-2 each, J Prendergast 0-1.
CORK: P Collins; N O’Leary, D Griffin, D Lowney (C O’Callaghan 34); C Joyce, T O’Mahony, R Downey (S O’Leary Hayes 65); C Cahalane, W Kearney; C Murphy, M O’Halloran, A Walsh (E Murphy half-time); J Coughlan (P Leopold 66), D Dalton, R O’Flynn (C Beausang 25).
Scorers — D Dalton 0-9 (7f), C Murphy 0-3, A Walsh 1-0, M O’Halloran 0-2, T O’Mahony, C Joyce, R O’Flynn, W Kearney 0-1 each.
Referee: J Murphy (Limerick).