Waterford set up final with Clare
Cork 1-18 Waterford 1-24
WATERFORD will meet Clare on Sunday for a place in the Munster Hurling League final after an impressive second half in Mallow last night.
In boss Paraic Fanning’s first game in charge, the visitors trailed at half-time.
However, Michael Walsh – beginning his 17th year on the county panel – netted having been switched from midfield to full-forward and Thomas Ryan put them into a lead they would hold from there to the end.
Having trailed by 0-4 to 0-3 after 10 minutes, Waterford scored seven of the next eight with Stephen Bennett, Jamie Barron and Mikey Kearney all on target.
But Aidan Walsh’s goal got Cork back in the game and then Declan Dalton’s excellent free-taking saw them wipe out the lead.
Cormac Murphy was another to find his range and by half-time John Meyler’s side led 1-11 to 0-12.
Michael O’halloran extended the advantage further after the restart but Michael Walsh – moved from midfield to full-forward goal cancelled out the lead and then Waterford pushed on impressively.
Cork: P Collins; N O’leary, D Griffin, D Lowney; C Joyce (0-1), T O’mahony (01), R Downey; C Cahalane, W Kearney (0-1); C Murphy (0-3), M O’halloran (0-2), A Walsh (1-0); J Coughlan, D Dalton (0-9, 7f), R O’flynn (0-1).
Subs: C Beausang for O’flynn (25), C O’callaghan for Lowney (34), E Murphy for Walsh (ht), S O’leary Hayes for Downey (65), P Leopold for Coughlan (66).
Waterford: B Nolan; S Mcnulty, S Fives, N Connors; J Henley, M O’brien, K Moran (0-2); J Barron (0-2), M Walsh (1-0); DJ Foran, M Kearney (0-4), B O’halloran; T Ryan (0-2), S Bennett (0-13, 12f), C Roche. Subs: C Prunty for O’brien (55), S Roche for Walsh (56), A Gleeson for Moran (66), J Prendergast (0-1) for Roche (67), K Bennett for Mcnulty (70).