Heroic Déise just miss out on massive upset win over Cork
FOURTEEN-MAN Cork survived an almighty scare from a spirited and wellorganised Waterford in a dramatic Munster quarterfinal at Fraher Field.
Tom McGlinchey’s troops dreamt of a first Championship win over the Rebels in 57 years when Donie Breathnach edged them ahead entering the closing 10 minutes.
The sides were level six times before the favourites wriggled out of trouble. Injury-time points from Colm O’Neill and Paul Kerrigan eventually got Peadar Healy’s charges across the line after Alan O’Connor received a straight red card four minutes from time. 2010 All-Ireland winner Donncha O’Connor also came off the bench to strike three points.
John O’Rourke hit three from play as the visitors led 1-4 to 0-4 at the break, as Alan O’Connor made an impact coming on for the injured Aidan Walsh to claim three marks.
On 18 minutes, the Rebels raised a green flag against the run of play. A Mark Collins delivery picked out Colm O’Neill and the All Star passed across goal for Paul Kerrigan to palm home. Michael Curry mustered an instant reply for the home side. The packed Waterford defence frustrated Healy’s men but O’Rourke sent over his second point. The Carbery Rangers attacker and Kerrigan added further points in stoppage-time.
Five minutes into the second half, Ken O’Halloran dropped Joey Veale’s free and an alert Gavin Crotty buried a shot to the bottom corner.
Skipper Paul Whyte then got forward and snuck Waterford in front after 43 minutes. The home fans started to dream of a shock result when Breathnach extended their advantage to two, but Donncha O’Connor and defender James Loughrey levelled the contest (1-6 each). Breathnach and O’Connor then traded frees and another exchange followed between Breathnach (free) and Kerrigan.
O’Connor curled over his third with seven minutes left to nudge Cork into a slender lead. They were reduced to 14 when Alan O’Connor was red carded for a high challenge. With seven added minutes signalled, Whyte and Breathnach made it allsquare again, but O’Neill and Kerrigan slipped the Rebels into the last four date with Tipperary on June 10 and saved their blushes.