Waterford take their 4th Allianz NHL title

Waterford 4-20 Cork 1-23

Waterford collected their 4th Div 1 National Hurling League at Thurles on Saturday evening when they accounted for Cork in Thurles before almost 19,000 patrons. Early exchanges were very close and tense. Patrick Horgan opened the scoring with an early point. Cathrach Daly Waterford’s outstanding midfielder, soloed through and pointed. Good play for Waterford by Darragh Lyons and Dessie Hutchinson led to a Jack Prendergast point. In the 5th minute Conor Lehane levelled at 0-2 each.

Stephen Bennett pointed a free and Patrick Curran added a point after good play by Shane McNulty and Neil Montgomery. By the 10th minute the winners were 0-5 to 0-2 clear when Stephen Bennett pointed another free. Good play by impressive Robbie O’Flynn saw Tim O’Mahony cut through but was denied by a very good save by Shaun O’Brien. Patrick Horgan landed another free. Good play by Conor Gleeson to Jack Prendergast led to a free that was converted by Stephen Bennett as the winners moved 0-6 to 0-3 clear. Good play by Ger Millerick led to a Shane Barrett point for Cork. Seamus Harnedy followed with a point. Cathrach Daly was brought down and Stephen Bennett pointed another free. Tadhg de Burca made a great interception from Darragh Fitzgibbon. However, Cork got back on terms at 0-7 each when Ciaran Joyce and Seamus Harnedy worked well for Darragh Fitzgibbon who tied the game at 0-7 each. Then in a flash, Waterford struck for two goals. First Patrick Curran netted and Stephen Bennett followed a minute later as the winners were 2-7 to 0-7 ahead after 27 minutes.

By that stage Cork had six wides to just two for the Deise side. Cork recovered well from the two goal setback. Patrick Collins saved well from Stephen Bennett. Three quickfire points by Patrick Horgan (‘65), Robbie O’Flynn and Horgan (free) had the lead back to three points, 2-7 to 0-10. Waterford finished the half well. Good play by Cathrach Daly led to a Jack Prendergast point. Patrick Curran worked well on the flank for Neil Montgomery who sent over. In the dying moments a foul on Jack Prendergast led to a free that Bennett converted that restored their 6 point lead at the break 2-10 to 0-10.

Whilst Waterford maintained a significant lead throughout the second half, Cork were always in contention but they needed a goal or two. Instead it was Waterford who struck for two goals at crucial stages that kept them ahead to the end. Stephen Bennett pointed an early free. Shane Kingston added a Cork point. Both sides exchanged points with Waterford 2-13 to 0-13 clear after 43 minutes. Stephen Bennett (free) and Conor Lehane exchanged a point. Patrick Horgan kept Cork in touch with a free. Stephen Bennett soloed through for his second goal that opened up an 8 point lead 3-14 to 0-15. Cork came back well and 3 points in succession by Robbie O’Flynn (2) and Patrick Horgan cut the deficit 3-14 to 0-18. A foul on Tadhg de Burca led to another pointed free by Stephen Bennett. Darragh Lyons with a well taken sideline cut found Patrick Curran who sent over.

Both sides exchanged points with the winners 3-17 to 0-22 ahead after 63 minutes. The winners 4th goal sealed victory. It came when Cathrach Daly cut through the centre and placed Dessie Hutchinson who made no mistake from close range. As the game entered injury time Shane Bennett worked well for Patrick Curran who added another point. Jack Prendergast followed with a point. Tim O’Mahony landed a fine Cork point but this was cancelled out by D J Foran. Cork’s goal came very late. A long delivery by Tim O’Mahony found Mark Keane who placed Robbie O’Flynn who netted, cutting the lead to six points once more 4-20 to 1-23. Time ran out and Waterford regained the title they last held in 2015 when they again overcame Cork. Stephen Bennett was named ‘man of the match’.

Scorers for Waterford: Stephen Bennett 2-11 (9f), Patrick Curran 1-3, Dessie Hutchinson 1-0, Jack Prendergast 0-3 Carthrach Daly 0-1, Neil Montgomery 0-1, D J Foran 0-1.

Cork: Patrick Horgan 0-10 (8f, 0-1 ‘ 65) Robbie O’Flynn 1-3, Shane Kingston 0-3, Shane Barrett 0-2, Conor Lehane 0-2, Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-1, Seamus Harnedy 0-1, Tim O’Mahony 0-1.

Waterford: Shaun O’Brien (De La Salle), Conor Gleeson (Fourmilewater), Conor Prunty (capt) (Abbeyside), Shane McNulty (De La Salle), Calum Lyons (Ballyduff Lower), Tadhg de Burca (Clashmore-Kinsalebeg), Jack Fagan (De La Salle), Darragh Lyons (Dungarvan), Carthrach Daly (Lismore), Neil Montgomery (Abbeyside), Jack Prendergast (Lismore), Patrick Curran (Dungarvan), Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner), Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart), Michael Kiely (Abbeyside). Subs: Kieran Bennett (Ballysaggart) for Carthrach Daly (blood) Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart) for Michael Kiely, Kieran Bennett (Ballysaggart) for Neil Montgomery, Pauric O’Mahony (Ballygunner) for Carthrac Daly (inj) Billy Power (Clonea) for Patrick Curran, D J Foran (Portlaw) for Jack Prendergast.

Cork: Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig), Sean O’Donoghue (Inniscarra), Damian Cahalane (St. Finbarr’s), Ciaran Joyce (Castlemartyr), Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), Mark Coleman (capt) (Blarney), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers), Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville), Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neill’s), Robbie O’Flynn (Erins Own), Shane Barrett (Blarney), Seamus Harnedy (St. Ita’s), Conor Lehane (Midleton), Alan Connolly (Blackrock), Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers). Subs: Shane Kingston (Douglas) for Alan Connolly, Conor Cahalane (St. Finbarr’s) for Seamus Harnedy, Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields) for Conor Lehane, Sam Quirke (Midleton) for Ger Millerick, Mark Keane (Ballygiblin) for Shane Barrett.

Referee: Liam Gordan (Galway).