 |
Poor Cork beat even poorer Waterford
Cork - 1-15 ; Waterford - 0-7played at Pairc Ui
Chaoimh
25th April 2001
CORK had
little difficulty in seeing off the challenge of Waterford in a most
disappointing opening round of the Munster MHC at Pairc Uí Chaoimh on Wednesday,
25th April 2001.
The reigning champions won’t need
reminding that a similar display against Limerick in the semi-final on May 9 in
Thurles, won’t be good enough to see the title remain in Cork for another
season.
Greasy underfoot conditions made it difficult for both sets of players to
control the sliothar, though Cork will take some solace from the fact that they
can only get better as they progress in this championship.
There is no question Cork have a number
of exciting and talented youngsters in their team, but on a night when the
conditions didn’t lend themselves to picking the ball at every opportunity, some
of them would want to remember that at times it pays to hurl it first time on
the ground.
Waterford were extremely poor, particularly up front and the fact that
they could only manage one point from play over the hour tells its own story.
Only once did they threaten a goal when Billy Harty careered through with 10 to
go but with only the Cork ‘keeper to beat he blasted into the side netting.
Cork’s defence was excellent. Corner back Kevin Goggin had a marvellous match
after a shaky start, Cian O’Connor and Shane Murphy did all that was asked of
them, but it was centre back John Gardiner who stood head and shoulders over his
colleagues.
The Na Piarsaigh youngster was impressive in everything he did. Midfielders
Kieran Murphy and David Cashman were always struggling against the Waterford
pair Michael Walsh and Michael Power while up front only Sars Kieran Murphy,
Setanta O´ hAilpín, Fergus Murphy and Tomas O’Leary came out of this game with
their reputations intact.
Waterford won the toss and elected to play with the aid of the strong wind, but
it was the home side which made the better start scoring three points without
reply in the opening seven minutes.
However while they looked the better team, Cork failed to built on their
early lead and Waterford, with their half backline of Benny Ragget, William
Kiely and Kenny Stafford hurling with great confidence, were level after 15
minutes.
Given the strength of the wind Waterford needed to be at least six points in
front at the break to have had any chance of winning, but their attack never
really threatened and it was Cork who finished the half in control, helped by a
goal from Setanta O´ hAilpín who kicked home after a good run to give his side a
halftime lead of 1-7 to 0-5.
Play continued to be extremely scrappy in the second half as Cork insisted in
wanting to get the sliothar up into the hand. But with Waterford unable to make
any impression, the home side were content to pick off their points and at the
end of the third quarter had stretched their lead to seven points, 1-10 to 0-6.
Scores:
Cork:
S. O´ hAilpín 1-3; K. Murphy (Sars) (0-3 frees), K. Murphy (Erins Own) (0-2
frees) 0-4 each; T. O’Leary 0-2; R. McDonnell, F. Murphy 0-1 each.
Waterford: K. Stafford
(frees), S. Walsh (frees) 0-3 each; J. Hurney 0-1.
CORK: M. Coleman; J. O’Mahony, C. O’Connor,
K. Goggin; S. Murphy, J. Gardiner, T. Healy; K. Murphy (Erins Own), D. Cashman;
D. O’Riordan, K. Murphy (Sars), T. O’Leary; R. McDonnell, S. O´ hAilpín, F.
Murphy. Subs. G. McCarthy for O’Riordan; K. Foley for McDonnell; K. Hartnett for
K. Murphy (Sars).
WATERFORD: I. O’Regan; M. Mears, T. Kearney, D. Coffey; B. Ragget, W. Kiely,
K. Stafford; M. Walsh, M. Power; S. Walsh, J. Hurney, C. Morrissey; P. O’Brien,
B. Harty, F. Fogarty; Subs. P. Kearney for Fogarty; S. Kearney for T. Kearney;
S. Molumphy for C. Morrissey; L. O’Neill for Nurney.
Referee: J. O’Mahony (Limerick).
Irish Exmainer
26th April 2001
|
|
|
