Cork 1-21
Waterford 1-13
Tomás McCarthy reports from Walsh Park
LUKE MEADE BELTED in a second half goal as Cork posted their second NHL victory at a breezy Walsh Park this afternoon.
The visitors played with the wind in the opening half and six unanswered points either side of the break left them in pole position. Waterford closed to four during the third quarter before Meade pounced on 49 minutes. Both sides finished with fourteen players following second half dismissals for Maurice Shanahan and Seamus Harnedy.
Waterford skipper Kevin Moran won the toss and decided to play against the stiff breeze. On five minutes, Michael Walsh fed Shane Bennett with a stick pass and the speedy corner forward flashed a shot past Anthony Nash. The sides were on equal terms three times during the opening quarter.
The wind assisted Rebels rebounded and a huge Nash free edged them ahead for the first time on 18 minutes. Conor Lehane and Seamus Harnedy created a three point gap (0-8 to 1-2).
Pauric Mahony and Austin Gleeson raised white flags in response for Waterford but Cork reeled off the last five points of the half to reach the dressing rooms 0-14 to 1-4 in front. Lehane shot five first half wides but brought his tally to six with a brace of frees. Mark Coleman, Bill Cooper and Shane Kingston were also on target. The Youghal midfielder posted three from play.
Substitute Michael Cahalane extended the lead to eight on the restart. The hosts took a chunk out of it with four unanswered points (three Mahony frees and Maurice Shanahan from play). Dean Brosnan and Luke Meade replied before Mahony knocked over another dead ball.
On 49 minutes, Meade darted through the Waterford cover unopposed and blasted to the net (1-17 to 1-9).
With eleven minutes left, Maurice Shanahan received a straight red from Barry Kelly for an off the ball altercation with Dean Brosnan. Wing back Christopher Joyce and Lehane moved Cork out of sight.
The winners completed the seventy with twelve different scorers.
Scorers for Cork: Conor Lehane 0-8 (7fs); Luke Meade 1-1; Bill Cooper 0-3; Anthony Nash (f), Christopher Joyce, Mark Coleman, Dean Brosnan, Shane Kingston, Seamus Harnedy, Michael Cahalane, Lorcan McLoughlin, Patrick Horgan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Waterford: Pauric Mahony 0-8 (8fs); Shane Bennett 1-0; Patrick Curran 0-2; Austin Gleeson, Maurice Shanahan, Stephen Bennett 0-1 each.
Cork
1. Anthony Nash (Kanturk)
17. Stephen McDonnell (Glen Rovers)
3. Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s)
4. Colm Spillane (Castlelyons)
5. Christopher Joyce (Na Piarsaigh)
6. Mark Ellis (Millstreet)
7. Mark Coleman (Blarney)
8. Bill Cooper (Youghal)
21. Lorcan McLoughlin (Kanturk)
10. Dean Brosnan (Glen Rovers)
11. Conor Lehane (Midleton)
15. Luke Meade (Newcestown)
13. Alan Cadogan (Douglas)
14. Seamus Harnedy (St Ita’s)
12. Shane Kingston (Douglas)
Subs
19. Michael Cahalane (Bandon) for Cadogan (31)
25. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers) for Kingston (64)
2. Killian Burke (Midleton) for McDonnell (66)
20. Chris O’Leary (Valley Rovers) for McLoughlin (68)
Waterford
1. Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)
2. Shane Fives (Tourin)
3. Barry Coughlan (Ballygunner)
4. Noel Connors (Passage)
7. Darragh Lyons (Dungarvan)
5. Tadhg de Burca (Clashmore)
10. Kevin Moran (De La Salle)
8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater)
15. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart)
9. Colin Dunford (Colligan)
6. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion)
11. Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner)
14. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart)
12. Michael Walsh (Stradbally)
21. Maurice Shanahan (Lismore)
Subs
17. Conor Gleeson (Fourmilewater) for Barron (15)
23. Tom Devine (Modeligo) for Dunford (48)
13. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan) for Shane Bennett (51)
25. Brian O’Halloran (Clashmore) for Austin Gleeson (64)
24. Thomas Ryan (Tallow) for Walsh (64)
Referee: Barry Kelly (Westmeath)