Waterford 0-8
Cork 0-7
WATERFORD STUNNED CORK in front of 337 fans at a bright and breezy Clashmore to advance to their first McGrath Cup final since 2002.
Tom McGlinchey’s men led from start to finish and held their fancied opponents to just a single point from play over the seventy.
Dean Crowley, Niall Walsh and the O’Gorman twins starred in defence as four of the six Cork starting forwards were substituted. Liam Lawlor showed total composure in possession on his first competitive start of the season. Up top, Michael O’Halloran and Gavin Nugent slotted two points apiece.
The heavy surface and the blustery conditions led to a low scoring affair. Waterford edged the first half by four points to two. Shane Ahearne landed two frees to get the hosts off to a positive start.
It took the Rebels twenty minutes to open their account through a Dan McEoin free. McEoin levelled the match on 27 minutes as both sides spurned chances. Patrick Hurney fired the first point from play on 33 minutes before Michael O’Halloran gave the Déise a two point gap.
Brian Cuthbert made three half time switches as Colm O’Neill, Donnacha O’Connor and Colm O’Driscoll entered the action.
The Rebels looked rattled when Gavin Nugent shot a quick fire brace of points, the second from a mistake in the Cork rearguard.
The Reds started to apply the pressure and reeled off three frees in a row (two from O’Connor and one from O’Neill). Michael O’Halloran answered with an important long distance score on 57 minutes (0-7 to 0-5).
On the hour mark, Mark Collins fired Cork’s solitary point from play. Despite the waves of attack, Waterford didn’t panic. Ahearne restored their two point advantage before O’Neill responded.
The visitors missed three chances to force extra time including an easy free from O’Connor. Waterford forced a crucial turnover in the dying moments to relieve the pressure and secure a famous success.
McGlinchey’s charges will take on UCC in the final next weekend and attempt to land their first McGrath Cup crown since 1981.
Scorers for Waterford: Shane Ahearne 0-3 (3fs); Michael O’Halloran, Gavin Nugent 0-2 each; Patrick Hurney 0-1.
Scorers for Cork: Colm O’Neill (2fs), Dan McEoin (2fs), Donnacha O’Connor (2fs) 0-2 each; Mark Collins 0-1.
WATERFORD
1. Stephen Enright
2. Dean Crowley
3. Niall Walsh
4. Thomas O’Gorman
5. Tadhg Ó hUallacháin
6. Maurice O’Gorman
7. Ray Ó Ceallaigh
8. Shane Ahearne
9. Tommy Prendergast
10. Michael Curry
11. Michael O’Halloran
12. Patrick Hurney
13. Liam Lawlor
14. Gavin Nugent
15. Joey Veale
Subs
Conor Phelan for Curry (51)
Lorcan Ó Corraoin for Veale (59)
David Hallahan for Ó Ceallaigh (64).
CORK
1. Ken O’Halloran
2. Liam Jennings
3. Tom Clancy
4. Stephen O’Donoghue
5. Padraig Hodnett
6. Eoin Cadogan
7. Jamie O’Sullivan
8. Michael Cussen
9. Mark Collins
10. Kevin O’Driscoll
11. Barry O’Driscoll
12. George Durrant
13. Dan McEoin
14. Fiachra Ó Deasunaigh
15. John Hayes
Subs
Donnacha O’Connor for McEoin (H-T)
Colm O’Driscoll for Ó Deasunaigh (H-T)
Colm O’Neill for Durrant (H-T)
P Kerrigan for Hayes (43)
J O’Rourke for O’Sullivan (61)
Referee: Sean Joy (Kerry)