Cork 3-19
Waterford 1-5

Denis Hurley reports from Mallow

IT WAS ALMOST all one-way traffic for Cork as they advanced to the McGrath Cup final with a 20-point victory over Waterford in Mallow.

Donall F / INPHO Donall F / INPHO / INPHO

Having already beaten Limerick in the three-team Group B, Peadar Healy’s side more or less made sure of victory early on as Andrew O’Sullivan and Peter Kelleher struck for goals, with Kelleher’s second in the 24^th minute helping them to a 3-10 to 0-4 half-time lead.

While Cork’s scoring rate did slow down in the second half and Shaun Corcoran netted a Waterford goal, a comeback was always beyond the remit of the holders, who finished with 13 men after Maurice O’Gorman was black-carded when they had made all of their substitutions and then Tommy Prendergast was carried off injured.

A year ago, Waterford beat Cork en route to winning this competition, but the hosts nipped any thoughts of a repeat in the bud as they had 2-2 scored before Paul Whyte registered the Déise’s first score.

All of the starting six Cork forwards scored in the first half and, with 15 points separating the teams at the break, it wasn’t surprising that the tempo was lower, a flurry of substitutions also a factor.

When Corcoran goaled for Waterford, it gave them 1-4 to Cork’s 3-15 but the Rebels continued to add points, Daniel Goulding finishing with six and Brian Hurley with four. They play Clare in the final next Friday, 23 January, with the venue to be decided.

Scorers

Cork: Peter Kelleher 2-0, Daniel Goulding 0-6 (0-1f), Brian Hurley 0-4 (0-3f), Andrew O’Sullivan 1-0, Mark Collins (Castlehaven), Ruairí Deane 0-2 each, Bart Daly, Luke Connolly, Séamus Hickey, Brian Coughlan, Jamie Davis 0-1 each.

Waterford: Shaun Corcoran 1-1 (0-1f), Paul Whyte 0-3 (0-1 45), Michael O’Halloran 0-1.

Cork

1. Brendan O’Connell (Glanmire)

4. Kieran Histon (Cobh)
3. Jamie O’Sullivan (Bishopstown)
2. Colm O’Driscoll (Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh)

5. Tomás Clancy (Fermoy)
6. James Loughrey (Mallow)
7. Bart Daly (Newmarket)

8. Ian Maguire
10. Andrew O’Sullivan (Castletownbere)

12. Mark Collins (Castlehaven)
11. Luke Connolly (Nemo Rangers)
9. Ruairí Deane (Bantry Blues)

13. Daniel Goulding (Éire Óg)
14. Peter Kelleher (Kilmichael)
15. Brian Hurley (Castlehaven)

Subs
17. Jamie Davis (Douglas) for Histon (half-time)
21. Brian Coughlan (Kinsale) for Connolly (half-time)
23. Séamus Hickey (Rockchapel) for Maguire (48)
20. Killian O’Hanlon (Kilshannig) for Deane (53)
18. Lorcan Harrington (Castletownbere) for Loughrey (57)
19. Mark Collins (O’Donovan Rossa) for O’Driscoll (62)

Waterford

1. Seán Barron (Ardmore)

2. Tadhg Ó hUallacháin (An Rinn)
3. Thomas O’Gorman (The Nire)
4. Brian Looby (Ballincourty)

5. Michael Curry (Rathgormack)
6. James McGrath (The Nire)
7. Ray Ó Ceallaigh (An Rinn)

8. Conor Prunty (Ballinacourty)
9. Tommy Prendergast (Kilrossanty)

10. Michael O’Halloran (Ballinacourty)
11. Donal Breathnach (An Rinn)
12. Declan Allen (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg)

13. David Power (Kilrossanty)
14. Paul Whyte (Kilrossanty)
15. Shaun Corcoran (St Saviour’s)

Subs
16. David Whitty (Gaultier) for Barron (half-time)
19. Gavin Crotty (Dungarvan) for Power (half-time)
21. JJ Hutchinson (Gaultier) for Allen (half-time)
22. Liam Lawlor (The Nire) for Breathnach (half-time)
25. Maurice O’Gorman (The Nire) for Ó Ceallaigh (half-time)
24. Lorcán Ó Curráin (An Rinn) for Lawlor (40, injured)

Referee: Seán Lonergan (Tipperary).

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