Munster Minor Hurling Play-Off
Cork 1-24
Waterford 0-8
Tomás McCarthy reports from Páirc Uí Rinn
A FORMIDABLE CORK minor outfit easily accounted for Waterford in the Munster championship play-off at a sunny Páirc Uí Rinn. Brian Roche’s second half blast confirmed their place in the provincial semis before an attendance of 2,114.
Corner forward Brian Turnbull shone brightest for Denis Ring’s charges with ten points (seven from play). Craig Hanafin and Liam O’Shea chipped in three apiece. Sean O’Leary Hayes and James Keating were secure at the back. The comprehensive winners didn’t shoot a wide until the 48th minute of the contest.
Waterford only mustered a single point from play all evening. Free taker Billy Power finished as leading scorer on 0-5. Busy goalkeeper Eoghan Browne pulled off three close range stops.
Cork led right from the off despite playing into the breeze. Browne saved from Robert Downey in the first minute before Turnbull got the scoreboard moving. The Douglas attacker claimed five first half singles.
Tom Looby notched Waterford’s first from play but the hosts drove over five unanswered points through Liam O’Shea, Craig Hanafin, Turnbull and Daire Connery to move 0-9 to 0-2 ahead after 20 minutes.
The visitors failed to score for fourteen minutes before Power converted two frees late in the half. Turnbull completed the opening thirty with a fine point close to the sideline.
The Déise made a triple substitution at the break but to no avail. Seven minutes into the second half, Brian Roche smashed a shot high to the net after a James Keating dropped in a long range free (1-12 to 0-5).
Turnbull added five more points to his total. Corner back Conor O’Callaghan also lent his support to the attacking effort. Subs Barry Murphy and John Geary had an instant impact by raising late white flags.
Cork move on to the last four in June while Waterford get another opportunity against Limerick on May 11.
Scorers for Cork: Brian Turnbull 0-10 (3fs); Brian Roche 1-0; Daire Connery (3fs), Craig Hanafin, Liam O’Shea 0-3 each; Evan Sheehan 0-2, Conor O’Callaghan, Barry Murphy, John Geary 0-1 each.
Scorers for Waterford: Billy Power 0-5 (5fs); Iarlaith Daly (f), Thomas Douglas (f), Tom Looby 0-1 each.
Cork
1. Ger Collins (Ballinhassig)
3. Sean O’Leary Hayes (Midleton)
2. Conor O’Callaghan (Dromtarriffe)
4. Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers)
7. Ger Millerick (Fr O Neills)
6. James Keating (Kildorrery)
5. Ross Howell (Douglas)
8. Daire Connery (Na Piarsaigh)
9. Diarmuid Lenihan (Ballyhooly)
10. Craig Hanafin (Na Piarsaigh)
11. Liam O’Shea (Lisgoold)
12. Brian Roche (Bride Rovers)
13. Evan Sheehan (Na Piarsaigh)
14. Robert Downey (Glen Rovers)
15. Brian Turnbull (Douglas)
Subs
21. Barry Murphy (Castlelyons) for Lenihan (48)
23. John Geary (Newtownshandrum) for O’Shea (48)
22. Brian Buckley (Dromina) for Brian Roche (51)
19. Aaron Walsh Barry (Carrigtwohill) for Howell (52)
17. Jack O’Callaghan (Charleville) for Eoin Roche (55)
Waterford
1. Eoghan Browne (Mount Sion)
2. Conor Giles Doran (De La Salle)
3. James Flavin (Ardmore)
17. Matt Noonan (Cappoquin)
5. Mairtín Power (Clonea)
6. Luke O’Brien (Mount Sion)
4. Dan Booth (Colligan)
8. Iarlaith Daly (Lismore)
9. Sean Whelan-Barrett (Abbeyside)
13. Conor Whelan (Brickey Rangers)
11. Billy Power (Clonea)
12. Harry Ruddle (Ballygunner)
15. Gavin Dalton (Modeligo)
10. Tom Looby (Abbeyside)
14. Thomas Douglas (De La Salle)
Subs
18. Ian Beecher (Tallow) for Booth (H-T)
20. Ciarán Power (Clonea) for Dalton (H-T)
23. Kyle Bennett (Lismore) for Ruddle (H-T)
19. Edward Cullen (Mount Sion) for Whelan-Barrett (41)
24. Ronan Dunphy (Ballyduff Lower) for Douglas (54)
Referee: Philip Kelly (Tipperary)
Has to start now
Instead of who exactly Conor?
Don’t just red thumb me, please offer your suggestion, generally we have the likes of Hendrick, Whelan, McCarthy, Walters, Hoolihan as midfielders or creative players, which one do you drop for arter?
Drop Mccarthy, offers nothing really. Arthur always shows for possession and make attacking runs.
Maybe wouldn’t entirely disagree with you, but McCarthy performed very well against Germany and Bosnia in recent crucial games, and he’s playing regularly for a top half premiership club, can’t see too many agreeing with you
McCarthys only decent games this campaign were against Germany and Bosnia. He was poor against Gibraltar bar 1 pass, very poor against Georgia both times and he was only ok against Scotland. When he has a good game he’s brilliant, but that’s very rare in an Ireland shirt unfortunately.
Yes I agree, I’ve been very frustrated with McCarthy at times but I think when we pack midfield as we’ve been doing recently it allows hoolihan to do the demanding of the ball and Whelan to get the simple 5 yard passing going while McCarthy can then break up play using his athleticism and provide a box to box engine
I’d put him in ahead of Quinn and Meyler.
Offers something different.
Hendrick.
The problem is Hendrick has actually played for us in competitive games and has done well including a cracking build up and assists to a crucial goal
Put mcarthy in the deepest holding role instead of whelan, he us much more effective and mobile at it… its his best position, he’s not a creative player , never has been… don’t know why people expect him to be