Déise rejig still shy of scores - Waterford v Cork Countdown

 

 

Derek McGrath’s chosen fifteen hints that the management still detect a lack of pace among the Cork backs from the evidence Clare produced last September.

It also indicates an internal rethink since the March demotion. Three of the six selected Waterford forwards didn’t start in the relegation play-off against Dublin while replacements Ryan Donnelly and Stephen Roche are now part of the intermediate set-up.

Certainly the make-up of Jimmy Barry Murphy’s back line will encourage a forward division up to now relying on intermittent purple spells and Pauric Mahony’s magnificence. Clare hit them from the outside in the drawn All Ireland (25 points) before making tracks inside for the rerun with five goals. In that much repeated scene, Patrick Donnellan dug out a passage down the middle of their defence. Tom Kenny and Brian Murphy have retired since then with Conor O’Sullivan and Eoin Cadogan both sidelined. The spine of the defence in Damien Cahalane and Mark Ellis are regarded as novices at this level. In the league, Offaly scored 1-18 and Wexford sent in 1-20 on Cork’s home patch. Tipperary hit them for 3-25 in the quarter final. A looseness still exists.

Waterford management are ready to roll the dice to question their credentials. With injuries to four probable starters (Philip Mahony, Stephen Molumphy, Jamie Barron and Maurice Shanahan) and Shane O’Sullivan’s decision not to contest his suspension to the DRA, there may have been a temptation to put in players like Gavin O’Brien and Ray Barry who have already dipped their toe in championship but instead Colin Dunford and Austin Gleeson made their debuts. The average age of the team rests at 24.

Dunford missed the league through a shoulder problem but made a persuasive case in challenge matches against Wexford and Offaly. The 19 year old is an unknown quantity in this company but McGrath hopes that his speed will unsettle the Cork rearguard. Gleeson routinely pins his ears back for Mount Sion but hasn’t really revved the engine at this grade just yet.

Anticipate a manic intensity from the start to upset their opponents. Waterford will line out in conventional style with three full forwards but likely to move bodies into the central area early on, as seen in the league, to catch a seat on the train and stay put. The height advantage brought by Aidan Walsh and Patrick Cronin will also increase the requirement of players to swarm around the breaking ball. They are no longer at ease in the shootout scenarios that played out between 2002 and 2007. 22 points was as high as they could stretch in the league and it’s difficult to see them pushing beyond that on Sunday. In this context, they aspire cut the spaces for the Rebels to run at them and a game of containment for the first 15 to 20 minutes may form part of that strategy. Time to roll up the sleeves. They will spill blood otherwise. The wing men will be expected to run up and down the tracks. Kevin Moran may be expected to play a more defensive role to free up Michael Walsh to sweep in front of the Cork full forward line.

Waterford’s attacking moves will be channelled through Pauric Mahony with the emphasis on mid-range stick passes. He has cleaned out more established centre backs than Mark Ellis this year. The concern lies in that so much depends on Mahony’s mood. And even if he hits a hundred per cent of placed balls, that may not prove sufficient. In the recent challenge match against Offaly, they pulled the defence around by changing the point of attack at regular intervals and also moving noticeably closer to the target than they had in the league. Dunford and Brian O'Sullivan will relish one-on-one situations with Shane O'Neill and Stephen McDonnell, should they develop. O'Sullivan is just shy of delivering a big day performance and if he takes more risks and carries the ball further, he could reap the rewards.

Austin Gleeson was utilised in the role of goal getter at 21 metre free time. Shane Walsh moves ahead of Seamus Prendergast due to a superior goalscoring record. Since 2009, Walsh has struck six championship goals while Prendergast is without a green flag since 2005. At the same time, it’s hard to see the Ardmore man remaining on the bench by the 50 minute mark given his value as an alternative long ball option.

Cork didn’t light any bonfires in Division 1B. Seven points was their widest margin of victory as they achieved an unspectacular promotion. They failed to break the twenty point barrier in three games (versus Limerick, Laois and Antrim). Furthermore, they only registered three goals in five rounds before hitting four past Tipperary. It was about grinding out results rather than extravagant displays.

Derek McGrath refuses to read too much into spring signs. “Cork are masters at traditionally timing their run,” he said last week. “If you look at their run up to the Clare semi final last year, they had a period of six or eight weeks run into it. Dave Matthews takes over for a couple of weeks in terms of physical training. They do three to four weeks of hard stuff, they get three to four challenge matches and they were very much under the radar last year. Cork came into a situation where Clare were favourites. It was ideal. Brian Murphy man marked Tony Kelly and Seamus Harnedy went to town.”

From numbers eight to fifteen, Cork appear adaptable to all scenarios. 2013 All Star Patrick Horgan remains their leading source of scores. Noel Connors may be responsible for the Glen Rovers man on Sunday, as he was four years ago. He held Horgan scoreless in the draw and replay and finished both games on the bench. That has only happened four times in a prolific 28 game championship career. With a 9-149 total, he maintains a strike rate of six points per game. Last year, he finally received recognition after nominations in 2010 and 2012. He put up 1-47. He has been among the top five scorers for the last three seasons. He survived mainly on scraps but he still managed to score in claustrophobic spaces like that pressure point to give Cork a narrow edge deep into injury time of the first final.

Full forward Seamus Harnedy turned up consistently in a seamless adjustment to championship altitude and secured 1-13. He scored two goals close in against Tipperary in the league quarter final to drag Cork back into contention. He provides a ball winning presence across a variety of areas apart from his starting position. Conor Lehane appears ready to confirm the potential shown on that seven point Saturday night in Pairc Ui Rinn two years ago. He has delivered in bursts like his solo sprint in the drawn All Ireland final but not on a consistent basis. McGrath has opted to shore up with Liam Lawlor and Michael Walsh down the middle and will identify man markers to hold this trio. It’s difficult to envisage all three underperforming however and Cork not scoring a goal. Scan through the reserves and they can turn to Jamie Coughlan, Stephen Moylan and Paudie O’Sullivan in barren times.

The Waterford boss emphasised the positive feeling in the camp despite a run of rotten luck. “We just feel that fate has gone against us and we feel that it will turn whenever it will come.” They have revised their selection at both ends based on league evidence and up to date form. It’s a stretch to suggest that the necessary remedies are championship ready but they will hardly lack in application. They cannot afford to allow their shoulders sink like the Clare and Kilkenny games after the concession of a goal. Difficult also to pinpoint pre-match a regular score taker in open play. No such difficulty in finding a few from the red corner. That Cork attack may prove the best in the business this summer especially with the exciting additions of Aidan Walsh and Alan Cadogan. Cork to open up ground in the last ten minutes and win by at least three.

Munster SHC Quarter Final
Waterford v Cork
4.00 at Semple Stadium
Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly)
Odds: Cork 1/4 Draw 14/1 Waterford 7/2

The Lawlor and Walsh link – Waterford v Cork Countdown

On Tuesday night, Derek McGrath settled on the dependable Liam Lawlor and Michael Walsh axis to shore up a defence that surrendered 17 league goals.

Management had previously invested in largely the same personnel over the campaign and only used seven different players. Shane Fives loses out despite starting all six league games and put a nightmare showing against Clare behind him. He restricted Conal Keaney’s involvement in the relegation play-off, showed competence in the air and emerged with rousing charges out of dangerous areas. The Carrigtwohill man likes to hurl from that position and that expressive nature may have counted against him.

Lawlor never moves far away from the target and performs the basic tasks very neatly. Since Davy Fitzgerald picked him at three, he soon realised the limitations of the position. It was a close run thing initially between Mark O’Brien and Lawlor with the Fourmilewater man narrowly preferred for his physical presence. Since his championship debut against Clare in 2010, the full back issue has rarely raised its head as the cause of elimination. His only glaring error came last June when an ill-judged pass across the face of goal allowed Shane Dooley crash a shot to the far corner. He signed off championship 2013 by outmanoeuvring opponents like Walter Walsh and Henry Shefflin in arguably his strongest display yet. In his Irish Independent column, John Mullane stressed: “It's no coincidence Waterford concede goals when Lawlor’s not in the team.” With Lawlor on the field, Waterford have permitted 16 goals in 14 championship games. In all of those outings, Walsh was always on duty at a checkpoint further up the road.

Since pinning down the six slot in 2009, Michael Walsh has rarely missed a beat. In fact, when marked absent from that area it has come with disastrous consequences. When Kevin Downes soloed in for two goals in the 2011 Munster semi final, he retreated to full back for the final. A half time situation of 5-10 to 0-8 stared them in the face. Moving to centre forward during the 2012 partly contributed to three league losses on the bounce. Suspension deemed him unavailable for the Ennis trip this year, the first game that he missed in the last 28 (league or championship). More carnage followed.

He embarks on his twelfth championship season with 51 games already locked in. In his unflustered and calming style, he plays the role of a stopper. He adjusts to judge the next attacking move. The 31 year old doesn’t tend to strike clear too often. Instead, he dishes off possession in that one-handed style to a team mate in less crowded area. It usually falls to one of the wing backs like Jamie Nagle to distribute possession inside. Noel McGrath and Tony Kelly have caused days of uncertainty in moving closer to the midfield area and tempting Walsh away from his comfort zone. Cork favour the traditional type of centre forward with Cian McCarthy selected on Sunday.

Last year, Fergal Hartley put his finger on how the captain plots an escape route when in possession. “He seems to be able to make the game move at his own pace. When he gets that ball, he seems to have that body movement; probably a lot of it comes from his football years as well. He has that body movement and that check inside that he can just create space for himself draw a man and lay it off. He has great peripheral vision in that he sees everything that is happening around him. He must be a fantastic player to play alongside if you are a wing back or a midfielder because he just gets that ball, takes a look, he gets around a player and passes it off.”

The manner of the concessions towards the latter part of the league made for grim viewing. Soft tackles allowed players ghost through unopposed. “They always seemed to have the overlap,” Noel Connors observed last week. These lessons absorbed, McGrath reverts to the central duo responsible for reliable championship results when paired together. They won’t perform the spectacular but these two believe in the simplest form of defending. Protect the red zone.

Horgan and Mahony top the pile - Waterford v Cork Countdown

Cork League Scorers

Patrick Horgan 3-50 (1-31fs, 3 65s)
Seamus Harnedy 2-11
Conor Lehane 1-13
Alan Cadogan 0-8
William Egan 0-4
Daniel Kearney 0-4
Stephen Moylan 0-4
Anthony Nash 1-0 (1-0f)
Jamie Coughlan 0-3
Cian McCarthy 0-3
Aidan Walsh 0-3
Brian Hartnett 0-2
Pa Cronin 0-2
Paul Haughney 0-2
Lorcan McLoughlin 0-2
Christopher Joyce 0-1
Brian Lawton 0-1
Rob O’Shea 0-1
Killian Burke 0-1
Michael O’Sullivan 0-1

Waterford League Scorers

Pauric Mahony 1-53 (40fs, 1 65’)
Brian O’Sullivan 0-9
Ray Barry 0-9
Ryan Donnelly 0-5
Seamus Prendergast 0-4
Kevin Moran 0-4
Maurice Shanahan 0-4 (2fs)
Darragh Fives 1-0
Stephen Molumphy 0-3
Philip Mahony 0-2
Stephen Roche 0-2
Jake Dillon 0-2
Jamie Nagle 0-1
Jamie Barron 0-1
Shane Walsh 0-1
Shane O’Sullivan 0-1
Austin Gleeson 0-1 (1 sideline)

Top Ten Championship Moments - Waterford v Cork Countdown

 

1. Only Paul Flynn could think of it (2004)

 

Moments after John Mullane walked the plank, Paul Flynn rifled over a point. He made a statement that he would now take up the responsibility in attack. When Dan Shanahan won that free about 45 metres out and slightly to the right of the posts, Diarmuid O’Sullivan joined his goalkeeper on the line. Did they know what was coming next? “Flynn goes for the goal!” He put top spin on the ball and it glided through the air and underneath the crossbar past the despairing dive of O’Sullivan. Disbelief all round but we all knew that he meant it. A moment of genius and imagination that will go down in the annals of Munster final history.

 

2. Ken soars into the clouds (2004)

Two magical moments from Ken McGrath will be forever engraved in recollections of the 2004 Munster final. Mid way through a first half of unrelenting pace, he launched a ball down towards the square. He gave it everything. It kept travelling and looped over the backpedalling Dónal Óg Cusack and between the posts. “Wow, you won’t see any better. Oh he was a hundred yards out” marvelled Ger Canning in commentary. Then in injury time, Diarmuid O’Sullivan joined the attack in one last ditch effort. McGrath leaped skyward to fetch the sliotar and when he returned to planet Earth, a white and blue wall of noise greeted him.

 

 

3. Rebels left empty handed (1948 & 1959)

Cork could call upon the likes of Christy Ring and Jack Lynch in their line-up for the 1948 decider but they ended up on the losing side. Johnny O’Connor, Christy Moylan, Tom Curran and Willie Galvin all flashed to the net to bring back Waterford’s second Munster crown and their first provincial final win over the Rebels. Further history was created when Jim Ware got his hands on Liam McCarthy later that year. They repeated the dose against Cork in 1957 and two years after that they took the scalp of the red and white once again in front of over 55,000 on their way to a second All Ireland.

 

4. Eight goal Thurles thriller (2007)

Eight goals and 33 points over the course of seventy breathless minutes. Hit with a raft of suspensions, Anthony Nash made his debut in goals for Cork and by half time four goals had flew past him. Dan Shanahan with two, John Mullane and Paul Flynn all billowed the net but Kieran Murphy inflicted damage at the other end with a brace. Eoin Kelly’s green flag settled the issue but there was still enough time for corner back Shane O’Neill to smash his shot off the crossbar. More entertaining than 2004 perhaps?

 

5. Dan’s last stand (2010)

In extra time of the first ever Munster final under floodlights, an impatient Dan finally got the call and he delivered. Maurice Shanahan and Eoin McGrath combined in the build up to play him in with only his old adversary to beat. He hit it low and early, too early perhaps. The sliotar skipped off the greasy surface however and slid under Cusack’s hurley. “I was a bit pissed off that I didn’t get on near the end of normal time but I did my bit when I came on. I know where the net is — when I get my chance, I take it.”

 

6. Shemozzle at the Canal End (2007)

One point down with time running out, Eoin McGrath went for broke. Dónal Óg parried it away but Paul Flynn followed up and a ruck ensued as the Cork defenders shielded the sliotar. From Dan Shanahan’s viewpoint; “O’Sullivan had his fat arse on it!” Brian Gavin assessed the situation and instead of a throw ball, he gave a free in. He implemented a rule supporters barely knew existed. Eoin Kelly converted and Dan took care of the replay.

 

7. Hat trick hero (2003)

The king of lost causes replicated the feat of Tallow’s Pat Murphy of 1989 by netting three of the best against the Rebels. No tap-ins either just three unstoppable shots. He rocketed home the first, collected a Paul Flynn free to bury to the bottom corner for number two and rounded it all off with one that nestled sweetly in the top corner. “This guy is gone wild today” remarked Cyril Farrell in the commentary box. He certainly had but amazingly Mullane’s heroics didn’t even merit the man of the match award that afternoon.

8. Take a bow Flynner (2005)

An exquisite piece of skill and opportunism from Paul Flynn illuminated the first half of another mile a minute Munster clash between the two counties. Tony Browne drove down a clearance and after the ball slipped out of Diarmuid O’Sullivan’s grasp, Flynn raced into the clear. He whipped on it first time and the connection was crisp. It caught Cusack by surprise and whizzed over his head to the roof of the rigging. The Ballygunner attacker took off his helmet to take in the acclaim. Cork exacted revenge that day but Flynn’s netbuster stays in the memory.

 

9. Dónal Óg denies the Déise (2006)

On a damp day in Dublin, Ken McGrath stood over an injury time free into Hill 16 as Waterford trailed by the minimum. Cathal Naughton’s introduction had cancelled out an Eoin Kelly goal at the start of the second period. From inside his own half, Ken coaxed it towards the posts. On first viewing it appeared to strike off the post but on closer inspection Dónal Óg Cusack angled his stick to divert it away towards the sideline. It flew out towards the Cusack Stand side and Brian Gavin sounded the whistle soon after. Another bid for All Ireland glory denied in cruel circumstances.

 

10. Munster final massacres (1982 & 1983)

Waterford fans waited so long for a taste of Munster final day but it all went pear shaped when one finally arrived after 16 years in the wilderness. Seanie O’Leary weighed in with four of the five goals in a 31 point walloping. The game is best remembered for Ray Cummins showing some mercy with his weary opponents by hand passing the ball over the bar when a goal looked certain. A significantly reduced crowd witnessed another hiding a year later. This time, Cork settled on a 19 point margin of victory.

 

 

Waterford v Armagh Division 3 Final - Route to Parnell Park

Round 1
Waterford 3-14 Offaly 1-5

Round 2
Waterford 5-15 Wexford 1-9

Round 3
Waterford 2-8 Tipperary 1-10

Round 4
Waterford 6-15 Longford 0-5

Round 5
Sligo 1-15 Waterford 1-9

Round 6
Waterford 6-8 Leitrim 3-8

Round 7
Armagh 6-11 Waterford 1-5

Semi Final
Waterford 3-14 Leitrim 1-13

Scorers
Michelle Ryan 5-31
Margaret Revins 7-8
Linda Wall 3-16
Hannah Landers 5-9
Aileen Wall 3-10
Shauna Dunphy 2-1
Liz Devine 1-1
Mairead Wall 0-4
Aimee Jordan 1-0
Elaine Power 0-3
Michelle McGrath 0-2
Roisin Tobin 0-1
Shona Curran 0-1
Louise Ryan 0-1

Rebels race clear of defiant Déise - Cork 1-14 Waterford 1-8

Cork progressed to the Munster minor football final at a gloomy Fraher Field after a spell of seven points in a row during the second half held off a persistent Waterford.

A lethal inside forward line of Shane Kingston, Michael Hurley and Damien Buckley posted nine points between them. Goalkeeper Colm O’Driscoll put in an eye catching hour with three important saves, including a diving denial of Conor Gleeson from the penalty spot in the first half. Gleeson and Jack Mullaney kept plugging away for Oran Curran’s hosts right to the finish.

Cork galloped 1-2 to 0-0 away inside seven minutes. Maidhc Ó Duinnín started with a pair of points before goalkeeper Colm O’Driscoll stopped Conor Gleeson. Michael Hurley pounced on a slip by marker Jack Guiry and fed Sean O’Donoghue. He skipped the ball along the surface to the far corner beyond Colm O’Driscoll.

Waterford gathered themselves after that uncertain start. The elusive Conor Gleeson led the improvement. He opened their account on 12 minutes and provided Conor Murray for a second. The Cork inside trio also carried a threat as Damien Buckley and Michael Hurley got off the mark.

Aaron Donnelly was fouled for a Waterford penalty on 22 minutes. Conor Gleeson stepped forward but Colm O’Driscoll dived to his right to push away the attempt. The full forward made amends with a free and a superb solo score as he ducked and dived between defenders (1-4 to 0-4). Cork finished the half with points from Kingston and Buckley (free).

Waterford shortened to three on the resumption. Joe Allen struck a free and Jack Mullaney polished off a team move. Seven unanswered points from the visitors dampened home enthusiasm. Shane Kingston scored three including a glorious curling effort. Michael Hurley added two with Sean O’Donoghue and Seamus Ronanyne also involved in a point scoring exhibition. It proved to be a decisive purple patch.

Conor Gleeson persisted until the finish but his efforts were in vain. Allen and Gleeson slotted late points before a superb consolation three pointer. Jack Mullaney smashed a goal to the roof of the rigging with a minute remaining after an incisive burst from substitute Michael Sweeney. Too little too late however as Gary Murphy rounded off the Rebels’ win.

Scorers for Cork: S O’Donoghue 1-1, S Kingston 0-4, M Hurley 0-3 (1f), D Buckley (1f), M Ó Duinnín 0-2 each , S Ronayne, G Murphy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Waterford: J Mullaney 1-1, C Gleeson 0-4 (2fs), J Allen 0-2 (2fs), C Murray 0-1. 

Cork: C O’Driscoll; S Powter, K Flahive, T Bushe; C O’Donovan, D Meaney, C Kiely; S O’Leary, B Coakley; S O’Donoghue, M Ó Duinnín, S Ronayne; S Kingston, M Hurley, D Buckley.

Subs: M Collins for Coakley (36), D O’Neill for O’Donoghue (45), M Cottrell for Ó Duinnín (55), M Lordan for O’Donovan (57), G Murphy for Buckley (60), A Hassett for Lordan (60).

Waterford: C Brown; C O’Neill, J Guiry, M Cronin; D Lyons, E O’Halloran, M Shine; C Curran, C Prunty; J Mullaney, C Murray, D Guiry; J Allen, C Gleeson, A Donnelly.

Subs: J Elstead for Shine (47), M Sweeney for D Guiry (47), P Whyte for O’Halloran (62), P Tobin for Sweeney (62).

Referee: E Walsh (Kerry)

More minor madness? – Waterford v Cork semi final preview

 

Cork travel to Fraher Field this evening with the record books firmly on their side. 29 provincial crowns compared to none for starters. Waterford’s last final appearance was as far back as 1958. They also hold an intimidating unbeaten run against their opponents at this grade. Draws in 1960 (0-8 to 1-5 in Lismore) and 2002 (0-12 to 3-3 in Carrigtwohill) are the only crumbs for the Déise. Donal O’Sullivan’s visitors are rated as 1/20 favourites to reach their ninth provincial decider since the turn of the millennium.

The form guide suggests that Waterford are making up ground however. Backed up by two bubbly attacking performances and eight dual stars, they are eager to perform on the main stage. 8-16 in two games, provided by eight different contributors, demonstrates the positive manner they go about their business. The 6-23 shipped at the other end is another by-product. They generated eight goal chances against Clare and nailed six. Manager Oran Curran sees no reason to deviate for the arrival of the Rebels. “We have no reason to fear Cork. They can play football like that and bang in six goals. I’m sure that Cork were here as well tonight and they will be wondering how to stop a couple of them lads.”

The hosts will again look to the headliners of Conor Gleeson and Joe Allen as the outlet for kick passes inside. Midfielder Conor Prunty also likes to bomb forward into the red zone. Darragh Lyons will drift away from number fifteen and the half forwards may step back slightly to afford the top two room to manoeuvre.

They sustained a high tempo for sixty minutes to survive the Clare challenge. Their comfort in possession and fluency up front moved the Banner backs around. Even after Clare hunted down a nine point deficit, they worked the ball patiently for Joe Allen to calmly put the game to sleep. The Dungarvan striker started the shootout when he trashed a dipping shot to the roof of the net only 12 seconds in. The Conor Gleeson and Joe Allen partnership has combined for 4-11 in two outings. Despite plenty of advance warning for opposing defences to heed, Waterford have managed to open up space and get in regular contact with their front two. They display an unselfish side too. Allen was involved in the build-up to two green flags, including the killer kick pass for Prunty’s second. Gleeson played the final ball for three goals. A wide count of four last time around (none in the second half) shows that they are attempting to find the best placed shooter.

An improved training programme along with communication between the hurling and football camps laid the foundations. Curran wasn’t prepared to oversee another undercooked minor side take to the field. Gary Hurney’s arrival as coach also boosted the sessions and his words are clearly sinking in. Even after letting the momentum slip against Tipperary through a late concession, positive energy continued to surge through the camp. This Déise team aim to entertain. Curran wants them to maintain that stance. “They don’t know anything better. Leave them play football." They are liberated to let their gifts shine but play as a unit at the same time. Curran hopes for a more vocal turnout than the dismal 277 last Tuesday.

Cork savaged Limerick (6-15 to 1-7) three weeks ago on home soil. The full forward trio of Damien Buckley, Michael Hurley and Shane Kingston collated 4-11. Middle man Hurley sticks out as the star attraction. “He’s an exceptional player, he has the potential to play at the highest level,” manager Donal O’Sullivan told the Irish Examiner following the lop-sided quarter final. The midfield pairing of Sean O’Leary and Brian Coakley means another step up in class for Cormac Curran and Conor Prunty to cope with. After missing out in Munster for the last three seasons, O’Sullivan set out his aims at the start of the campaign. “At the end of the day, this Cork team want to leave their own mark, they want to impress, they want to achieve. Cork football needs to be successful at this age group. Our ambition is to try and get to the latter stages of the competition.”

Both managements vote for unchanged line-ups to show their confidence and satisfaction in the displays to date. History and tradition points against an upset but Waterford have ignored these impositions so far. In this rare opening to a Munster final, they are unlikely to break with routine and lock the backdoor. The Clare inside line managed 1-7 with centre forward Keelan Sexton poaching 2-5 in addition and still lost out. On that basis, Waterford’s brave call to play ball may be about their best shot to make an exception to the rule of the Reds.

Munster Minor Football Semi Final
Waterford v Cork (7.30 at Fraher Field)

Referee: Eddie Walsh (Kerry)

Waterford: C Brown; C O’Neill, J Guiry, M Cronin; M Shine, E O’Halloran, J Mullaney; C Curran, C Prunty; D Guiry, C Murray, A Donnelly; J Allen, C Gleeson, D Lyons

Cork: C O’Driscoll; C O’Donovan, K Flahive, S Powter ; T Bushe, D Meaney, C Kiely; S O’Leary, B Coakley; S O’Donoghue, M Ó Duinnín, S Ronayne; S Kingston, M Hurley, D Buckley

Odds: Waterford 15/2 Draw 16/1 Cork 1/20

Story So Far

Quarter Final
Tipperary 2-11 Waterford 2-7

Semi Final Play-Off
Waterford 6-9 Clare 4-12

Scorers
Conor Gleeson 2-6 (3fs)
Joe Allen 2-5 (2fs)
Conor Prunty 2-0
Aaron Donnelly 1-0
Dylan Guiry 1-0
Jack Mullaney 0-2
Michael Sweeney 0-2
Cormac Curran 0-1

Quarter Final
Cork 6-15 Limerick 1-7

Scorers
Michael Hurley 2-4 (1f)
Damien Buckley 2-2 (2fs)
Shane Kingston 0-5
Sean O’Donoghue 1-1
Christopher Moynihan 1-0
Brian Coakley 0-1
Maidc Ó Duinnín 0-1
Seamus Ronayne 0-1

Waterford SHC Team of Round 2 & Top Scorers

1. Ian O’Regan (Mount Sion)
2. Shane Kearney (Dungarvan)
3. Sean O’Hare (Abbeyside)
4. Stephen O’Neill (Mount Sion)
5. Jamie Nagle (Dungarvan)
6. Owen Whelan (Mount Sion)
7. Kevin Moran (De La Salle)
8. Shane O’Sullivan (Ballygunner)
9. Gavin O’Brien (Roanmore)
10. Owen Connors (Passage)
11. Patrick Hurney (Abbeyside)
12. Shane Ryan (De La Salle)
13. Richard Roche (Mount Sion)
14. Brian O’Sullivan (Ballygunner)
15. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan)

Top Scorers
Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater) 0-26
Michael Kearney (Ballyduff Upper) 2-17
Owen Connors (Passage) 1-19
Seamus Prendergast (Ardmore) 1-16
Shane Ryan (De La Salle) 2-12

Sky Blues shock Fourmilewater - SHC Round 2

 

Roanmore rocked Fourmilewater with a show of hunger and hard work at an overcast Fraher Field to claim a surprise two point win on Sunday (1-9 to 0-10).

After gaining a draw against county champions Passage the previous Sunday, the Eastern side replicated their tactical plan of tracking back in numbers and breaking with purpose. Gavin O'Brien prospered in a loose midfield role and covered in front of his full back line for the second half.

Shane Nolan robbed Shane Lawlor on 15 minutes after an ill-fated short puckout and he struck home to push Roanmore in the direction of the interval with a 1-7 to 0-3 lead. Jamie Barron shot nine points for Fourmile but they could only post two points from play over the hour. The jubilant Sky Blues are now in second spot in Group 1 with three points banked.

De La Salle top the standings after passing a stern physical examination from Abbeyside at Walsh Park (2-11 to 1-12). County minor captain Shane Ryan bagged a brace. The Villagers snuck ahead by 0-9 to 1-4 at the change of sides with Patrick Hurney on song with four singles. Ryan's second green flag steadied Salle although Mark Ferncombe closed to one with a late goal. Kevin Moran lofted the insurance score.

Elsewhere in the group, Maurice Shanahan landed a last minute equaliser as Lismore drew with Passage (2-12 to 0-18). David Prendergast scored a goal in either half but Peter Queally's side persisted. After a sluggish opening, nine points through Owen Connors and three from Killian Fitzgerald nudged them clear. Lismore ended on 14 wides but Shanahan managed to tie the contest for the sixth time.

A second half hat trick by Richard Roche in the space of fourteen fantasy minutes wore down Ballyduff Upper on Friday night and opened clear daylight after the teams were tied twice on the restart. Sion splurged 3-10 to demoralise their opponents and confirm their second win on the spin. Stephen Roche scrambled home in the third minute to earn a 1-8 to 0-7 half time advantage.

Ballygunner joined Sion at the summit of Group 2 after they walloped winless Ardmore by 21 points (4-21 to 1-9). Brian O'Sullivan, Stephen Power (free) and Barry O'Sullivan blazed first half goals for the Gunners to depart 3-11 to 1-4 on top at halfway. Former inter county number one Clinton Hennessy responded with a penalty for Ardmore. Stephen Power secured his second goal on 36 minutes for Fergal Hartley's rampant winners. Brian O'Sullivan popped 1-6 overall.

A Jamie Nagle driven Dungarvan rectified their first round loss by pulling away from Tallow in Lismore (2-20 to 2-12). The youthful Blues, using their pace and playing measured ball into the forwards, sprinted 2-12 to 1-7 in front at half time. Patrick Curran set up Cathal Curran to bury from close range on 16 minutes. Cormac Curran, responsible for 1-4, unleashed a thunder bolt over Shaun O'Sullivan on the stroke of half time. A pair of Bob McCarthy goals couldn't derail James O'Connor's charges as the classy Patrick Curran finished on seven points.

JJ Kavanagh & Sons Waterford SHC Round 2 Predictions

Friday May 2

Mount Sion v Ballyduff Upper (Fraher Field at 7.00)
The first meeting between this pair since the Reds shocked Sion in the 2011 quarter final after extra time. Michael Kearney carried Ballyduff to victory over Ardmore with 2-9. He will be difficult to tie down and he doesn't shirk the rough and tumble. Sion also conceded frees in the red zone last Saturday. Kevin Casey shipped a bad knock just a minute in and his pace and eye for goal will be missing. Sion only dug out four points from play in a dull encounter with Tallow. They encountered difficulty in finding front men Stephen Roche and Martin O'Neill. Eoin McGrath put in a busy shift at midfield as Tony Browne and Austin Gleeson shared the scoring load. Provided that Sion find more fluency, they can gain a hard earned win.

Odds: Mount Sion 2/5 Draw 10/1 Ballyduff Upper 2/1
Prediction: Mount Sion

Sunday May 4

Fourmilewater v Roanmore (Fraher Field at 2.00)
The Sky Blues packed their defence with thirteen bodies at times against Passage but they countered with a host of different attacking threats and didn't depend on Gavin O'Brien. For once, they got their top fifteen on the field and this is important for their survival prospects. They may regret loosening their grip on that game as time pushes on in this championship. Jamie Barron will punish any indiscipline from 70 metres onwards and they will look at detailing a tracker because he was afforded far too much freedom from Abbeyside. Fourmile's threat is not completely absorbed in Barron's form. Conor Gleeson showed trickery in the corner and Shane Walsh also gave a glimpse of his old self in the first half. If they remain patient and spread out the Roanmore backs, a second win is in store for Benji Whelan's side.

Odds: Fourmilewater 2/9 Draw 12/1 Roanmore 10/3
Prediction: Fourmilewater

Passage v Lismore (Fraher Field at 3.30)
Despite fighting from five points down, Peter Queally expressed his dismay at their opening title defence to WLR FM. "Overall, we would be very disappointed with the performance and the flatness of the lads. We looked very tired and very leggy." Bringing Killian Fitzgerald into the play, perhaps from midfield, will assist the overworked Owen Connors. They struggled to break down a massed Roanmore defence but are likely to fare better in looser conditions here. Lismore must find a position to bring the most out of Ray Barry who stayed almost anonymous against De La Salle. Dan Shanahan should also start at fourteen after spending the first half of last Friday's opener on the wing. Question marks over Maurice Shanahan's participation also persist. Sean Prendergast's side will struggle for inspiration without him based on the first round evidence.

Odds: Passage Evens Draw 8/1 Lismore 10/11
Prediction: Passage

Ballygunner v Ardmore (Walsh Park at 2.00)
Ballygunner regained their rhythm quickly by putting up 2-12 in a first half dismantling of Dungarvan. The second half dip will keep them focussed during the week. Barry O'Sullivan's emergence with 1-2 was welcome as he has been on the verge of a big breakthrough. Ardmore rose from eight points back to almost pip Ballyduff Upper in a Seamus Prendergast driven second half but a scruffy Michael Kearney goal proved the difference. John and David Gartland dropped a hint that they can support Seamus in his endeavours. They cannot afford another sluggish start on Sunday.

Odds: Ballygunner 1/16 Draw 16/1 Ardmore 15/2
Prediction: Ballygunner

De La Salle v Abbeyside (Walsh Park at 3.30)
De La Salle used a sensible possession-style approach to negotiate the storm and Maurice Shanahan first up. John Mullane worked ferociously and scored heavily at full forward. Debutants Stephen Dalton (tidy at number four) and Shane Ryan (eight frees) settled instantly into senior hurling. Eddie Barrett made a robust case at midfield to the Waterford selectors perched in the stand. All in all, a firm opening statement. Abbeyside only settled on their preferred fifteen by the end of their loss to Fourmilewater. Expect to see Richie Foley and Gary Hurney on their teamsheet this time. Fourmile' negated their goal threat as the full forward line finished without a single score from play. A week may be too soon to see a sufficient recovery but they will trouble De La Salle in terms of physicality.

Odds: De La Salle 1/5 Draw 12/1 Abbeyside 7/2
Prediction: De La Salle

Dungarvan v Tallow (Lismore at 7.00)
Dungarvan only woke up when they trailed by twelve last Sunday. Jamie Nagle stirred a mini-comeback from the half back line. Gavin Crotty and Cathal Curran fired up top while Ryan Donnelly was surprisingly called ashore on 46 minutes. Tallow's defence really stumped Mount Sion as David O'Brien, Mark O'Brien and Aidan Kearney played from the front. Their problems rested with an attack that only came up with 1-2 from play. Robert O'Sullivan's reliability on frees will be required once again along with more regular moments of Thomas Ryan magic. With these two desperate for points, a one-score game is probable with Dungarvan's firepower favoured.

Odds: Dungarvan 1/5 Draw 12/1 Tallow 7/2
Prediction: Dungarvan