Another heavy defeat for Waterford tonight at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, where Cork cantered to a 2-30 to 2-17 victory.

Goals from Patrick Horgan and Alan Cadogan separated the teams at the break as the hosts led by 2-11 to 0-11.

Horgan blasted an unstoppable shot to the net on five minutes and Cadogan added the second Rebels major less than five from the break, finding the top left corner of Billy Nolan’s net after the Waterford custodian had dealt with Bill Cooper’s initial effort.

Horgan opened the scoring and his goal left four between them but Na Deise – playing for pride as they would exit the championship regardless of the result – dug deep and a run of unanswered points from Stephen Bennett (two frees) and Jamie Barron had them back within touching distance after 15 minutes, 1-5 to 0-7.

Horgan and Bennett traded frees and another Bennett free chalked off Luke Meade’s effort before Horgan (free) and Mark Coleman made it a three-point game in front of an attendance of 26,521.

Jack Prendergast pointed twice either side of a Horgan free as the visitors battled gamely but Cadogan’s net-buster ensured the gap would be six at the interval.

Following an exchange between Peter Hogan and Horgan (free), the match was back in the melting pot when Stephen Bennett supplied Waterford’s first goal of the summer, batting the dropping sliothar first time to the net to halve the deficit. But the Leesiders responded with interest as Horgan lofted over frees either side of points from Mark Ellis and Cadogan, then posted another free to extend the cushion to eight points, although Hogan and Bennett replied by the 45th minute – 2-17 to 1-14.

After Horgan tacked on another free, it was Shane Bennett’s turn to plunder a Waterford goal, poking home after the holders' defence was cruelly exposed and edging the margin back to a manageable four points. Seamus Harnedy and Cadogan brought the Rebel County’s points tally up to 20 and Shane Kingston cancelled out Stephen Bennett’s free as six points remained the difference with 14 minutes to go.

Harnedy made it seven and it was all over bar the shouting once Conor Lehane speared one over twelve minutes from time. Horgan swapped points with Shane Bennett. Kingston and Darragh Fitzgibbon pushed Cork’s lead out to ten, Austin Gleeson showing his quality at the other end by slotting a sideline cut.

Fitzgibbon, Lehane and Tim O’Mahony (2) completed the scoring as the Rebels bagged their second victory in the round-robin series and Waterford lost for the fourth and final time.

Cork - A Nash; S O’Donoghue, E Cadogan, N O’Leary; R Downey, M Ellis (0-1), M Coleman (0-2); B Cooper (0-1), D Fitzgibbon (0-3); D Kearney (0-1), S Harnedy (0-3), L Meade (0-1); A Cadogan (1-2), P Horgan (1-10, 0-9f), A Walsh. Subs: S Kingston (0-3) for A Walsh, C Lehane (0-1) for D Kearney, C Joyce for R Downey, R O’Flynn for L Meade, T O’Mahony (0-2) for B Cooper.

Waterford - B Nolan; S McNulty, C Prunty, D Lyons; C Lyons (0-1), T de Burca, C Gleeson; J Barron (0-1), M Kearney; Shane Bennett (1-2), B O’Halloran, J Prendergast (0-2); T Ryan, Stephen Bennett (1-8, 0-7f), P Hogan (0-2). Subs: S Roche for M Kearney, Austin Gleeson (0-1sl) for T Ryan, C Roche for B O’Halloran, S Fives for D Lyons, M Walsh for J Prendergast.

Referee - J Keenan.

Tweet

Most Read Stories