Waterford shown door as roles are reversed

Munster SHC/Cork 2-17 Waterford 2-15: Once more Waterford put on an at-times dazzling show and once more were within just a …

Munster SHC/Cork 2-17 Waterford 2-15: Once more Waterford put on an at-times dazzling show and once more were within just a score of their opponents. But Cork's power game, vibrant with mobility and pace, marginally decided the issue as they converted enough of their chances to stay in front at the end.

A sensational first 35 minutes in yesterday's Guinness Munster hurling semi-final - watched by 43,167 in Semple Stadium, gave way to a prosaic second half. Cork won't be too fussy about the manner of the win that dethroned the Munster champions and got the All-Ireland champions through a major opening test against the county that beat them in last year's epic provincial final.

Waterford will be extremely frustrated. They went into the match as underdogs mainly because of injuries to key players but having given a dazzling first-half display, they lost momentum after half-time and were unable to reassert themselves.

After all the speculation, both Ken McGrath and Paul Flynn were passed fit to play but neither was at his best. Flynn looked inhibited by his injury and played with heavy strapping, and despite a creditable showing McGrath's lack of match practice showed as he occasionally lost sight of Niall McCarthy.

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Such lapses are lethal against Cork. Any free space is liable to be punished by accurate shooting from distance and so it proved yesterday.

Before the start John Allen made one change, Neil Ronan replacing the injured Timmy McCarthy.

The match started badly for Waterford and like last year they gifted Cork an early goal. Fergal Hartley, starting a late career at full back, caught the ball well but fumbled it for Joe Deane to crack home the goal. It was the start of a torturous afternoon for Hartley.

Though he discharged many of his basic duties well, the Waterford full>dribbled past by Brian Corcoran for the second Cork goal and conceded a penalty by fouling Deane in the first half.

>is tremendous and pace created a range of attacking options. Deane was getting free in the >whereas f>McCarthy, for instance - ruthlessly exploited any slack marking to rifle over long-range points.

The process cut both ways though and Waterford captain Eoin Kelly, starting revival>.

Finding plenty of possession, he put exceptional shooting, finishing the half with five points, all from play.

>It could have been more. In the 10th minute Hartley fouled Deane after Tom >had Diarmuid O'Sullivan's penalty flew too high and Cork had to do with the point.

>>First>lyhigh ball dispatched in by Tony Browne - the early star of Waterford's >around metres>>>intothe >Firstly it was Waterford who made the bid for dominance. Dan Shanahan had been quiet by his formidable 2004 standards but when ball>>at this square>>(amid>suspicion>of a square infringement) but dropped it, only to react quickest to the bounce and drive in a second goal.

>Overall though Cork made sure that he didn't have the same freedom as last year.

spell> Séamus Prendergast winning hard ball and breaking up play on the 40. He added to the three-point interval lead immediately on the >by this another to give Waterford a clear sight of another famous victory.

Then unaccountably the urgency drained away. The turnaround on the Waterford>'sahead> - the high-water mark of their afternoon -despite the attendance of Feeney and Hartley.

>The latter was left behind as the ball was moved past him along the ground.

>Stephen Brenner in the Waterford goal and into the far corner. Minutes later he added a spectacular point from the left wing after initial work by replacement Kieran Murphy.

U>p >as reflected inthe staisticthat scored only six points after the break, four from frees and only two from play. In fact Prendergast's point 15 seconds into the second half was the only score the Waterford attack got from play.

although> he whole>attempts to impose himself. Even Kelly's contribution tailed off and he was unable to recapture the irresistible flow of the first half.

The crowd braced itself for a Flynn special in the 58th minute when he lined of> >>altogether and Ben O'Connor responded to the reprieve by popping over a lead>Ultimately Cork were too polished and economical. Niall McCarthy exploited >in quick succession to>salvage the match but with three points in it, Flynn's 65 was overcooked and dropped harmlessly over the bar before Séamus Roche whistled time.

CORK: 1. D Cusack; 4. P Mulcahy, 3. D O'Sullivan (0-1, a penalty), 2. B Murphy; 5. J Gardiner, 6. R Curran, 7.hAilp>(capt>9. J O'Connor (0-2); 10. B O'Connor (0-4, two frees, one 65), 11. N McCarthy (0-4), 21. N Ronan; 13. K Murphy (Sarsfields; 0-1), B Corcoran (1-2), 15. J Deane (1-3, point from free). >(half-time).

WATERFORD: 1. S Brenner; 2. T Feeney, 3. F Hartley, 7. E Murphy; 5. T Browne (0-1), 17. K McGrath, 4. J Murray; 8. D Bennett, 11. M Walsh; 9. E Kelly (0-6), 10. D Shanahan (1-0), 18. P Flynn (1-6, points all frees); 13. J Mullane, 14. S Prendergast (0-2), 12. E McGrath. Subs: 27. P O'Brien for Bennett (25 mins), 21. B Phelan for Shanahan (65 mins).

Referee: S Roche (Tipperary).

Attendance: 43,167.