Cork 3-25

Waterford 1-17

JOHNNY CAROLAN REPORTS

VICTORY in Ben O’Connor’s first league match in charge of Cork was hardly a surprise, but the new manager was delighted with the manner of his side’s performance.

Given that the Waterford team that came to Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday was shorn of its Ballygunner All-Ireland club-winning contingent as well as other key names, a Cork side featuring ten starters from last year’s All-Ireland final was strong favourites and so it proved.

However, there was never a sense that anything else would transpire as they took control from the off in front of a crowd of 20,464, with their first ten shots all yielding points before goals from Alan Connolly and Declan Dalton ensured they retired with a 2-16 to 0-9 half-tie lead.

‘Yeah, I'm just happy to have it out the way, if I'm being honest,’ he said.

‘A lot of talk about it during the week, just because it was our first day out, so I'm just delighted that we got a performance out of the boys.

‘The condition of the field made a difference, and the fine day was nice to see as well, so it just made it a bit easier.

‘I suppose, look, Waterford were under-strength, short of their Ballygunner lads, but we can only beat what's in front of us and I'm just delighted for some of the lads there now.’

Cork goalkeeper Patrick Collins clears his lines despite being confronted by Waterford's Sean Walsh. (Photo: George Hatchell)

William Buckley was the only debutant in the Cork starting 15, though Dáire O’Leary at full-back was making his return after a period off the panel. Cork’s greater experience was evident from the off, with Robert Downey and Mark Coleman excellent in the half-back line while Declan Dalton offered a big threat at full-forward.

It was 0-11 to 0-3 by the 18th minute, when Dalton was found by Seán O’Donoghue and cleverly picked out Connolly for a close-range finish to the net. Then, with Cork 1-15 to 0-6 ahead as half-time approached, Brian Roche was hauled down by Waterford’s Mark Fitzgerald and referee Johnny Murphy felt that the offence warranted a black-card penalty.

Dalton’s shot was expertly placed and, while Reuben Halloran’s frees helped Waterford to draw slightly closer, Cork’s 13-point interval advantage was not flattering.

The intensity levels were not as high in the second half but Niall O’Leary in defence and Diarmuid Healy in attack continued to impress for Cork. Coleman and Buckley had nice points early in the second half, the latter after O’Donoghue, new captain Fitzgibbon and Roche linked well.

Waterford did get a chance to slightly erode what had become a 15-point deficit when they were awarded a black-card penalty – Robert Downey the guilty Cork player – and Shane Bennett netted. However, Cork hit back instantly; Alan Walsh, not long on, forced a turnover that saw Connolly gain possession and play in Buckley to finish one-handed, despite being fouled.

Newmarket’s Hugh O’Connor – better known as a footballer at under-age level – came on for his debut and marked it with a point and 14 points separated the sides at the end.

For the newcomers, it was an encouraging opening but O’Connor knows that bigger tests lie ahead – they are on the road this weekend, travelling to face a Galway side that lost their opener to All-Ireland champions Tipperary.

‘I suppose we were lucky enough we had nine or ten of the more experienced fellas and we were able to fire in a few younger fellas with them as well to help them out,’ he said.

‘Not that they needed any help out there today, but it's nice to be able to do that and to put on five subs in the second half as well and give them all a bit of game-time.’

Scorers 

Cork: William Buckley, Declan Dalton (1-0 penalty) 1-4 each; Alan Connolly 1-2 (1f); Diarmuid Healy 0-4; Darragh Fitzgibbon (1f), Shane Barrett 0-3 each; Mark Coleman 0-2; Tommy O’Connell, Brian Roche, Hugh O’Connor 0-1 each.

Waterford: Reuben Halloran 0-13 (8f, 2 65s); Shane Bennett 1-0 penalty; Jamie Barron 0-2; Darragh Lyons, Seán Walsh, Calum Lyons 0-1 each.

Cork: P Collins; N O’Leary, D O’Leary, S O’Donoghue; C O’Brien, R Downey, M Coleman; T O’Connell, D Fitzgibbon; B Roche, S Barrett, D Healy; W Buckley, D Dalton, A Connolly.

Subs: A Walsh for Dalton (42), H O’Connor for Barrett (47), M Mullins for Downey (55), E Roche for D O’Leary (50), R O’Flynn for Healy (61).

Waterford: Billy Nolan; Conor Prunty, Daniel Lalor, Conor Keane; Iarlaith Daly, Mark Fitzgerald, Shane Bennett; Darragh Lyons, Seán Mackey; Reuben Halloran, Jamie Barron, Jack Fagan; James Power, Seán Walsh, Charlie Treen.

Subs: Joe Booth for Fagan (8, injured), Brian Lynch for Lalor (20), Calum Lyons for Power (41), Michael Kiely for Booth (51), Mairtín Power for Daly (58).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).