Cork 5-22 v 1-27 Waterford
For the first time in three meetings of the sides, Cork have put a blow on Waterfords jaw.
Kieran Kington's men have emerged from lockdown looking sharp and ready for the league campaign, while an experimental Waterford side were short on execution.
A strong closing stanza from the Deise didn't tell the tale of the match, with a late Stephen Bennett goal being the only real threatening moment of the 70 minutes.
Cork looked that bit sharper than Waterford in the first half, but the Robbie O' Flynn goal for the Rebels on the 19th minute really made a huge difference to the energy of the sides.
The Cork half-back line were comfortably seeing off the Waterford runners, preventing most real scoring chances.
Lots of passes going out over the sideline and not going to hand for both teams, with signs of a lack of game time evident.
Patrick Collins in the Cork goal filled the boots of Anthony Nash with ease, albeit with little to do throughout the first half.
Patrick Horgan proved why he could walk into most teams in the country. His free taking an ever-present thorn in the side of Liam Cahill's team. If a team is going to give away frees, they need to be ready to watch Horgan put them sailing over the bar.
Austin Gleeson was imperious throughout, setting up some of Stephen Bennetts's scoring chances and showing what he can offer when he is on song. His pass to Callum Lyons in the early going was immaculate, with Lyons unlucky not to notch Waterfords first goal.
For the first time in three games between the sides, Cork had the lead at halftime.
The unavailable Tadgh De Burca and Jamie Barron were missed by Waterford – their usual steadiness absent from the team.
The player's fitness was not an issue, but a level of rustiness was evident with several short passes not going to hand for both teams.
Much like in the first half, an early goal for Cork set the tone - Jack O Connor drilled a shot that no keeper was going to stop.
Waterford without several key players (Moran, Moran, Hutchinson, De Burca) and it started to become more clear as the second half wore on.
In the second 35, Horgan never looked like missing, and much like the resumption after the first half water break, Cork struck early through Jack O Connor who billowed the net to hand Cork an 11 point lead.
Last year's young hurler of the year Iarlaith Daly showed his potential with a rasping point from his own 65, but Waterford's best run of scoring was three in a row. Cork continually turned the screw through Horgan and while the deficit had reduced to six points by the second half water break - the worst was yet to come.
Callum Lyons never seemed to tire throughout – chasing every ball, making the argument why he should have been made an All-Star last year.
Late in the game - Shane Kingston was put through on goal to add to Waterford’s hurt with the clock nearing the red. The score with less than five minutes to play, Cork 3-22 v 0-24. If the game had ended there, the score would have seemed fair for the endeavor that had been offered, but in the last minutes of the game, Cork dug in the knife and turned it vigorously.
Shane Kingston was involved again, teeing up Alan Connolly for his first of two goals, making it a 13 point advantage to the Rebels.
Callum Lyons was shown a red card and a late conciliation goal for Stephen Bennett made the scoreboard look a bit more respectable, but it was too little too late for the men from Suirside.
All in all, Liam Cahill will have plenty to think about and plenty to work with for next week's meeting with Westmeath, who come to Walsh Park on Saturday 15th.
