A below par Waterford went down to Cork by 0-27 to 0-18 in front of 29,104 fans at Páirc Uí Chaoimh this afternoon. It leaves Davy Fitzgerald's team bottom of the Munster championship table.
Wind assisted Cork led 15-6 at the break. Eight different scorers delivered for Pat Ryan's side. Darragh Fitzgibbon fired three points from play inside eight minutes. Full back Robert Downey scored two from long distance. Waterford only managed one point from play via Dessie Hutchinson while Stephen Bennett sent over five frees.
Fitzgerald made a triple switch at half time as Austin Gleeson, Patrick Fitzgerald and Peter Hogan all entered the fray. Bennett and Jamie Barron narrowed the gap to six after 38 minutes but that was as good as it got for the visitors. Patrick Horgan finished the afternoon with eight points while Seamus Harnedy and substitute Robbie O'Flynn added two each.
Waterford engineered four second half goal opportunities. Patrick Collins saved from Peter Hogan and Hutchinson while Damien Cahalane denied Patrick Fitzgerald and Bennett. Calum Lyons and Padraig Fitzgerald both struck two points for an out of sorts Déise.
Fans from both counties streamed out of the ground long before the final whistle. Next up for Waterford is a must-win game with Clare on May 13.
