The Waterford minor hurlers lost tonight’s top of the table clash with Cork at a rainy Páirc Uí Rinn (1-21 to 1-15). Cormac Deane, son of the legendary Joe, fired the Rebels into the Munster final with eight points from play.
James O’Connor’s side led 1-13 to 1-10 in the 41st minute when Jamie Shanahan found the top corner of the net but the hosts responded emphatically. The Rebels outscored the Déise by eleven points to two over the remainder of the contest. The diminutive Deane was a torn in Waterford’s side throughout. Aside from his eight points, goalkeeper James Comerford denied him two goals. Craig O’Sullivan dispatched nine dead balls for Fergal McCormack’s charges.
Jamie Shanahan (1-3) and Jack Power (0-3) were Waterford’s top performers. The Déise will face Clare in Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field next Friday to decide who takes on the Rebels in the decider.
The sides were level four times in an opening quarter that was all about the Cormacs. Cormac Deane shot three from play for Cork from number eleven. Cormac Spain converted three frees at the other end including one from his own 65. On 19 minutes, the elusive Deane beat three Waterford defenders but goalkeeper and captain James Comerford batted his shot away for a 65. Craig O’Sullivan missed and Jamie Shanahan sent Waterford ahead for the first time with his second point of the night (0-6 to 0-5). Spain extended the lead with his first from play. O’Sullivan replied with a free for Cork but Jack Power caught the next puckout and swept the ball over.
The home crowd cheered when they thought that wing back Colm Garde split the posts. His shot didn’t have the legs but Comerford split the greasy sliotar over the line (1-6 to 0-8). A Cork goal against the run of play. Power, Waterford’s standout player in the first half, levelled for the fifth time with his third point. A Ruairc Donovan point saw Cork take the slenderest of leads into the dressing room (1-7 to 0-9). Spain spurned two frees before the break. He sent one short and then played a quick one which broke down.
Waterford regained the lead within four minutes of the restart via Shane Power, Spain (free) and Shanahan. O’Sullivan and Donovan hit back for the hosts before Shane Power struck his second.
The hard working Jack Power then won a turnover and a free. With 41 minutes on the clock, Comerford’s long range effort was batted out to Shanahan who rippled the top corner of the net (1-13 to 1-10).
Cork responded to that setback with six unanswered points. O’Sullivan slotted three placed balls, Deane added two from play with Eoghan O’Shea also on target.
Waterford sub Andrew Power broke that sequence before Spain tapped over a free. There was no stopping Deane however as the young Killeagh man tagged on three more points before the finish.
