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May 9 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Azzurri Walsh Park Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin)

Competition:

Munster Senior Hurling Championship

Description:

Cork defeated Waterford by 1-26 to 0-25 in Round 3 of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship on Saturday May 9th at Azzurri Walsh Park Waterford.

Match Highlights

Munster SHC: Cork edge out Waterford

Cork 1-26 Waterford 0-25

Report By Stephen Barry at Azzurri Walsh Park for GAA.ie

Despite fielding without two defensive stalwarts, the Cork train charges forward with a third consecutive win, beating Waterford to secure their qualification for the All-Ireland series.

Brian Hayes scored seven points from play and free-taker Alan Connolly added 0-9, while both were pulled down for black-card penalties. Connolly missed one, but Mark Coleman buried the decisive 61st-minute effort at a sold-out Azzurri Walsh Park.

Mark Coleman of Cork scores the only goal of the game from a penalty

With their first mission complete, the Rebels can only be denied a Munster final berth by Limerick and Clare winning out and the Banner completing a significant turnaround on score difference.

Winless Waterford are not yet eliminated, but appear in grave danger of finishing last for the fifth time in seven seasons since the round-robin system was introduced.

They led until the 58th minute of a match that was level 12 times. Injuries dented their hopes as Ian Kenny, Iarlaith Daly, and, most seriously, Stephen Bennett all limped off in the first half.

Cork made one late change as Hugh O’Connor came in for his full championship debut in place of Barry Walsh, who lined out in the U20 loss to Clare on Wednesday.

There were a couple of switches from the named team as Tim O’Mahony went to centre-back. Darragh Fitzgibbon started at midfield alongside Tommy O’Connell, but soon swapped with O’Connor into the half-forwards.

Robbed of his defensive spine of Ciarán Joyce and Robert Downey, Damien Cahalane filled Cork’s full-back vacancy. He marked Stephen Bennett until Seán Walsh relocated to the edge of the square.

For Waterford, Seán Mackey and Kevin Mahony’s influence in the second-half turnaround against Tipperary were recognised with starts in place of Darragh Lyons and Shane Bennett.

The hosts won the toss and took the wind. Cork got off to a brisk start as all three of their full-forward line, Connolly, Hayes, and William Buckley, got off the mark.

Waterford got in for an early goal chance after good work by Jack Fagan. Seán Walsh broke a long ball for Dessie Hutchinson, but Patrick Collins did well to save.

After three in a row from Waterford, including a Jamie Barron brace, Hayes and O’Connor restored Cork’s lead.

No other Cork player would join those four on the scoresheet for the remainder of the half. Waterford would have eight different players find their range before the break.

The pattern of trading points continued for the rest of the first half. Calum Lyons found space as a puck-out option for three points. Stephen Bennett nailed two frees. Seán Walsh completed the set of forwards scoring for a two-point lead, their biggest yet, in the 29th minute.

All the while, Hayes was in electric form. He scored three in three minutes to take his total to 0-5. Waterford soon swapped Mark Fitzgerald across onto the Hurler of the Year nominee and handed Aaron O’Neill a different assignment.

In the 33rd minute, Hayes was wrestled to the ground by Fitzgerald under O’Connell’s dropping ball. Seán Stack took a moment before awarding the penalty and sending Fitzgerald to the line on a black card.

It was the second game in a row that Fitzgerald had conceded a penalty, and the second time in a fortnight that Billy Nolan bailed him out, diving to his left to save Connolly’s unconvincing effort.

On the counter, Stephen Bennett went over on his ankle in pain and was helped off, using his hurley as a crutch.

They shared four points from there to half-time, with Hayes, now being picked up by Paddy Leavey, slotting his sixth.

Waterford led 0-14 to 0-13 as Cork took the wind for the second half.They had doubled their lead by the time they returned to 15 men. Barron’s point ensured they won the sin-bin period by 0-5 to 0-4.

Cork missed a couple more goal chances to jump ahead. Connolly set up one point-blank opportunity for Hayes before creating one of his own. Both were fired wide of the near post.

Mahony and Mackey twice pushed Waterford three ahead. When Fitzgibbon pulled one back in the 46th minute, he was their fifth player to hit the target and the first new scorer since the 10th minute.

Eoin Downey got back to block a Seán Walsh shot at goal and Cork began to nibble into the deficit. A Fitzgibbon point was followed by a couple of Connolly frees.

After a Walsh settler, Cork struck three in a row, through Buckley, Shane Barrett, and Connolly, to edge ahead by 0-23 to 0-22.

They added a goal when Connolly was taken down by Jack Fagan, and the Waterford wing-back was sent to the sin bin. Nolan couldn’t make it a hat-trick as Coleman came forward to bury the penalty.

Patrick Collins soon had to make a flying save from Peter Hogan to keep Cork in the ascendancy.

Waterford scored three of the four points during the 10 minutes down to 14 men, all from Hutchinson frees, meaning they entered the four added minutes within two points.

Cork saw it out with Séamus Harnedy’s point followed by a Fitzgibbon free.

Scorers for Cork: Alan Connolly 0-9 (6fs); Brian Hayes 0-7; Mark Coleman 1-0 (pen); Darragh Fitzgibbon (1f), William Buckley 0-3 each; Hugh O’Connor 0-2; Shane Barrett, Séamus Harnedy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Waterford: Dessie Hutchinson 0-8 (7fs); Calum Lyons, Jamie Barron, Kevin Mahony 0-3 each, Seán Mackey, Jack Prendergast, Stephen Bennett (2f), Seán Walsh 0-2 each.

Cork: Patrick Collins; Seán O’Donoghue, Damien Cahalane, Niall O’Leary; Eoin Downey, Tim O’Mahony, Mark Coleman; Tommy O’Connell, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Hugh O’Connor, Shane Barrett, Diarmuid Healy; Alan Connolly, William Buckley, Brian Hayes.
Subs: Ger Millerick for O’Donoghue (30-h-t, blood), Robbie O’Flynn for O’Connor (51), Cormac O’Brien for Downey (55, inj), Séamus Harnedy for Healy (59), Pádraig Power for Connolly (70).

Waterford: Billy Nolan; Aaron O’Neill, Mark Fitzgerald, Ian Kenny; Iarlaith Daly, Paddy Leavey, Jack Fagan; Seán Mackey, Jamie Barron; Seán Walsh, Jack Prendergast, Calum Lyons; Dessie Hutchinson, Stephen Bennett, Kevin Mahony.
Subs: Conor Keane for Kenny (20, inj), Shane Bennett for Daly (22, inj), Peter Hogan for Stephen Bennett (35+1, inj), Michael Kiely for Mahony (64), Darragh Lyons for Mackey (65).

Referee: Seán Stack (Dublin).

Match Coverage

This game will be streamed live on GAA+.

Ticket Update

Team News

Waterford: Billy Nolan; Ian Kenny, Mark Fitzgerald, Aaron O’Neill; Jack Fagan, Iarlaith Daly, Calum Lyons; Paddy Leavey, Sean Mackey; Jack Prendergast, Stephen Bennett, Jamie Barron; Dessie Hutchinson, Sean Walsh, Kevin Mahony.
Subs: Alex Reade, Conor Keane, Tadhg de Burca, Darragh Lyons, Austin Gleeson, Shane Bennett, Mikey Kiely, Peter Hogan, Patrick Curran, Reuben Halloran, Seamus Fitzgerald.

Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Damien Cahalane, Sean O’Donoghue; Tommy O’Connell, Eoin Downey, Mark Coleman; Tim O’Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Diarmuid Healy, Shane Barrett, Barry Walsh; Alan Connolly, William Buckley, Brian Hayes.
Subs: Paudie O’Sullivan, Ger Millerick, Cormac O’Brien, Ethan Twomey, Brian O’Sullivan, Robbie O’Flynn, Hugh O’Connor, Shane Kingston, Séamus Harnedy, Pádraig Power, Alan Walsh.

Munster Senior Hurling Championship

Saturday 9th May 2026

Waterford v Cork
Azzurri Walsh Park
Throw-in: 6pm

Waterford GAA are delighted to welcome spectators to Azzurri Walsh Park for the third round of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship. Please take note of the following important Match Day Information for everyone travelling to the game.

Tickets

All tickets must be downloaded or printed prior to arriving at the turnstiles. SAFE Tickets will be in operation and screenshots of tickets will not work.

Tickets will not be available at Azzurri Walsh Park on match day.

Only those with a valid ticket will be allowed entry.

One Ticket = One Entry. All children must have a ticket irrespective of age.

Azzurri Walsh Park is segregated into four sections:

  • South Stand
  • North Stand
  • Western Terrace
  • Eastern Terrace

All seating is allocated in both stands.

Traffic Restrictions (Before and During Match)

A cordon will be in place around Azzurri Walsh Park from 3pm to 9pm. The main restriction points are:

  • Keane’s Road Roundabout to Griffith Place (10:15am–9:30pm)
  • Keane’s Road / Upper Yellow Road Junction
  • Vincent White Road at Ashe Road Roundabout to Walsh Park / Arbour Road Junction
  • Tycor Avenue / Upper Yellow Road Junction
  • Ard Na Gréine / Morrison’s Avenue Junction & Griffith Place
  • Vincent White Road / Arbour Road Junction
  • Slievekeale Road / Bernard Place to Keane’s Road (back of stand)
  • Tycor Road to Keane’s Road Roundabout (road closed to traffic)
  • Paddy Browns Road / Church Road Junction
  • Church Road / Central Avenue
  • Skibbereen Road / Ossary Drive, Lismore Park

Match Day Parking

Azzurri Walsh Park is located in a residential area and illegal parking will not be tolerated. Vehicles obstructing entrances or emergency routes will be ticketed or removed by An Garda Síochána, who will be monitoring the area throughout the day.

Official match parking options include:

  • Mount Sion GAA Social Centre – Limited parking (€5) – Eircode X91 RK51 – approx. 500m from pitch
  • Presentation Secondary School – Vincent White Road – Free parking
  • Rear of Waterford Shopping Centre – Eircode X91 X661 – approx. 2km
  • City Centre car parks – approx. 3km (free and paid options)

Ground Entry Information

Your ticket allows access only to your designated area:

  • North Stand: Stiles 1–6 (Upper Keane’s Road)
  • West Terrace: Stiles 7–10 (Lower Keane’s Road)
  • South Stand: Stiles 11–14 (Roundabout End), 15–18 (City End)
  • East Terrace: Stiles 19–23 (Lower Slievekeale)
  • Wheelchair Entrance: Roundabout main gate
  • Media Entrance: Middle of stand, opposite Waterford Health Park (accredited media only)

Gates open at 4pm.

Waterford v Cork

Cork have taken full points from their first two games against Tipperary and Limerick; Waterford lost to Clare and drew with Tipperary.

Last Five Championship Meetings

  • 2025: Cork 2-25 Waterford 1-22 (Munster Round Robin)
  • 2024: Waterford 2-25 Cork 1-25 (Munster Round Robin)
  • 2023: Cork 0-27 Waterford 0-18 (Munster Round Robin)
  • 2022: Cork 2-22 Waterford 1-19 (Munster Round Robin)
  • 2020: Waterford 1-28 Cork 1-24 (Munster Semi-Final)

Head-to-Head Since 2000
Cork and Waterford have faced each other 24 times in the Championship since the turn of the century. Cork have won 12 times (2003–2006, 2012, 2014, 2017–2019, 2022, 2023, 2025), Waterford have won nine (2002, 2004, 2007 (twice), 2010, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2024), with three draws (2007, 2010, 2014).

Overall Championship Record
This will be the 73rd Championship meeting between the counties. Cork lead the head-to-head by 50 wins to Waterford’s 15, with six draws. Cork were also awarded a walkover when Waterford failed to field in 1890.

Waterford in the Round Robin Series
Waterford have won only four of their 26 round robin games in the Munster Championship. They have drawn two and lost 20.

Venue: