Bord Gais Energy Munster GAA Hurling Under 21 Championship Semi-Final – Cork 0-23 Waterford 1-17

Cork defeated Waterford by 0-23 to 1-17 in the Bord Gais Energy Munster GAA Hurling Under 21 Championship Semi-Final on Wednesday June 20th at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Match Highlights

Cork v Waterford U-21 Hurling Full-Time Highlights pic.twitter.com/0nwOD3uNNv

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 20, 2018

REPORT: @OfficialCorkGAA are through to the Bord Gáis Energy Munster U-21 Hurling Championship Final after a hard-fought victory over @WaterfordGAA.

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 20, 2018

Cork through to Munster hurling final after second-half comeback against Waterford https://t.co/VJhcM9ZRSg pic.twitter.com/XP2iEM7eBn

— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) June 20, 2018

Cork through to Munster hurling final after second-half comeback against Waterford

By Denis Hurley for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Cork 0-23 Waterford 1-17: A strong second half earned Cork a place in the Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21HC final as they came from behind to beat Waterford at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Trailing by 1-8 to 0-8 at half-time, the Rebels fell further behind as John Paul Lucey and Darragh Lyons had points for Waterford on the resumption, but they responded well with five in a row, from Robbie O’Flynn (two), influential subs Daire Connery, free-taker Declan Dalton and captain Shane Kingston.

While Jack Prendergast and goalkeeper Billy Nolan scored frees as Waterford pushed ahead again, Cork had got on top with Billy Hennessy and Darragh Fitzgibbon impressive and they finally hit the front through Mark Coleman on 51 minutes, with Dalton, Fitzgibbon, Jack O’Connor and sub Conor Cahalane on target as they saw out the game.

The win guarantees Cork two more games under the new system which sees the Munster and Leinster champions play the runners-up from the other province, but it was a victory which didn’t look at all certain in the first half.

A ninth-minute Lucey goal put Waterford 1-2 to 0-2 in front with Andrew Casey and Neil Montgomery adding further points, and their lead never dropped below three for the rest of the half, Nolan twice making good saves.

While they would start the second half well, Cork dug deep and eventually managed to seize control.

Scorers for Cork: D Dalton 0-8 (frees), D Fitzgibbon 0-3, S Kingston, R O’Flynn, J O’Connor, D Connery, L Healy 0-2 each, M Coleman, C Cahalane 0-1 each.

Scorers for Waterford: JP Lucey 1-2, J Prendergast 0-4 (frees), B Nolan 0-3 (frees), A Casey 0-2, P Hogan, D Lyons, N Montgomery, I Daly, C Prunty, C Lyons 0-1 each.

CORK: G Collins (Ballinhassig); D Lowney (Clonakilty), D Griffin (Carrigaline), N O’Leary (Castlelyons); E Murphy (Sarsfields), M Coleman (Blarney), B Hennessy (St Finbarr’s); C O’Leary (Valley Rovers), D Fitzgibbon (Charleville); R O’Flynn (Erin’s Own), D Dalton (Fr O’Neills), M O’Halloran (Blackrock); L Healy (Sarsfields), S Kingston (Douglas), J O’Connor (Sarsfields).
Subs: D Connery (Na Piarsaigh) for O’Halloran (36), C Cahalane (St Finbarr’s) for O’Leary (44), L O’Shea (Lisgoold) for O’Connor (60).

WATERFORD: B Nolan (Roanmore); J Curran (Dungarvan), M Daykin (Mount Sion), D Lynch (Passage); C Prunty (Abbeyside), J Henley (Tallow), G Cullinane (Passage); A Casey (Ballyduff Upper), M Mahony (Ballygunner); D Lyons (Dungarvan), JP Lucey (Shamrocks), N Montgomery (Abbeyside); E Meaney (De La Salle), J Prendergast (Tramore), P Hogan (Ballygunner).
Subs: I Beecher (Tallow) for Casey (42), I Daly (Lismore) for Montgomery (54), C Lyons (Ballyduff Lower) for Lynch (49), H Ruddle (Ballygunner) for Meaney (60).

Referee: J McCormack (Tipperary).

Watched the game? Here are the stats! #CorkVWat #BGEU21 #HurlingToTheCore pic.twitter.com/iJjp0vDbeQ

— BGEGAA (@BGEGAA) June 22, 2018

Team News

The Cork U21 Hurling team to play Waterford in the Munster U21 Hurling Championship Semi-Final on Wednesday 20th June in Pairc Ui Chaoimh @ 7.30pm has been announced.https://t.co/bNMa6Dx4Au pic.twitter.com/djCx0j0mc1

— Cork GAA (@OfficialCorkGAA) June 18, 2018

CORK (U21HC v Waterford): G Collins (Ballinhassig); D Lowney (Clonakilty), D Griffin (Carrigaline), N O’Leary (Castlelyons); E Murphy (Sarsfields), M Coleman (Blarney), B Hennessy (St Finbarr’s); C O’Leary (Valley Rovers), D Fitzgibbon (Charleville); R O’Flynn (Erin’s Own), D Dalton (Fr O’Neills), S Kingston (Douglas); L Healy (Sarsfields), T O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), J O’Connor (Sarsfields). Subs: Shane Hurley (St Finbarr’s), S Smyth (Midleton), J Cashman (Blackrock), E Roche (Bride Rovers), D Connery (Na Piarsaigh), C Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), M O’Halloran (Blackrock), A Myers (Sarsfields), S Condon (Harbour Rovers).

WATERFORD (U21HC v Cork): B Nolan (Roanmore); J Curran (Dungarvan), M Daykin (Mount Sion) D Lynch (Passage); C Lyons (Ballyduf Lower), J Henley (Tallow), G Cullinane (Passage); A Casey (Ballyduff Upper), M Mahony (Ballygunner); E Meaney (De La Salle), P Hogan (Ballygunner), J Kennedy (Mount Sion); JP Lucey (Shamrocks), D Lyons (Dungarvan), N Montgomery (Abbeyside).

The Waterford u21 Panel to face Cork tomorrow night in the Munster Semi Final has been named..

Best of Luck to Sean Power, his management team and all the panel! #deiseabú pic.twitter.com/lj0uLTM37U

— Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) June 19, 2018