What Cork can expect from Waterford after their defeat to Tipp
Stephen Bennett of Waterford is tackled by Michael Breen of Tipperary during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 4 match between Tipperary and Waterford at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Picture: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
With Limerick and Tipperary having secured their places in the top three, Sunday’s clash between Cork and Waterford has become a straight shootout — winner takes all.
A draw will be enough to send Pat Ryan’s Cork through, while there is no path to the Munster final for Waterford. Still, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
A lot has changed since these two last met in the Munster Championship.
Cork entered last year’s campaign riding high after a string of impressive league performances, while Waterford came in as underdogs, with most expecting them to be swept aside at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Cork’s discipline cost them dearly that day — first Damien Cahalane’s red card, then a late black card for Ciarán Joyce reduced them to 13 men. But even before that, they were second best and deserved nothing from the game.
From there, the shake-up followed. That ended up guiding Cork to the All-Ireland final and league title success earlier this season. But after last weekend’s 16-point hammering by Limerick, it feels like things have come full circle.
Cork aren’t quite back to square one, but they’ve taken a bruising.
Whether he pulls the trigger remains to be seen — but make no mistake, Waterford won’t roll over. Even with just two points from three games, they’re still alive, and they know it.
Peter Queally’s men have taken on a similar trajectory to Tipp this year – while they’ve not improved as dramatically as the Premier County, Waterford have definitely raised the bar. There's a reason they’re still in with a shout of progressing.
Despite falling to Tipp last weekend, Waterford’s Stephen Bennett etched his name into the history books, becoming the Déise’s all-time championship top scorer, dislodging Paul Flynn after his early goal that powered Waterford in front.
He finished the game with 1-9 – seven from frees – while Jamie Barron and Mikey Kiely were the only other Waterford players to land more than one score against Tipp.
Their wide count was a real concern, 16 total misses compared to just nine from Tipp. The fact they scored more in the first 12 minutes than in the rest of the half will also be a worry.
They trailed by three at half-time, battled back to level by the 51st minute, but faded again down the stretch, adding just four more points and eventually losing by nine.
Though beaten, Waterford found some success from the right flank, where six of their 13 points from play originated — many from Bryan O’Mara’s side of the Tipp half-back line. They also ed two wides and earned three converted frees from the same area.
Expect them to target that zone again on Sunday, especially if Mark Coleman reprises his free-roaming role. While Coleman was Cork’s best distributor against Limerick — threading quality ball into the forwards — the defensive gaps left behind were ruthlessly exposed. It’s a trade-off that may not be worth repeating.
Waterford’s puckouts against Tipp only successful when opting for short or mid-range. The Déise only won three of 12 long-range deliveries, two of those down the right flank.
It’s all on the line now.
Two teams with flaws. Two teams improved. One game to decide who goes through.
Winner takes all.
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