Cork vs. Waterford
Munster SHC Quarter-Final - 4pm, Sunday May 25th, Semple Stadium, Referee: Brian Gavin
Cork and Waterford renew their fascinating recent rivalry on Sunday evening, and Jamesie O’Connor will be in Semple Stadium from 4pm, bringing you live updates on Off The Ball.
On paper, these sides have had completely contrasting league campaigns. Cork were unbeaten throughout the spring, winning Division 1B, while Waterford were relegated from the top division as they won two and lost three, and lost the relegation play-off to Dublin.
When you consider the quality of Cork’s opposition though, outside Limerick who they drew with, they beat Antrim, Laois, Wexford and Offaly, hardly All-Ireland contenders. While Waterford only lost narrowly to Tipperary on day one, they were beaten heavily by Kilkenny and Clare in rounds 4 and 5. They beat Galway and Dublin in rounds 2 and 3, before losing the relegation play-off to Dublin.
Team News:
2013 was a year of nearlies for Jimmy Barry-Murphy and Cork hurling, they finished runners-up in the Munster final to Limerick and lost the All-Ireland final to Clare after a replay. This year he reckons he has the strongest panel he’s ever had since his return.
He has named 11 of the team who started last years All-Ireland final replay against Clare last September. In the other four starting spots there are three debutants in dual-star Aidan Walsh, Mark Ellis at centre back, and Alan Cadogan, brother of Eoin in corner forward. Another dual-star Damien Cahalane, who appeared in a qualifier against Wexford in 2012, makes his Munster debut. Eoin Cadogan was ruled out with a hamstring injury while long-term absentee Paudie O’Sullivan makes his return on the bench.
Cork: 1. Anthony Nash; 2. Shane O’Neill, 3. Damien Cahalane, 4. Stephen McDonnell; 5. Christopher Joyce, 6. Mark Ellis, 7. Lorcán McLoughlin; 8. Daniel Kearney, 9. Aidan Walsh; 10. Conor Lehane, 11. Cian McCarthy, 12. Patrick Cronin; 13. Alan Cadogan, 14. Séamus Harnedy, 15. Patrick Horgan.
There are four debutants also in the Waterford side, while Eddie Barrett makes his first Championship start. Left-half forward Austin Gleeson was centre-back on Waterford’s All-Ireland winning minor side last year.
Tadhg Burke in corner-back and right half-forward Colin Dunford are the other debutants. Captain, Michael Brick Walsh, is the only man on either fifteen who started in Waterford’s Munster Championship victory over Cork in 2004:
- YOUTUBE LINK:
Waterford: 1. Stephen O'Keeffe; 2.Tadhg de Burca, 3. Liam Lawlor, 4. Noel Connors; 5. Jamie Nagle, 6. Michael Walsh (captain), 7. Barry Coughlan; 8. Kevin Moran, 9. Eddie Barrett; 10. Colin Dunford, 11. Pauric Mahony, 12. Austin Gleeson; 13. Brian O'Sullivan, 14. Shane Walsh, 15. Jake Dillon.
Key Stats
Cork
Finished 1st in Division 1B - promoted to Division 1A
Five players played in all five league games: Pa Horgan, Christopher Joyce, Daniel Kearney, Rob O’Shea, Lorcan McLoughlin.
Top-scorers: Pa Horgan 2-43 (1-25fs, 2 '65s'), Seamus Harnedy 0-11, Alan Cadogan 0-08
Waterford
Finished 6th in Division 1A - relegated to Division 1B
Nine players have played in all six league games: Pauric Mahony, Philip Mahony, Shane O’Sullivan, Jamie Nagle, Brian O’Sullivan, Noel Connors, Shane Fives, Stephen Molumphy, Stephen Prendergast.
Top Scorers: Pauric Mahony 1-53 (40fs, 1 '65'), Ray Barry 0-09, Brian O’Sullivan 0-09
* Goals will be a factor on Sunday - Waterford conceded 17 during the league, and both sides have scored at least a goal in 11 of the last 12 championship meetings.
Check out the infographic for further statistics on Cork and Waterford’s 2014 so far...
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