Cork–Waterford hurling rivalry

Cork-Waterford
Locale County Cork
County Waterford
Teams Cork
Waterford
First contested Cork 2-8 - 0-0 Water.
1888 Munster semi-final
(22 July 1888)
Most recent meeting Cork 0-28 - 0-14 Wat.
2014 Munster quarter-final replay
(8 June 2014)
Next meeting TBA
Statistics
Number of meetings 63
Most player appearances Tony Browne (12)
Top scorer Christy Ring (11-37)
All-time series Cork 45-12 Waterford
(6 draws)
Largest victory Cork 13-4 - 0-1 Water.
1923 Munster quarter-final
(24 June 1923)

The Cork-Waterford rivalry is a hurling rivalry between Irish inter-county teams Cork and Waterford, who first played each other in 1888. Since the turn of the century it has come to be regarded as one of the biggest rivalries in Gaelic games.[1][2] Cork's home ground is Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Waterford's home ground is Walsh Park, however, championship meetings between the two sides have generally been held at neutral venues.

While Cork are the standard bearers in Munster, Waterford have enjoyed success at sporadic intervals. At All-Ireland level Cork are second on the all-time roll of honour with thirty titles, while Waterford have claimed just two All-Ireland titles.

History

Early years

The first clash of Cork and Waterford occurred on 22 July 1888 in the inaugural Munster championship. It was Cork's second ever championship game while Waterford were making their very first appearance in the championship. For the first fifty years of the championship Cork held the Indian sign over the near neighbours and regularly dished out thirty and forty point drubbings.

Waterford emerge

In 1938 Waterford and Cork faced each other in the Munster semi-final. The Rebels had been going through a downturn since winning their last All-Ireland in 1931, while Waterford had been steadily improving. On that occasion Waterford recorded their first ever championship victory over Cork with a 5-2 to 1-3 score line.

Cork resumed their dominance over the next four meetings, however, when the sides met in the Munster final in 1948, Waterford edged a thrilling game. A narrow 4-7 to 3-9 victory gave Waterford their second ever championship victory over the Rebels.

The first great rivalry of the 21st century

It used be Cork and Tipp. Kilkenny and Wexford for
years grabbed the headlines. Clare and Limerick
tried valiantly but let's call it straight and blunt.
Nothing compares at the beginning of this century
to Cork and Waterford clashes.

After an absence of eight years, Cork and Waterford faced off in the championship in a Munster semi-final on 13 June 1999. Waterford, as provincial runners-up the previous year, were installed as favourites against a young and inexperienced Cork team. Mickey O'Connell proved the star for Cork as they recorded a 0-24 to 1-15 victory.

Three years later in 2002 Cork and Waterford clashed in another Munster semi-final. A new-look Waterford, sporting blue shorts for the first time in twenty years, shaded a thrilling game by 1-16 to 1-15. It was their first defeat of the Rebels in thirteen years.

John Mullane will wake up this morning feeling as if
he won the Lotto but mislaid the ticket. The Waterford
corner-forward delivered the near-perfect performance
in yesterday's Guinness Munster hurling final at Semple
Stadium but still had to watch through bewildered eyes
afterwards as Cork captain Alan Browne waved the
trophy in joyous celebration of another great Leeside
triumph.

The Irish Independent sums up John Mullane's fate
after the 2003 Munster final.

In 2003 Cork faced Waterford in the Munster final after a winter of discontent on Leeside had seen the hurling panel go on strike for better treatment and conditions. A high-scoring game saw John Mullane top score with 3-1, however, it wasn't enough as Cork triumphed by 3-16 to 3-12.[3]

Twelve months later and Cork and Waterford produced what has been described as one of hurling's greatest games of the modern era. Cork, as reigning champions, had played against a wind in the opening half and built up a 1-14 to 2-8 lead. In the circumstances they looked comfortable, particularly as John Mullane had been dismissed at the start of the second half. But a Paul Flynn free that flew straight to the net changed everything in the second half, and with Flynn adding another five points and Ken McGrath leading the 14-man resistance from centre-back, Waterford prevailed, McGrath's catch at the very end as they protected a one-point lead the game's signature moment.[4]

In 2005 the championship produced two games between Cork and Waterford. A two point victory for Cork in the Munster semi-final was followed by an All-Ireland quarter-final meeting in Croke Park. A Brian Corcoran drop goal was the highlight of the game as Cork triumphed by 1-18 to 1-13.

After avoiding each other in the provincial series in 2006, the sides subsequently met in the All-Ireland semi-final. On a day when it looked as if Waterford would finally break their semi-final hoodoo and reach their first All-Ireland decider in forty-three years, Cork produced a new forward in the form of Cathal Naughton. Waterford had gone four points ahead when Naughton was sprung from the bench and captured 1-1 inside two minutes. A late Ken McGrath free frustratingly bounced back off the post. An almighty scrap for possession ensued with Cork emerging with the ball at the stroke of full time.[5]

Cork and Waterford clashed on three separate occasions during the 2007 championship. Cork stalwarts Donal Óg Cusack, Diarmuid O'Sullivan and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín were suspended for the Munster semi-final tie which saw Waterford dethrone reigning provincial champions Cork. After a pulsating eight-goal encounter, the Déise emerged as 5-15 to 3-18 winners.[6] Both sides faced each other again in the All-Ireland quarter-final at Croke Park in front of a record attendance of 72,426 for this fixture. Both sides provided another pulsating chapter to their rivalry with the game still alive deep in time added on. Substitute Eoin McGrath got inside the Cork defence at the Canal End with his side trailing by one point and time ticking away. His shot was saved by Cork goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack, the rebound came out to Paul Flynn who pulled first time only to see it saved on the line by Diarmuid O'Sullivan. Cusack seemed to lie on the ball and was immediately challenged by Flynn. The resultant free saw Eoin Kelly tap to sliotar over the bar to level the game at 3-16 apiece and force a replay.[7] The third game between the two was a tense affair, with Dan Shanahan netting a brace of goals to seal a 2-17 to 0-20 victory.[8]

After nine meetings in six championships, the Cork-Waterford rivalry took a three-year hiatus and resumed with a Munster final clash in 2010. Once again the game was a close affair with veteran Tony Browne scoring a late goal to level the match at 2-15 apiece.[9] The replay created a piece of history as it was the first Munster decider to be played on a Saturday night under floodlights. With the sides level at the end of normal time another piece of history was created when a period of extra time was used for the first time to settle the championship decider. Dan Shanahan, who was introduced as a substitute for John Mullane, scored the deciding goal in a 1-16 to 1-13 victory.[10]

In 2012 both sides clashed in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Waterford led by three points entering the final stages, however, Cork outscored the Déise by 0-7 to 0-1 in the last five minutes to secure a 1-19 to 0-19 victory.[11]

In their first Munster quarter-final clash in thirty-nine year, Cork faced a scare against Waterford in the opening game of the 2014 championship. Trailing by nine points at one stage, the Rebels fought back to secure a 1-21 apiece draw.[12]

Statistics

Team All-Ireland Provincial National League Total
Cork 30 50 14 94
Waterford 2 9 2 13
Combined 32 59 16 107

All time results

Championship

Cork win
Waterford win
Drawn game
No. Date Winners Score Runners-up Venue Stage
1 22 July 1888 Cork (1) 2-8 - 0-0 Waterford Fraher Field MSHC semi-final
2 17 August 1890 Cork (2) w/o - scr. Waterford Youghal MSHC semi-final
3 1 May 1898 Cork (3) 4-6 - 1-6 Waterford Fraher Field MSHC quarter-final
4 9 October 1904 Cork (4) 5-16 - 1-1 Waterford Tipperary MSHC final
5 12 May 1906 Cork (5) 4-13 - 0-2 Waterford Fraher Field MSHC quarter-final
6 19 May 1907 Cork (6) 5-13 - 4-2 Waterford Fraher Field MSHC semi-final
7 11 July 1909 Cork (7) 6-16 - 0-3 Waterford Fraher Field MSHC semi-final
8 21 June 1914 Cork (8) 4-2 - 1-1 Waterford Walsh Park MSHC semi-final
9 6 August 1916 Cork (9) 8-1 - 3-2 Waterford Walsh Park MSHC semi-final
10 18 May 1919 Cork (10) 10-1 - 3-0 Waterford Fraher Field MSHC quarter-final
11 24 June 1923 Cork (11) 13-4 - 0-1 Waterford Fraher Field MSHC quarter-final
12 4 May 1924 Cork (12) 8-3 - 3-0 Waterford Shandon Grounds MSHC quarter-final
13 30 May 1926 Cork (13) 12-3 - 5-2 Waterford Fraher Field MSHC quarter-final
14 13 May 1928 Cork (14) 4-8 - 0-3 Waterford Gaelic Park MSHC semi-final
15 11 August 1929 Cork (15) 4-6 - 2-3 Waterford Fraher Field MSHC final
16 16 August 1931 Cork 4-0 - 1-9 Waterford Clonmel GAA Ground MSHC final
17 30 August 1931 Cork (16) 5-4 - 2-1 Waterford Clonmel GAA Ground MSHC final replay
18 12 June 1932 Cork (17) 5-6 - 1-5 Waterford FitzGerald Park MSHC quarter-final
19 10 July 1938 Waterford (1) 5-2 - 1-3 Cork Fraher Field MSHC semi-final
20 25 June 1939 Cork (18) 7-4 - 4-3 Waterford FitzGerald Park MSHC semi-final
21 1 August 1943 Cork (19) 2-13 - 3-8 Waterford Cork Athletic Grounds MSHC final
22 30 June 1946 Cork (20) 3-9 - 1-6 Waterford Clonmel GAA Ground MSHC semi-final
23 29 June 1947 Cork (21) 3-10 - 1-5 Waterford Clonmel GAA Ground MSHC semi-final
24 1 August 1948 Waterford (2) 4-7 - 3-9 Cork Thurles Sportsfield MSHC final
25 25 June 1950 Cork (22) 1-4 - 0-5 Waterford Thurles Sportsfield MSHC semi-final
26 27 June 1954 Cork (23) 7-8 - 4-5 Waterford Thurles Sportsfield MSHC semi-final
27 10 June 1956 Cork (24) 5-9 - 2-12 Waterford FitzGerald Park MSHC quarter-final
28 14 July 1957 Waterford (2) 1-11 - 1-6 Cork Thurles Sportsfield MSHC final
29 26 July 1959 Waterford (3) 3-9 - 2-9 Cork Thurles Sportsfield MSHC final
30 9 July 1961 Cork (25) 5-7 - 2-7 Waterford Thurles Sportsfield MSHC semi-final
31 8 July 1962 Cork (26) 4-10 - 1-16 Waterford Thurles Sportsfield MSHC semi-final
32 28 June 1964 Cork (27) 4-10 - 5-6 Waterford Thurles Sportsfield MSHC semi-final
33 4 July 1965 Cork 2-6 - 2-6 Waterford Gaelic Grounds MSHC semi-final
34 11 July 1965 Cork (28) 1-11 - 2-5 Waterford Gaelic Grounds MSHC semi-final replay
35 24 July 1966 Cork (29) 4-9 - 2-9 Waterford Gaelic Grounds MSHC final
36 4 June 1967 Waterford (5) 3-10 - 1-8 Cork Walsh Park MSHC quarter-final
37 22 May 1972 Cork (30) 3-16 - 4-6 Waterford Cork Athletic Grounds MSHC quarter-final
38 19 May 1974 Waterford (6) 4-9 - 3-8 Cork Walsh Park MSHC quarter-final
39 8 June 1975 Cork (31) 4-15 - 0-6 Waterford Walsh Park MSHC quarter-final
40 19 June 1977 Cork (32) 4-13 - 3-11 Waterford Semple Stadium MSHC semi-final
41 17 June 1978 Cork (33) 3-17 - 2-8 Waterford Semple Stadium MSHC semi-final
42 18 July 1982 Cork (34) 5-31 - 3-6 Waterford Semple Stadium MSHC final
43 10 July 1983 Cork (35) 3-22 - 0-12 Waterford Semple Stadium MSHC final
44 8 June 1986 Cork (36) 6-13 - 0-9 Waterford Semple Stadium MSHC semi-final
45 4 June 1989 Cork 0-18 - 0-18 Waterford Semple Stadium MSHC semi-final
46 18 June 1989 Waterford (7) 5-16 - 4-17 Cork Semple Stadium MSHC semi-final replay
47 3 June 1990 Cork (37) 4-15 - 1-8 Waterford Semple Stadium MSHC semi-final
48 2 June 1991 Cork (38) 2-10 - 0-13 Waterford Semple Stadium MSHC semi-final
49 13 June 1999 Cork (39) 0-24 - 1-15 Waterford Semple Stadium MSHC semi-final
50 26 May 2002 Waterford (8) 1-16 - 1-15 Cork Semple Stadium MSHC semi-final
51 29 June 2003 Cork (40) 3-16 - 3-12 Waterford Semple Stadium MSHC final
52 27 June 2004 Waterford (9) 3-16 - 1-21 Cork Semple Stadium MSHC semi-final
53 22 May 2005 Cork (41) 2-17 - 2-15 Waterford Semple Stadium MSHC quarter-final
54 24 July 2005 Cork (42) 1-18 - 1-13 Waterford Croke Park AISHC quarter-final
55 6 August 2006 Cork (43) 1-16 - 1-15 Waterford Croke Park AISHC semi-final
56 15 June 2007 Waterford (10) 5-15 - 3-18 Cork Semple Stadium MSHC semi-final
57 29 July 2007 Waterford 3-16 - 3-16 Cork Croke Park AISHC quarter-final
58 5 August 2007 Waterford (11) 2-17 - 0-20 Cork Croke Park AISHC quarter-final replay
59 9 July 2010 Waterford 2-15 - 2-15 Cork Semple Stadium MSHC final
60 17 July 2010 Waterford (12) 1-19 - 0-19 Cork Semple Stadium MSHC final replay
61 29 July 2012 Cork (44) 1-19 - 0-19 Waterford Semple Stadium AISHC quarter-final
62 25 May 2014 Cork 1-21 - 1-21 Waterford Semple Stadium MSHC quarter-final
63 8 June 2014 Cork (45) 0-28 - 0-14 Waterford Semple Stadium MSHC quarter-final replay

Records

Scorelines

Top scorers

Rank Player Team Score Total Appearances
1 Christy Ring Cork 11-37 70 1943, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1954, 1956, 1959, 1961, 1962
2 Paul Flynn Waterford 5-44 59 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2007, 2007
Ben O'Connor Cork 2-53 59 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2007, 2007, 2010, 2010
4 Eoin Kelly Waterford 4-43 55 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2007, 2007, 2010, 2010
5 Joe Deane Cork 2-48 54 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2007, 2007
6 Dan Shanahan Waterford 9-12 39 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2007, 2007, 2010, 2010
7 John Mullane Waterford 4-26 38 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2007, 2007, 2010, 2010, 2012
8 Charlie McCarthy Waterford 5-22 37 1965, 1966, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978

References

  1. ↑ O'Connor, Christy (2 December 2012). "The first great rivalry of the 21st century". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  2. ↑ "14 famous moments from Cork and Waterford’s great modern hurling rivalry". The Score website. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "Mullane unable to part Cork's red sea". Irish Independent. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "Recalling the epic 2004 Munster final". Munster Express. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Youngster Naughton rescues Cork". RTÉ Sport. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  6. ↑ "RTÉ Sport: Waterford 5-15 Cork 3-18". RTÉ Sport. 17 June 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  7. ↑ Morrissey, Marty (29 July 2007). "RTÉ Sport: Waterford 3-16 Cork 3-16". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  8. ↑ Morrissey, Marty (6 August 2007). "RTÉ Sport: Waterford 2-17 Cork 0-20". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  9. ↑ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (12 July 2010). "Browne has last say in Waterford’s grand finale". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  10. ↑ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (19 July 2010). "Shanahan settles epic". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Rousing finish sees Rebels through". RTÉ Sport. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  12. ↑ "Cork fight back to force replay". RTÉ Sport. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.