Cork–Waterford hurling rivalry explained

Cork-Waterford
City Or Region:County Cork
County Waterford
First Contested:Cork 2-8 - 0-0 Water.
1888 Munster semi-final
(22 July 1888)
Teams Involved: Cork
Waterford
Most Player Appearances: Tony Browne (12)
Top Scorer: Christy Ring (11-37)
Mostrecent:
2024 Munster Round 1
(21 April 2024)
Nextmeeting:TBA
Total:72
Series:Championship: Cork 50-16 Waterford
(6 draws)
Largestvictory:Cork 13-4 - 0-1 Water.
1923 Munster quarter-final
(24 June 1923)

The Cork-Waterford rivalry is a hurling rivalry between Irish 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.

It was the subject of a Laochra Gael episode on 22 April 2010, which covered the games between 2000 and 2007.

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

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 13 years.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 was batted away by Cork goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack. 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. When the sides finished level at the end of 70 minutes, it became the first Munster final replay to go to extra time since 1987. Dan Shanahan, who was introduced as a substitute for the injured 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 39 years, 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 before winning the replay by 14 points.[12]

In 2015, Waterford won their third hurling league title with a comprehensive ten-point victory over Cork in the first decider between the counties since 1998.[13] They followed this up five weeks later by beating Cork in the semi-final of the Munster championship by five points, their first Championship victory over the Rebels for five years.[14]

Statistics

Up to date as of 2023 season

TeamAll-IrelandProvincialNational LeagueTotal
Cork30541498
29415
Combined326318113

All time results

Championship

Cork win
Waterford win
Drawn game
width=1 width=5 No.width=110 Date width=100 Winnerswidth=70 Scorewidth=100 Runners-upwidth=150 Venuewidth=150 Stage
1 22 July 1888 Cork (1) 2-8 - 0-0 Waterford MSHC semi-final
2 17 August 1890 Cork (2) w/o - scr. Waterford MSHC semi-final
3 1 May 1898 Cork (3) 4-6 - 1-6 Waterford MSHC quarter-final
4 9 October 1904 Cork (4) 5-16 - 1-1 Waterford MSHC final
5 12 May 1906 Cork (5) 4-13 - 0-2 Waterford MSHC quarter-final
6 19 May 1907 Cork (6) 5-13 - 4-2 Waterford MSHC semi-final
7 11 July 1909 Cork (7) 6-16 - 0-3 Waterford MSHC semi-final
8 21 June 1914 Cork (8) 4-2 - 1-1 Waterford MSHC semi-final
9 6 August 1916 Cork (9) 8-1 - 3-2 Waterford MSHC semi-final
10 18 May 1919 Cork (10) 10-1 - 3-0 Waterford MSHC quarter-final
11 24 June 1923 Cork (11) 13-4 - 0-1 Waterford 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 MSHC quarter-final
14 13 May 1928 Cork (14) 4-8 - 0-3 Waterford MSHC semi-final
15 11 August 1929 Cork (15) 4-6 - 2-3 Waterford MSHC final
16 16 August 1931 Cork 4-0 - 1-9 Waterford MSHC final
17 30 August 1931 Cork (16) 5-4 - 2-1 Waterford MSHC final replay
18 12 June 1932 Cork (17) 5-6 - 1-5 Waterford MSHC quarter-final
19 10 July 1938 Waterford (1) 5-2 - 1-3 Cork MSHC semi-final
20 25 June 1939 Cork (18) 7-4 - 4-3 Waterford MSHC semi-final
21 1 August 1943 Cork (19) 2-13 - 3-8 Waterford MSHC final
22 30 June 1946 Cork (20) 3-9 - 1-6 Waterford MSHC semi-final
23 29 June 1947 Cork (21) 3-10 - 1-5 Waterford MSHC semi-final
24 1 August 1948 Waterford (2) 4-7 - 3-9 Cork MSHC final
25 25 June 1950 Cork (22) 1-4 - 0-5 Waterford MSHC semi-final
26 27 June 1954 Cork (23) 7-8 - 4-5 Waterford MSHC semi-final
27 10 June 1956 Cork (24) 5-9 - 2-12 Waterford MSHC quarter-final
28 14 July 1957 Waterford (3) 1-11 - 1-6 Cork MSHC final
29 26 July 1959 Waterford (4) 3-9 - 2-9 Cork MSHC final
30 9 July 1961 Cork (25) 5-7 - 2-7 Waterford MSHC semi-final
31 8 July 1962 Cork (26) 4-10 - 1-16 WaterfordMSHC semi-final
32 28 June 1964 Cork (27) 4-10 - 5-6 Waterford MSHC semi-final
33 4 July 1965 Cork 2-6 - 2-6 Waterford MSHC semi-final
34 11 July 1965 Cork (28) 1-11 - 2-5 Waterford MSHC semi-final replay
35 24 July 1966 Cork (29) 4-9 - 2-9 Waterford MSHC final
36 4 June 1967 Waterford (5) 3-10 - 1-8 Cork MSHC quarter-final
37 22 May 1972 Cork (30) 3-16 - 4-6 Waterford MSHC quarter-final
38 19 May 1974 Waterford (6) 4-9 - 3-8 Cork MSHC quarter-final
39 8 June 1975 Cork (31) 4-15 - 0-6 Waterford MSHC quarter-final
40 19 June 1977 Cork (32) 4-13 - 3-11 Waterford MSHC semi-final
41 17 June 1978 Cork (33) 3-17 - 2-8 Waterford MSHC semi-final
42 18 July 1982 Cork (34) 5-31 - 3-6 Waterford MSHC final
43 10 July 1983 Cork (35) 3-22 - 0-12 Waterford MSHC final
44 8 June 1986 Cork (36) 6-13 - 0-9 Waterford MSHC semi-final
45 4 June 1989 Cork 0-18 - 0-18 Waterford MSHC semi-final
46 18 June 1989 Waterford (7) 5-16 - 4-17 Cork MSHC semi-final replay
47 3 June 1990 Cork (37) 4-15 - 1-8 Waterford MSHC semi-final
48 2 June 1991 Cork (38) 2-10 - 0-13 Waterford MSHC semi-final
49 13 June 1999 Cork (39) 0-24 - 1-15 Waterford MSHC semi-final
50 26 May 2002 Waterford (8) 1-16 - 1-15 CorkMSHC semi-final
51 29 June 2003 Cork (40) 3-16 - 3-12 Waterford MSHC final
52 27 June 2004 Waterford (9) 3-16 - 1-21 CorkMSHC semi-final
53 22 May 2005 Cork (41) 2-17 - 2-15 Waterford MSHC quarter-final
54 24 July 2005 Cork (42) 1-18 - 1-13 Waterford AISHC quarter-final
55 6 August 2006 Cork (43) 1-16 - 1-15 Waterford AISHC semi-final
56 15 June 2007 Waterford (10) 5-15 - 3-18 Cork MSHC semi-final
57 29 July 2007 Waterford 3-16 - 3-16 Cork AISHC quarter-final
58 5 August 2007 Waterford (11) 2-17 - 0-20 Cork AISHC quarter-final replay
59 9 July 2010 Waterford 2-15 - 2-15 Cork MSHC final
60 17 July 2010 Waterford (12) 1-19 - 0-19 Cork MSHC final replay
61 29 July 2012 Cork (44) 1-19 - 0-19 Waterford AISHC quarter-final
62 25 May 2014 Cork 1-21 - 1-21 Waterford MSHC quarter-final
63 8 June 2014 Cork (45)0-28 - 0-14 Waterford MSHC quarter-final replay
64 7 June 2015 Waterford (13) 3-19 - 1-21 Cork MSHC semi-final
65 18 June 2017 Cork (46) 0-23 - 1-15 Waterford MSHC Semi-finals
66 13 August 2017 Waterford (14) 4-19 - 0-20 Cork All-Ireland Semi-finals
67 8 June 2019 Cork (47) 2-30 - 2-17 Waterford MSHC Round 4
68 17 June 2018 Cork (48) 1-23 - 1-20 Waterford MSHC Round 5
69 31 October 2020 Waterford (15) 1-28 - 1-24 Cork MSHC semi-final
70 15 May 2022 Cork (49) 2-22 - 1-19 Waterford MSHC Round 4
71 30 April 2023 Cork (50) 0-27 - 0-18 Waterford MSHC Round 2
72 21 April 2024[15] Waterford (16) 2-25 - 1-25 Cork MSHC Round 1

Records

Scorelines

Top scorers

RankPlayerTeamScoreTotalAppearances
1Christy RingCork11-37701943, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1954, 1956, 1959, 1961, 1962
2Paul FlynnWaterford5-44591999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2007, 2007
Ben O'ConnorCork2-53591999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2007, 2007, 2010, 2010
4Eoin KellyWaterford4-43552002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2007, 2007, 2010, 2010
5Joe DeaneCork2-48541999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2007, 2007
6Dan ShanahanWaterford9-12391999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2007, 2007, 2010, 2010
7John MullaneWaterford4-26382002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2007, 2007, 2010, 2010, 2012
8Charlie McCarthyWaterford5-22371965, 1966, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The first great rivalry of the 21st century. Irish Independent. 2 December 2012. 31 May 2014. Christy. O'Connor.
  2. Web site: 14 famous moments from Cork and Waterford’s great modern hurling rivalry . The Score website . 22 May 2014 . 31 May 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140601003011/http://www.thescore.ie/cork-waterford-hurling-1478995-May2014/ . 1 June 2014 .
  3. Web site: Mullane unable to part Cork's red sea. Irish Independent. 24 November 2012. 2 June 2014.
  4. Web site: Recalling the epic 2004 Munster final. Munster Express. 31 December 2008. 2 June 2014.
  5. Web site: Youngster Naughton rescues Cork. RTÉ Sport. 14 June 2007. 2 June 2014.
  6. Web site: RTÉ Sport: Waterford 5-15 Cork 3-18. RTÉ Sport. 17 June 2007. 2 June 2014.
  7. Web site: RTÉ Sport: Waterford 3-16 Cork 3-16. RTÉ Sport. 29 July 2007. 2 June 2014. Marty. Morrissey.
  8. Web site: RTÉ Sport: Waterford 2-17 Cork 0-20. RTÉ Sport. 6 August 2007. 2 June 2014. Marty. Morrissey.
  9. Web site: Browne has last say in Waterford’s grand finale. Irish Examiner. 12 July 2010. 2 June 2014. Diarmuid. O'Flynn.
  10. Web site: Shanahan settles epic. Irish Examiner. 19 July 2010. 2 June 2014. Diarmuid. O'Flynn. https://web.archive.org/web/20140606205344/http://munster.gaa.ie/2010/07/17/?cat=4. 6 June 2014. dead.
  11. Web site: Rousing finish sees Rebels through. RTÉ Sport. 29 July 2012. 2 June 2014.
  12. Web site: Cork fight back to force replay. RTÉ Sport. 25 May 2014. 2 June 2014.
  13. Web site: Classy Waterford blow Cork away to lift title. RTÉ. 3 May 2015. 12 June 2015. Jackie. Cahill.
  14. Web site: League champs Waterford are too strong for Cork again and reach Munster final. the42.ie. 7 June 2015. 12 June 2015. Fintan. O'Toole.
  15. Web site: Munster SHC: Waterford vanquish Rebels . GAA . 6 May 2024.

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