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Remembering The Epic Cork Vs Waterford Battles From The 2000s

Remembering The Epic Cork Vs Waterford Battles From The 2000s
David Kent
By David Kent
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Sunday sees Cork and Waterford clash ash to reach a Munster final and avoid going down the qualifier route, one which already consists of Kilkenny and Tipperary.

You're probably aware we're divils for nostalgia, and Sunday's clash got us thinking about the epic battles between the two neighbouring counties that, in a sense, defined hurling in the early 2000s.

2002 Munster Semi Final - History for the Deise

Waterford 1-16 1-15 Cork

Questions were being raised about the Rebels. They hadn't been able to capitalise on their All-Ireland win of 1999. Jimmy Barry- Murphy left after retaining Munster in 2000. All was not well with the county board either.

They were coming up against one of their own when Waterford arrived at Semple Stadium for the 2002 Munster Semi Final. Justin McCarthy was taking charge for his first game.

Paul Flynn grabbed 12 points, Tony Browne snuck a long range effort past Donal Óg Cusack and Ken McGrath whacked over a late point to give Waterford their first win over Cork in 13 years.

2003 Munster final - The Rebel Revenge

Cork 3-16 3-12 Waterford

The two would meet in the same venue a year later, only with silverware on the line. John Mullane scored a hat-trick - and still ended up on the losing side. His famous two-fingered salute after his third goal seemed to rile Cork, with Joe Deane raising a green flag at the other end to kill off the Deise.

2004 Munster Final - The Epic

Waterford 3-16 1-21 Cork

One of the greatest games of hurling in the modern era.

Mullane's dismissal, Donal Óg letting another one slip by him and the mother of all catches from Ken McGrath. Back and forth, tit for tat points.

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Brilliantly, the whole thing has been uploaded to Youtube. If you've a spare hour and a bit, have a watch.

2006 All Ireland Semi Final - The Super Sub

Cork 1-16 1-15 Waterford

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Waterford were looking to reach their All-Ireland final in 43 years. Cork had stopped them at the quarter-final stage the previous year. With 15 minutes to go, Waterford led by two points.

Enter Cathal Naughton.

Within two minutes of his arrival on the pitch, Cork had gone in front.

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A late McGrath free caused the mother of all scrambles, but Cork gained possession and reached their third consecutive All-Ireland final.

2007 - The Trilogy

Waterford had been drawn against the winners of Cork and Clare in the 2007 Munster Championship semi final. That infamously became known as 'Semplegate' with Cusack, Diarmuid O'Sullivan and Sean Óg O'hAilpin all being suspended for the subsequent semi-final.

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Despite this, Cork led early on thanks to a Kieran Murphy goal, the first of eight. Dan Shanahan's brace helped Waterford to a 5-15 to 3-18 win.

Shanahan would be crucial when the sides met at the All Ireland quarter final stage later that year, but it was Eoin Kelly that would be Waterford's hero. First, with two minutes to go and Cork ahead by four, Stephen Molumphy batted a Kelly rebound into the net. Then, after Cusack lay on the ball, Kelly sent over the resultant free to force a replay.

The second game came a week later - and Shanahan made his mark again, getting another brace to sink Cork by three points.

The sides last met in 2015, but after Cork's tactical take down of Tipperary a few weeks ago, we could get another all-time classic on Sunday.

SEE ALSO: Carlow Sport Is Absolutely Flying, And It's Time We Paid Attention

 

 

 

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