After consecutive defeats of varying degrees of hopelessness, the Cork hurlers got their season back on track with a convincing victory over Waterford by a scoreline of 1-21 to 1-13 at Walsh Park.
Bill Cooper and Conor Lehane provided a spearhead for Cork going forward while, despite a fifth minute goal from Stephen Bennett, Waterford's own supremely talented attack never really got the ball rolling during an off-colour display for the Déise.
It was a relative newcomer who was lauded as the star for the Rebels, however. 20-year-old left corner forward Luke Meade, who first emerged in Cork's Senior panel two years ago, scored their only goal in a resounding victory, firing low past Stephen O’Keeffe having burst through Waterford's rearguard.
With perennial talisman Pa Horgan on the bench, Cork needed somebody to to grab the game by the balls, and establish themselves as the go-to man at crucial junctures. Meade did so, and Cork fans - who have endured a torturous few years where players have straight-up failed to take responsibility on the pitch - quickly gravitated to the Newcestown man.
GOAL Luke Meade, superb finish!
— Cork's RedFM Sport (@BigRedBench) March 12, 2017
Unsung hero of the league:
Luke Meade 🏅
We'll done to Cork. Different team
this week.— Paddy Stapleton (@pasaint) March 12, 2017
That's some goal from #lukemeade #rebels
— Leonard Leahy (@Redtawnie) March 12, 2017
Luke Meade goal 😱😍😍😍
— Cormac Kiely (@tractonman) March 12, 2017
@NewcestownGAA be proud re Luke Meade - Corcaigh abú!
— Margaret Murphy O’ Mahony (@MMurphyOMahony) March 12, 2017
Encouraging performance from Cork. V direct stuff. An módh díreach. Meade, Harnedy, Coleman, Lehane, Damien cahalane all on form.
— Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (@Donnchadhol) March 12, 2017
Young lads showed well today for cork - Meade Kingston Coleman and M Cahalane - great win
— Tomas Mulcahy (@tomas_mulcahy) March 12, 2017
Meade exploded onto the scene for Jimmy Barry-Murphy's Cork back in 2015, scoring a hat-trick in the Rebels' 6-13 to 2-18 warm-up win over Limerick that January, aged just 18.
The young forward first played competitive hurling with his Bandon school, Hamilton High School, and won a premier intermediate championship medal with his club in 2015.
