Last chance saloon as under-20s come up against Cork
Waterford Under 20 manager James O'Connor and his backroom team will be hoping that it will be third time lucky for their side against Cork on Wednesday. Photo: Noel Browne
A must-win clash awaits the Waterford under-20 hurlers tonight as Cork come to Dungarvan with their own championship ambitions on the line.
The Déise go into this clash off the back of two successive one-point defeats against Clare and Tipperary, respectively, and many would argue they should already be home and hosed with four points on the board. The harsh reality is that they aren’t, and this has now become a must-win game.
It’s been almost 11 years (June 17th, 2015) since Waterford have gotten the better of Cork at underage level, but records like those are there to be rewritten. There’s been plenty to like in the Déise’s two displays so far; they’ve just lacked the clinical ability to put games to bed when on top. With the stakes all the more higher and this essentially being knockout territory, it would be timely for that penny to finally drop.
James O’Connor and his backroom team could be heard after the Tipperary defeat telling the players that now was not the time to feel sorry for themselves; it was time to put their shoulder to the wheel and put things right next time. It’s very hard to have any opposing sentiments.
Cork possess a litany of talent, many of whom have picked up medals and many who were part of the Rebel side that twice defeated the All-Ireland winning Waterford minors last year. The good news for the Déise is that scorer of 2-25 in their two games to date, Barry Walsh, will line out for the seniors instead. Still, there are plenty of other threats that need watching - such as Barry O’Flynn.
Conor Tobin and Mark Hartley impressed in the forwards last time for Waterford, while Gearóid O’Shea has also been bright. Sean Mackey is likely to miss out through injury. A lot will come down to the performances at the back for the Déise - and if Tomas Ahern, Joe McDonnell and Conor Lynch are as good as they’ve been already, then you can be certain Cork won’t have it all their own way.
Given the 11-year wait for a victory against Cork and Waterford’s rotten record at this grade since the All-Ireland success of 2016, it is hard to say with your chest that this will be the Déise’s day - but in front of a raucous home crowd with everything on the line and James O’Connor on the sideline are all factors that evoke positive memories.
This’ll be another tight one, but I have a strong feeling this might finally be Waterford’s night, third time lucky.
