Preview:Waterford knew after winning the National League last April they would have to win the Munster title as front runners.
Even were Cork to start with all hands on deck their opponents would be expected to win tomorrow's Munster hurling semi-final. It's an added pressure for Waterford but one they have to cope with.
Whereas Kilkenny weren't anywhere near top gear in the league final there was plenty to admire in Waterford's performance. Few teams take Kilkenny to the wire and win no matter what time of the year it is.
From a team saddled with goalkeeping insecurities and an accident-prone full-back line, Justin McCarthy's side have found reassurance in Clinton Hennessy and added a hugely promising newcomer at corner back, Aidan Kearney. Discipline isn't guaranteed, principally in the case of Eoin Kelly, and that could come against the team any day but to have finished a league title run with Tipp, Cork and Kilkenny put away showed that ability to perform in successive matches isn't beyond them.
Within the county there is confidence the team can set out on the right path and reports from a recent challenge match against the under-21s suggest everyone is looking fired up for the job and that the performance of Paul Flynn nailed down his return to the starting 15.
Cork's situation wasn't great coming out of the Clare match even before nearly three weeks of Rumpoling was triggered. There had been a number of subdued performances in a match which offered no rigorous challenge. Joe Deane's form has been a concern in an attack that needs direction since Brian Corcoran's retirement but on a brighter note, Jerry O'Connor's hamstring injury is believed to have cleared up.
There have been obvious opportunities to foster a siege spirit and the team Gerald McCarthy defiantly picked this week is expected to start regardless of procedural sleights of hand in the committee rooms. The absence of Dónal Cusack, Diarmuid O'Sullivan and Seán Ó hAilpín would represent the cumulative loss of 30 seasons of championship hurling.
This has been a turbulent lead-in to a championship match but Waterford know they have to face whatever challenges arise.
CORK: A Nash; B Murphy, C O'Connor, S O'Neill; J Gardiner, R Curran, K Hartnett; J O'Connor, T Kenny; K Murphy (Erin's Own; capt.), N McCarthy, P Cronin; B O'Connor, K Murphy (Sarsfields), J Deane.
WATERFORD: C Hennessy; E Murphy, D Prendergast, J Murray; T Browne, K McGrath, A Kearney; M Walsh (capt.), S Molumphy; D Shanahan, S Prendergast, E Kelly; J Kennedy, P Flynn, J Mullane.
Referee: Barry Kelly(Westmeath).
Cork v Waterford Semple Stadium Sunday, 4.0. On TV: RTÉ 2
