Dan Shanahan’s extra-time goal gave Waterford the Munster title after a hard-fought tussle at Semple Stadium on Saturday evening.
The veteran forward came off the bench to fire his side’s only goal in a 1-16 to 1-13 victory for the Deise.
Whereas last Sunday’s first encounter picked up after a low-scoring first half, the scores were at a premium throughout the replay on a wet and windy night in Thurles.
Waterford held a four-point lead at the break (0-8 to 0-4) but Cork hit back to force extra-time, with Ben O’Connor’s seemingly fortunate goal from a 35-metre angled free proving the vital score.
That strike momentarily saw Cork go two in front only for Waterford to hit back to lead. However, the Leesiders missed a gilt-edged opportunity to claim a second goal after Michael Cussen was felled inside the large square. John Gardiner came up from right half back to take the penalty but goalkeeper Clinton Hennessy was able to deflect his drive over the bar for a point.
The usually reliable Eoin Kelly was handed the perfect chance to win it for Waterford in injury time but his 55-yard free drifted to the left of the posts.
Into extra-time and Waterford again gained the upper hand, this time decisively, with Dan Shanahan firing the winning goal past Donal Og Cusack early in the second period.
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