Pat Ryan's Cork ease past Waterford in Friends of Brian Greene fundraiser match 

The starting time of which was brought forward three hours due to the inclement weather. 

And while the elements remained unfavourable, it is estimated 2,000 supporters braved the wet and icy cold conditions to show their support for the former Déise hurler Brian Greene who was present at the venue and expressed his heartfelt appreciation when interviewed during the interval.

Pat Ryan’s more experienced charges led from start to finish. Most of the groundwork was done in a wind-assisted opening half and they had 10 different scorers with multiple subs used on both sides.

There was one enforced change to Cork’s starting line out with Cormac O’Brien replacing captain Robert Downey (sickness).

New Waterford hurling manager Peter Queally went with a new look team.

It was the All-Ireland finalists from last July that set the pace with the wind at their backs. They shot the first eight points without reply.

Corner-forward Robbie Cotter linked up with Luke Meade for the opening score in the second minute.

Cotter’s club mate Alan Connolly, Pádraig Power and Ben Cunningham added from play before Declan Dalton sent over a free from out the field.

On top at midfield and half back, Cormac O’Brien, Ethan Twomey and Connolly made it 0-8 to nil after a quarter of an hour.

The strength of the wind was a factor for Waterford as they struggled to get the ball into their inside line, subsequently they had to wait until the 18th minute for Shane Bennett to get them on the scoreboard through a tap-over free.

But their joy was short-lived.

A minute later Dalton raised a green flag when Pádraig Power’s lovely flick was batted to the net by the Fr O’Neill’s attacker.

Dalton could have had a second goal a minute later but Waterford goalkeeper Shaun O’Brien was equal to the task, while captain Iarlaith Daly was on hand to take the sliotar off the goal line - Dalton rifling over the resultant ’65.

Waterford came more into the play, meaning Cork ‘keeper Patrick Collins had to be alert, including a fine save from Thomas Douglas on the stroke of half time.

His side saw out the first-half action 1-11 to 0-3 ahead.

Cork made six changes at the start of the second half, Waterford two. Both sides emptied their benches thereafter.

The hosts started to work their way back with three points from Shane Bennett in the first 10 minutes - a brace of these from frees.

The conditions continued to deteriorate, as a result scores were not as plentiful.

Crucially Cork were always able to move up a gear though, and they got the next two points from subs Shane Kingston and Jack Cahalane.

And while Waterford enjoyed another good spell in the fourth quarter striking three unanswered points, the closest they could get was seven.

Scorers for Waterford: S Bennett (0-6, 0-4 frees), S Walsh (0-2), W Beresford and R Halloran (0-1 each).

Scorers for Cork: D Dalton (1-2, 0-1 free, 0-1 65), A Connolly (0-3, 0-1 free), B Cunningham (0-1 free) and S Kingston (0-2 each), E Twomey. R Cotter, P Power, C O’Brien, B Roche and J Cahalane (0-1 each).

WATERFORD: S O’Brien; S Fitzgerald, I Daly (Capt), M Power; PJ Fanning, T Barron, P Fitzgerald; J Barron, R Halloran; S Bennett, J Prendergast, T O’Connell; T Douglas, S Walsh, C Treen.

Subs: F Reaney for PJ Fanning, B Nolan for S O’Brien (both half-time), S Fitzgerald for T O’Connell (40 inj), K Mahony for C Treen (45), C Keane for P Fitzgerald, W Beresford for J Barron (both 49), M Mullaney for J Prendergast, C Sheahan for R Halloran, P Curran for T Douglas (all 55).

CORK: P Collins; N O'Leary, G Millerick, D O' Sullivan; M Mullins, C Joyce (Capt), C O’Brien; E Twomey, L Meade; B Cunningham, D Dalton,, B Hayes; R Cotter, P Power, A Connolly.

Subs: Subs: S O’Donoghue for N O’Leary, C Cahalane for M Mullins, B Roche for B Hayes, S Kingston for D Dalton, A Walsh for P Power, W Buckley for A Connolly (all half-time), J Cahalane for R Cotter (37), T O’Mahony for C Joyce (43), D Fitzgibbon for E Twomey, S Barrett for L Meade (both 45).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).