Waterford character shines through

Waterford 2-17 Cork 0-20:   Waterford will play Limerick in next Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final after a thrilling three point…

Waterford 2-17 Cork 0-20:  Waterford will play Limerick in next Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final after a thrilling three point win over bitter rivals Cork at Croke Park.

In a tense but free flowing game Waterford rallied in the second half and held Cork at arms length thanks largely to a brace of goals from in-form forward Dan Shanahan.

Cork started well and impressed in the opening half; Timmy McCarthy, in particular, was in fine form.  Ben O'Connor, who scored nine points on the day, was also finding his range with regularity.

But despite playing with a swagger Cork could never shake-off their opponents who stuck to their task doggedly.

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Shanahan's first goal 15 minutes from half-time - courtesy of a fine Stephen Molumphy hand pass - edged Waterford ahead by a single score.

Nevertheless, Cork rallied again and O'Connor and Kieran Murphy pointed to see the Rebels ahead by a point at the break on a 0-11 to 1-7 scoreline.

But Waterford emerged a rejuvenated side in the second half and the intensity with which they played rocked Cork.

Both sides traded points with regularity and when Eoin Kelly scored in the 55th minute the teams were level for the 10th time in an enthralling contest.

But two minutes later Shanahan struck a low ball to the net - again assisted by Molumphy - and Waterford went into a four point lead - a lead they would never relinquish.

Eoin McGrath's point six minutes from time stretched the advantage to five points but again Cork fought back.

Gerald McCarthy's team were never going to go down without a fight and Ben O'Connor remained focused and reduced the deficit to three.

Paul Flynn, though, slotted over a free in injury time to leave Cork with an impossible task as time ticked away.  O'Connor scored another at the death but the goal Cork craved never materialised.

Waterford advance to meet Limerick at Croke Park next Sunday, a side they beat in the Munster final last month.

Kilkenny await the winners in the final following their comfortable 10 point win over Wexford in the semi-final earlier in the day.