Cork finally pull away from Dublin

Cork 2-17

K Murphy 1-6, five points from frees; E Collins 1-2; S O hAilpin 0-4; M O'Connor 0-3, one free and 65; D Cashman, T O'Leary 01 each.

Dublin 1-11

C Ryan 0-4, all frees; D O'Callaghan 1-1; G Joyce, S O'Neill 0-2 each; F Chambers, C Keaney 0-1 each.

Referee: J Guinan (Kilkenny)

Cork had to wait until as late as the 17th minute of the second half before acute anxiety was replaced by sheer relief with a vital goal that inspired a comfortable victory over Dublin in the All-Ireland minor hurling semi-final at Croke Park yesterday.

The match maintained a competitive edge for much longer than had been anticipated.

Dublin, due to an effective defence whose players were not afraid to play front-running roles, together with an attack that often had the Cork cover under unexpected pressure, were very much in the game until a goal by Kieran Murphy.

The goal, set up by a superb Dave Cashman dummy, finally opened the flood gates for the Munster champions.

Murphy's goal was the defining moment of the match, but it would not have been possible without the artistry of Blackrock's Cashman who spread the Dublin defence and made the initial opening for himself.

Cashman's shot towards the near post was somehow saved by Gary Maguire, but his parry dropped into the path of Murphy who took his chance in style.

Up to that point, Dublin had contested in a way few had expected.

Conor Ryan, the Dublin free-taker remarkably taken off with 15 minutes remaining , had just sent over his fourth pointed-free to leave only two points between them before the end of the third quarter.

Setanta O hAilpin had increased Cork's advantage to three points before Cashman and Murphy combined to put daylight between the teams for the first time during an anxious afternoon for Cork.

Cork Coach Sean Considine said afterwards: "For us it was a combination of playing a good team and not playing the way we should."

Considine had forewarned his players of Dublin's capabilities, especially since his team could not get a match since the Munster final.

"Club competition at home cut across our preparation and I was very concerned at half time," said the coach.

Only a point separated the sides at half time, Cork holding the advantage (1-6 to 15) despite getting off to a dream start with an Eamonn Collins goal inside the first minute.

The fast and furious exchanges during the early minutes of the second half showed how close the sides were in general ability. David O'Callaghan quickly equalised and a score-a-minute trend saw Cork contrive to hold Dublin at bay.

There was hardly a flicker of the lightning that was to follow and, thanks to Gary Maguire in the Dublin goal, Cork's celebrations were delayed.

Conall Keaney, one of five members of the Dublin team beaten in the previous week's Leinster football final, did most in prompting from midfield for Dublin, but Cork had the better resources in the area, moving Brian Carey back from the 40 and also using Eamonn Collins to good effect in the sector.

Collins, together with O hAilpin and Kieran Murphy in the Cork full-forward line accounted for 2-12 of the winning tally.

Cork: K Murphy; B Murphy, J Gardiner, R McCarthy; J O'Neill, P Tierney, G Calnan; S O'Sullivan, M O'Connor; D Cashman, B Carey, T O'Leary; S O hAilpin, E Collins, K Murphy. Subs: C Brosnan for O'Sullivan (54 mins); K Foley for Cashman (56); D Fitzgerald for Carey (58); F Murphy for O'Connor (59).

Dublin: G Maguire; P Brennan, C Casserley, N O'Driscoll; J Byrne, L O hEineachain, D Foley; K Elliott, C Keaney; G Joyce, S Fee, C O'Driscoll; D O'Callaghan, S O'Neill, C Ryan. Subs: F Chambers for C Ryan (45 mins); S Quinn for J Byrne (54).