A runaway victory over Leitrim at a sparsely attended Pairc Ui Chaoimh yesterday ensured Cork of a Division Two semi-final meeting with Kildare.

Even without their Nemo Rangers contingent, Cork still had too much power and craft for a well-beaten Leitrim side whose goalkeeper Gareth Phelan prevented a heavier defeat. Phelan stood his ground in the second half to deny Eoin Sexton, Fionnan Murray and Philip Clifford with brilliant saves as Cork threatened to completely overwhelm their opponents.

However, Phelan had no chance of stopping Cork's opening goal after 42 minutes, when Micheal O Croinin played a delightful pass into the path of Clifford, who finished expertly. The goal gave Cork a 1-12 to 0-4 lead and effectively ended the game as a contest.

With the wind in their backs for the first half, Cork could afford 10 wides as they raced into a 0-9 to 0-4 lead. Substitute Murray, who replaced the injured Ciaran O'Sullivan early in the second half, scored Cork's second goal near the end to wrap up a very satisfactory afternoon for coach Larry Tompkins.

Midfielder Nicholas Murphy was Cork's best player, while Aidan Dorgan scored three points in the opening half before fading and right corner back John Miskella was steady all through.

CORK: K O'Dwyer; J Miskella, S Og O hAilpin, A Lynch; K Daly, E Sexton, M O'Donovan (0-1); N Murphy, M O'Sullivan; M O Croinin (0-2), C O'Sullivan (0-5), B O'Sullivan (0-1); P Clifford (1-3), [RO ]F Collins, A Dorgan (03). Subs: F Murray (1-0) for C O'Sullivan, P Mullane for Dorgan, B Coleman for Daly, G Lynch for A Lynch, A O'Regan for O Croinin.

LEITRIM: G Phelan; M McGuinness, J McKeon, D Kelleher; P McGarry, O McGuinness, F Reynolds; P McDermott, P Kieran (0-2); J Guckian, F McBrien, G Foley; A Rooney (0-5), A Charles (0-3), M Duignan. Subs: J Phelan for McGarry, T Kelleher for McBrien, P Flynn for McGuinness, C Murray for Kieran, S Maguire for Reynolds.

Referee: P Lyons (Kerry)