Waterford 0-8  Cork 0-7

Waterford are just 70 minutes away from claiming their first McGrath Cup in 34 years after registering a shock victory over holders Cork at Clashmore.

The Deise led from pillar to post and restricted the Rebels to a single point from play to qualify for their first final in 13 years against UCC next Sunday.

In difficult conditions, Shane Ahearne converted a couple of frees to hand the early initiative to Waterford before Dan MacEoin levelled with two points in the 20th and 26th minutes. However, scores from Patrick Hurney and Michael O'Halloran restored the hosts' two-point advantage, 0-4 to 0-2, at the break. 

Tom McGlinchey's men tightened their grip on proceedings with two more points from Gavin Nugent, but three unanswered points from subs Donncha O'Connor (two) and Colm O'Neill narrowed the gap to two.

O'Halloran responded for Waterford before Mark Collins' got Cork's only score from play. Ahearne and O'Neill exchanged late points before O'Connor missed a late free which would have forced extra-time.

Waterford - S Enright; D Crowley, N Walsh, T O'Gorman; T O hUallachain, M O'Gorman, R O Ceallaigh; S Ahearne (0-3f), T Prendergast; M Curry, M O'Halloran (0-2), P Hurney (0-1); L Lawlor, G Nugent (0-2), J Veale. Subs: C Phelan for M Curry, L O Corraoin for J Veale, D Hallahan for R O Ceallaigh.

Cork - K O'Halloran; L Jennings, T Clancy, S O'Donoghue; P Hodnett, E Cadogan, J O'Sullivan; M Cussen, M Collins (0-1); K O'Driscoll, B O'Driscoll, G Durrant; D MacEoin (0-2f), F O Deasunaigh, J Hayes. Subs: D O'Connor (0-2f) for D MacEoin, C O'Driscoll for F O Deasunaigh, C O'Neill (0-2f) for G Durrant, P Kerrigan for J Hayes, J O'Rourke for J O'Sullivan.

Referee - S Joy.

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