Cork 1-25
Antrim 0-19

Cork booked an All-Ireland SHC semi-final date with Kilkenny this afternoon at Croke Park, where they were made earn victory against a plucky Antrim side.

Although they never trailed their opponents in this encounter, the Rebels needed a Niall McCarthy goal just before half-time to help swing the game in their favour as Antrim were well able to stay in touch with scores from Neil McManus and Liam Watson, who combined for 0-15 over the 70 minutes.

However, the timing of McCarthy's goal in the 35th minute was perfect and some late contributions from Kieran Murphy and Ben O'Connor for the men from Leeside, along with a sending-off for Watson, saw them stroll through to the last four in the end.

Cork made the anticipated start as Paudie O'Sullivan and Cathal Naughton established a two-point lead after the first minute of play. A nice ball inside from Ray Ryan to Aisake O hAilpin saw the lead stretched to three, before Ben O'Connor's first of the day put the scores at 0-4 to nothing after seven minutes.

Antrim got off the mark two minutes later through a Neil McManus free won by Liam Watson and he doubled his team's tally after the next attack warranted a '65' for the Saffrons and the wing forward made no mistake.

Karl McKeegan and Tom Kenny swapped points to keep the difference at two, as Antrim began to find their rhythm, and when full-forward Liam Watson shook off Eoin Cadogan he split the posts from no distance to put the minimum between the sides.

Denis Walsh's team responded well with Niall McCarthy striking over a brace of singles and the lethal O'Sullivan putting some daylight between the sides, but Antrim weren't about to let their opponents away.

Watson's second point from play cancelled-out Cork first converted free by John Gardiner in the 21st minute. It was at that point that Antrim captain Paul Shields was forced to withdraw early with injury and he was replaced by James McKeegan.

McManus' third free kept Antrim within three, but Cork had the answers down the other end as O'Sullivan and O'Connor (free) topped up their respective scoring tallies.

A simple lay-off from O'Connor to Kenny saw the midfielder register his second from play before another Antrim recovery arrived via McManus (free), Watson and Shane McNaughton.

Another beauty from Watson, who was lucky to still be on the field after an altercation with Cadogan in the opening stages, split a pair of points from Kieran Murphy down the other end.

The gap was again reduced to three after McManus' fifth accurate placed ball, however Antrim would be dealt a killer blow right on the eve of half-time which put a real dent in their challenge.

A fine fetch inside from big Michael Cussen saw the attacker lay-off to O hAilpin, who twisted and turned until releasing McCarthy off his shoulder and he batted the sliotar past Chris O'Connell in the Antrim goal for a valuable three points.

Two simple frees from O'Connor in injury-time closed the half at 1-16 to 0-11 in the southerners' favour.

Antrim boss Dinny Cahill introduced Barry McFall to his centre-field for the second-half, with Tomas McCann making way, and they trimmed their deficit by two thanks to another eye-catching score from Watson and a McManus free.

Kenny hit back for the Rebels when he raced through the centre unchallenged and tapped over.

Antrim were presented with the chance of a goal ten minutes into the restart after Karl Stewart was impeded in front of the posts and the on-fire Watson opted for the net, but his effort was parried by Kenny on the goal-line and the resultant '65' was banged over by McManus.

Cork stepped it up again as two Gardiner frees and Murphy's third from play, after a slick side-step fooled his marker, brought the Leesiders' tally up to 1-20.

However, there was just no way Antrim were willing to throw in the towel at any point in this game and Watson's sixth point from play along with a gem from centre-back Johnny Campbell kept them within a fighting chance.

Exchanged frees from old reliables McManus and O'Connor meant the difference stood at seven coming into the final quarter of an hour.

Michael Herron pointed moments after being introduced for the Ulster kingpins, which was swiftly wiped out by another placed ball from O'Connor.

Watson had another chance of a goal from a close range free, but his effort was again blocked - this time by Brian Murphy - and the '65' afterwards was struck the wrong side of the post by McManus - his first and only missed free of the afternoon.

Moments later Watson's evening was cut short when he received a second caution from referee Michael Wadding after pulling off John Gardiner's helmet, which sparked a mini- melee between both sets of players.

A McManus free with four minutes to go would prove Antrim's last score, as Cork pushed their tally up to an impressive 1-25 with more points from Murphy, Naughton and substitute William Egan before the long whistle sounded.

Cork - D Óg Cusack; S Murphy, E Cadogan, B Murphy; J Gardiner (0-3 frees), R Curran, R Ryan; T Kenny (0-3), C Naughton (0-2); M Cussen, K Murphy (0-4), N McCarthy (1-2); P O'Sullivan (0-3), A Ó hAilpín (0-1), B O'Connor (0-6, 5 frees). Subs: P Horgan for Ó hAilpín (49 mins), P Cronin for Cussen (55 mins), W Egan (0-1) for McCarthy (65 mins).

Antrim - C O'Connell; K McGourty, C Donnelly, S Delargy; P Shiels, J Campbell (0-1) , C Herron; S McNaughton (0-1) , K Stewart; S McCrory, N McManus (0-9, 7 frees 2 65's) , T McCann; PJ O'Connell, L Watson (0-6), K McKeegan (0-1). Subs: J McKeague for Shiels (22 mins), B McFall for McCann (half-time), M Herron (0-1) for McKeague (52 mins), D Hamill for PJ O'Connell (55 mins), E McCloskey for McNaughton (70 mins).

Ref: M Wadding (Waterford) Tweet

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