Cork in cruise control

Cork 2-26 Antrim 0-10

Cork powered their way to the easiest of wins over Antrim in this quarter-final of the Guinness All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

A wonderful display of superb technique and controlled aggression, highlighted by two goals of sublime quality from full-forward Brian Corcoran, left Antrim in a state of shock.

The players that completed an Ulster three in-a-row and who had played well in the All-Ireland series over the past two years, never knew what hit them.

Their dreams of glory, so foolishly trumpeted by manager Dinny Cahill, turned into a nightmare and the gulf in standards was enormous.

From the moment that mighty full-back Diarmuid O'Sullivan stemmed Antrim's first attack the writing was on the wall.

One can only assume manager Cahill's ill-advised comments in the lead-up to the game hurt deeply because this was a Cork team determined to make him eat his words.

They did so with great style and passion, with Brian Corcoran also sending a chastened Cahill the message that he is far from finished.

The dominance established early on by the outstanding and majestic half-back line of John Gardiner, Ronan Curran and Seán Óg Ó hAilpin laid the foundations for Cork's total dominance. The skill of this magnificent defensive trio instilled great confidence in their teammates.

Are Antrim really that bad? They definitely came to put up a big show but when hit with that early Cork blitz had no response. The word was that they had impressed last week in a challenge game against Waterford but their manager's gamesmanship during the week obviously did not help.

Cork coasted into an eight-points lead in the opening sequences and Antrim knew it could only be damage limitation after that.

With exquisite footwork, Ben O'Connor ripped their defence to shreds and the Cork captain set up Brian Corcoran for Cork's first goal in the 22nd minute. A goal of splendour, both in creation and execution; a moment of magic that graphically illustrated the vast gulf in standards between the sides.

Cork were 1-9 to the good before Brian McFall registered Antrim's first score a point in the 24th minute. Full-forward Patrick Richmond followed with another. Any hopes Antrim harboured after this brief scoring stint evaporated when Corcoran, this time receiving from Jerry O'Connor, billowed the Saffrons' net with a cracking left-handed drive.

With Jerry O'Connor making a significant impact at mid-field and scoring some delightful points, Cork led by 2-13 to 0-3 at half-time.

Everest would have been easier to conquer at this stage. However, although on their knees, two points in rapid succession immediately after the resumption from Patrick Richmond and Brian McFall, who converted a free, did give the small Antrim band of followers a moment of hope. But Cork were only toying with the opposition and upped the pace once again.

Antrim did come close to scoring a goal when a Liam Watson-struck free hit the bottom of the upright in the 60th minute at a time when Cork had extended their lead to 2-15 to 0-5.

Two points, beautifully cut from the sideline by McFall, were the highlights of Antrim's second-half display as they strove to put a more respectable look on the scoreboard.

But with Wayne Sherlock coming back to his best, Diarmuid O'Sullivan and Brian Murphy lording things at the back, there was no way through for Antrim.

Entering the final quarter, with Cork now 2-23 to 0-7 to the good, the selectors could afford the luxury of taking off such resplendent figures as Seán Óg Ó hAilpin and Diarmuid O'Sullivan. Earlier, the outstanding Newtownshandrum twins, Ben and Jerry O'Connor, were called ashore because of minor injury problems.

But even the substitutes, particularly Jonathan O'Callaghan and Mickey O'Connell, continued to trouble Antrim. There was just no respite with O'Callaghan scoring four points, O'Connell two, as Cork swept majestically to a semi-final showdown with Leinster champions Wexford.

Scorers: Cork: B. Corcoran 2-1, J. O'Connor, J. O'Callaghan, J. Deane (0-3 frees) 0-4 each, B. O'Connor 0-3 (0-2 frees), T. McCarthy, M. O'Connell, N. McCarthy, J. Anderson 0-2 each, K. Murphy, J. Gardiner (65) 0-1 each. Antrim: B. McFall 0-4 (0-2 from sideline cuts; 0-1 free), P. Richmond 0-3, M. McCambridge, C. McGuckian, D. Quinn 0-1 each.

CORK: D. Óg Cusack; W. Sherlock, D. O'Sullivan, B. Murphy; J. Gardiner, R. Curran, S. Óg Ó hAilpin; T. Kenny, J. O'Connor; B. O'Connor, N. McCarthy, T. McCarthy; K. Murphy, B. Corcoran, J. Deane.

Subs: M. O'Connell for J. O'Connor (37 mins), J. O'Callaghan for B. O'Connor (42 mins), C. O'Connor for S. Óg Ó hAilpin (58 mins), J. Anderson for N. McCarthy (62 mins), J. Browne for D. O'Sullivan (65 mins).

ANTRIM: D. Quinn; M. Kettle, K. Kelly, B. Herron; M. McCambridge, K. McKeegan, J. Campbell; C. Herron, M. Magill; M. Herron, C. McGuckian, L. Richmond; L. Watson, P. Richmond, B. McFall. Subs: D. Quinn for L. Richmond (40 mins), J. McIntosh for J. Campbell (47 mins), M. Scullion for C. Herron (60 mins), G. Cunningham for M. McCambridge (62 mins).

Referee: A. Mac Suibhne (Dublin).