Cork book All-Ireland final place

Cork 3-17 Wexford 2-7

John Conran's Wexford were on the receiving end of a scoring lesson in front over 46,000 people at Croke Park this afternoon in the All-Ireland semi-final replay.

The match was over as a contest in the 59th minute with Cork's third goal from a Joe Deane jink and low drive to Damien Fitzhenry's left. Wexford managed just four points in the second half as their effort faltered.

Man-of-the-match Diarmuid O'Sullivan switched to full back on Paul Codd in the early stages and the Wexford forward was stifled as he managed just three frees and was substituted midway through the second half.

Cork went two points up after six minutes before Mitch Jordan goaled for Wexford. Cork keeper Donal Óg Cusack had a role to play in Wexford's second goal on 15 minutes as he deflected a Larry Murphy ground shot behind and under his own crossbar.

The Munster champions hit back immediately through an Alan Browne goal and a Setanta O hAilpin point on 18 minutes to give them a 1-5 to 2-1 lead.

Their five-point lead at the break (2-8 to 2-3) was borne from an excellent team goal involving the younger O hAilpin, Browne and finished low to Fitzhenry's net on 25 minutes by Timmy McCarthy.

The game went flat in the second half as Cork struck 1-9 against some poor Wexford defending.

Larry Murphy hit the Cork side netting on 55 minutes before Cork hit their ninth wide of 13.

Half-forward Ben O'Connor hit the point of the day on the run, closing in on the hour mark, before Joe Deane put the match beyond the Leinster men's grasp.