Cork U21s trail Armagh by point at break

Cork 1-7 Armagh 1-8

Scorers: Cork: K O’Sullivan 0-4 (4f), T Twomey 1-0, R Long 0-1, P Kelly 0-1, C O’Riordan 0-1

Armagh: M McNamee 1-2, P Toal 0-2 (1f), B Mallon 0-1, R Austin 0-2, G Loughran 0-1

Despite conceding 1-2 in the opening two-and-a-half minutes, Munster champions Cork are still in with a chance at half time in today's opening Erin All-Ireland U21 football semi-final at Pearse Stadium, Galway.

Armagh corner forward Michael McNamee bagged an early goal, lobbing Kevin Murphy from 20 yards out, to set the Ulster champions on their way.

But just two Armagh points in the final 15 minutes of the first half, allowed the Rebels back into it.

Dependable free-taker Kevin O'Sullivan kicked four placed balls to pull Cork back within a point at the break, with his final one right on the half hour.

Cork's goal had a bit of good fortune about it, as Tadhg Twomey's shot was blocked over his own goalkeeper by Armagh wing back Aaron Kernan on 26 minutes.

CORK: K Murphy; M Prout, D O’Donovan, B Crowley; N O’Riordan, P Nealon, E O’Connor; D Coughlan, S O’Sullivan; C O’Riordan, P Kelly, J Hayes; R Long, T Twomey, K O’Sullivan. Subs used: A O’Connor for Coughlan (20 mins)

Yellow card: N O’Riordan (27)

ARMAGH: P Wilson; G Smyth, F Moriarty, A Mallon; A Kernan, C McKeever, B McDonald; M Mackin, G Swift, G Loughran, S Kernan, P Toal; M McNamee, R Austin, B Mallon.

Subs used: P Stevenson for McNamee (30 mins)