Munster through to Interpro finals
Munster 2-11 Leinster 0-12
Second half goals from Cork duo Pearse O'Neill and John Miskella steered Munster into the 2007 M Donnelly Interprovincial football final in a fortnight's time.
Only 400 spectators turned up in Fermoy to watch today's fast-paced semi-final between Munster and defending champions Leinster, which was played in ideal conditions.
Second half dismissals for Munster's Aidan O'Mahony and Leinster attacker Graham Geraghty hit both sides hard, but it was the home province, managed by Sean Geaney, who responded the better and booked their place in the Croke Park final on October 27.
As well publicised, Munster lined out without their Limerick contingent and although Cork's Fintan Goold opened the scoring for the hosts after just a minute, it took his side a further 24 minutes to get their second point of the contest as Val Andrews' Leinster outfit began to click.
Longford forward Paul Barden equalised with Leinster's first point of the afternoon before a Dessie Dolan scoring streak ensured a 0-04 to 0-01 advantage - the Westmeath free-taker sent three placed balls between the posts.
There was no stopping a very impressive Leinster attack at this stage. They oozed confidence and continued to cause the Munster defence problems with Graham Geraghty dashing through to take a hard-earned score and see his side go four points clear.
Further points followed from Carlow's Mark Carpenter and Brian Kavanagh of Longford for the visitors as they moved 0-07 to 0-01 clear with ten minutes of the half remaining.
Eventually, Munster broke through for their second point - Miskella the scorer in the 25th minute - and the half-forward, along with Waterford's Liam O Lionain, certainly caused the Leinster defence havoc in the closing stages of the first half.
Corner forward O'Lionain was unlucky not to slot home two goals before the interval. Firstly, Dublin's Paul Casey snuffed out a goal chance after the Waterford attacker took a high ball, which had been sent in towards the square.
Although Leinster goalkeeper Damien Sheridan looked to have the ball cleared to safety, it took the efforts of Casey to clear the ball out for a 45 which Goold subsequently converted for Munster's third point of the contest.
Munster continued to maintain this level of pressure. O'Lionain forced Sheridan to make a good save and although Miskella regained possession for Munster, the Cork man could only watch on as his shot drifted the wrong side of the posts.
Goold reduced the gap to just three points at the interval with his fourth point, leaving the half-time score at 0-07 to 0-04 in Leinster's favour.
Munster responded well early on in the second half, registering four points inside the opening 18 minutes through substitute Conor McCarthy. His efforts cut the gap to the minimum at 0-09 to 0-08.
Leinster responded with quick points from midlands duo Barden and Dolan to bolster their side's lead, but O'Neill's 58th-minute goal had the teams back level.
This was one of the best periods from Munster and they were soon three points to the good when Miskella netted, ten minutes from the end.
Points from Ger Spilliane and David Moran extended the home side's lead to five points, and while Leinster did not give up, a late point from Dublin's Bernard Brogan was mere consolation as his side's dreams of a three-in-a-row of Interpro titles were dashed.
Scorers: Munster - Conor McCarthy 0-05 (0-03f), John Miskella 1-01, Fintan Goold 0-03 (1 '45'), Pearse O'Neill 1-00, Ger Spillane, David Moran 0-01 each
Leinster: Dessie Dolan 0-05 (0-03f), Paul Barden, Graham Geraghty 0-02 each, Mark Carpenter, Brian Kavanagh, Bernard Brogan 0-01 each.
