Cork see off Waterford to book place in All-Ireland senior camogie semi-finals

The Rebels' 100 percent record sends them straight to the last four of the competition along with All-Ireland champions Galway who will fill the second semi-final position.

Cork’s Sorcha McCartan and Waterford’s Laoise Forrest. Pic: ©INPHO/Stephen Heaney.

Cork 1-13 Waterford 0-10

Having already secured wins over Galway and Tipperary, last season’s defeated finalists Cork completed Group 1 of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie championship with victory over Waterford at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.

Their 100 percent record sends them straight to the last four of the competition along with All-Ireland champions Galway who will fill the second semi-final position.

Waterford, meanwhile, will discover their opponents in the quarter-final after tomorrow morning’s draw on RTÉ radio 1 Morning Ireland, 8.35am.

The league and provincial runners-up, as well as Tipperary, will be drawn against either Kilkenny or Clare, who completed Group 2 in first and second place respectively.

The Déise will have to plan without former All-Star Niamh Rockett, who was sent off after receiving a straight red card in second-half stoppage time.

Make no mistake about it, this was as ferocious and physical a battle as we have seen in the game.

It was also a day to remember for Cork goalkeeper Amy Lee, whose monster delivery in the seventh minute went all the way to the Waterford net after the sliotar bounced in the square.

In such a tight and tense contest, the goal turned out to be one of the deciding factors.

Ahead by three points at the break after playing with the wind, it was their ruthless second half display that earned them the deserved plaudits.

Cork’s Emma Murphy and Waterford’s Beth Carton in action. Pic: ©INPHO/Stephen Heaney.

Sorcha McCartan received the official Player of the Match award, her three points in the opening half were big scores, and despite not registering in the second period she continued to cause a whole lot of problems for the Waterford defence.

Cork made two alterations to the team that defeated Tipperary with captain Méabh Cahalane (calf) and Ashling Thompson (elbow) returning from injury and they replaced Aisling Egan and Hayley Ryan.

This meant that ten of last year’s All-Ireland final starting 15 took to the field.

Captain Lorraine Bray (hamstring) and Rockett didn’t start for Waterford, but both were introduced.

Cork won the toss and elected to play with the strong wind and within a minute it paid dividends as McCartan swung over the opening point in a move that involved Méabh Murphy and Thompson.

Centre-forward Thompson made her first start since fracturing her elbow in early March, and her experience told coming down the stretch.

Mairéad O’Brien replied for Waterford in the sixth minute.

But the game took a decisive turn 60 seconds later when Lee accepted a return pass from full-back Libby Coppinger and the goalkeeper launched a missile into the opposing team’s danger area, only for the sliotar to deceive ‘keeper Brianna O’Regan and bounce into the top of the net.

Undeterred, Annie Fitzgerald and Bevin Bowdren points left it a one-point match after the first quarter, 1-1 to 0-3.

With the two defences having an extra player, which lent to a crowded midfield area, this developed into a tactical battle as the attacks tried to break down each other’s structure.

Over the next five minutes, Cork shot three out of four points through McCartan (2) and an Amy O’Connor free.

However, Cork were guilty of far too many wides, which allowed the visitors to stay within reach.

Just a puck of a ball separated the sides at the break after free-takers Beth Carton and Saoirse McCarthy traded scores, 1-5 to 0-5.

Half time sub Bray went straight into the action, as Carton reduced the margin to two.

But Cork roared back with the next four points to open up a six-point gap.

Tempers flared midway through the half. Waterford’s Carton and Rockett reduced the deficit to four.

Cork were able to ride out the storm, mainly through O’Connor’s dead ball accuracy.

At the end of regulation, the gap stayed at four.

However, in a drama-packed additional eight minutes Waterford substitute Rockett received a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Laura Hayes, after which Hayes had to leave the field for treatment.

McCarthy’s second free and a point from Thompson sealed the deal.

Scorers for Cork: A O’Connor (0-6 frees), A Lee (1-0), S McCartan (0-3), S McCarthy (0-2 frees), A Thompson and O Cahalane (0-1 each).

Scorers for Waterford: B Carton (0-4, 0-2 frees), N Rockett (0-1 free) and A Fitzgerald (0-2 each), B Bowdren and M O’Brien (0-1 each).

Cork: A Lee; I O’Regan, L Coppinger, M Cahalane (Capt); A Fitzgerald, M Murphy, I Sheehan; M Condon, L Hayes; S McCarthy, A Thompson, E Murphy; S McCartan, O Cahalane, A O’Connor.

Subs: N McNabola for E Murphy (58), H Ryan for L Hayes (67 temp).

Waterford: B O’Regan; V Falconer, L Forrest, A McNulty; C Carroll, K Corbett Barry, R Walsh; O Hickey, A Flynn; E O’Neill, B Carton, B Bowdren; A Fitzgerald, M Gostl, M O’Brien.

Subs: L Bray (Capt) for M Gostl (half-time), A O’Sullivan for B Bowdren (temp 32-36), N Rockett for M O’Brien (35), A O’Sullivan for O Hickey (55), R Kirwan for A Fitzgerald (58).

Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick).

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