Cork still on course for three in a row after holding off Waterford in All-Ireland camogie semi-final

Cork 1-21 Waterford 1-11

Cork are into the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland camogie final after their win over Waterford at UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday.

This was a battle from start to finish, and Cork were far from their best over the hour. But the one thing this side has is experienced players who know how to win tight games.

They had to draw on all that knowledge on Saturday, with Saoirse McCarthy in particular leading by example. She was simply outstanding as she scored some vital points for her side.

It took a late goal from sub Orlaith Mullins to settle Cork’s nerves and end Waterford’s chances of causing an upset.

The Rebels got there in the end, and all that matters at this point is they are into the final, where they will face Galway in two weeks.

Amy O’Connor opened the scoring for Cork from a free three minutes in, before Niamh Rockett missed a chance to equalise.

However, the referee was playing advantage and she made no mistake at the second time of asking to level it from the free.

Cork retook the lead from the restart when Saoirse McCarthy scored from out near the sideline, to make it 0-2 to 0-1 after six minutes.

A second from Rockett had the sides level before Waterford didn’t make the most of a goal chance, with Beth Carton slotting over, when she could have taken it on.

Carton added another as they were enjoying the better of the opening exchanges.

Laura Hayes pulled a point back for Cork, but Waterford soon went further ahead. Mairead O’Brien won the ball on the wing and played in Carton for the opening goal.

Cork were quick to respond with Emma Murphy and Sorcha McCartan both scoring, to make it 1-4 to 0-5 after 17 minutes.

Carton added another for the Deise, and she was fouled to see Rockett make it 1-6 to 0-5 from the resulting free.

Katrina Mackey pulled a point back for the Rebels, and McCarthy reduced the gap from a free as Cork started to take control of the game.

She hit another free and as the game went into injury time, McCarthy was on target again to make it 1-6 to 0-9.

But just before half-time Abby Flynn pointed for the Deise to see them lead by one at the break.

Another McCarthy free had the sides level at the start of the second half before Mackey put Cork in front.

Again, credit to Waterford, they responded with Carton equalising. Rockett and Mackey exchanged points, to make it 1-9 to 0-12.

Mackey was on target again and Murphy added another as Cork went into a two point lead for the first time, 0-14 to 1-9.

That became three, after 40 minutes, when O’Connor scored from another free.

McCartan added another as the Rebels started to stretch their lead, but they were being made fight all the way by a resilient Waterford side.

Rockett replied from a free, before another magnificent point from McCarthy kept Cork four ahead, 0-17 to 1-10.

McCarthy added another, and O’Connor scored from a 45 to make it 0-19 to 1-10 with two minutes to go.

Lorraine Bray replied for the Deise, and at the other end, Orlaith Mullins scored, with her first touch after coming on as a sub. Mullins ensured Cork’s passage to the final was secured when Orlaith Cahalane set her up to score a goal, and with it went any chance of an upset.

Scorers for Cork: S McCarthy 0-7 (0-4 f), O Mullins 1-2, K Mackey 0-4, A O’Connor 0-3 (0-2 f, 0-1 45), E Murphy, S McCartan 0-2 each, L Hayes 0-1.

Waterford: B Carton 1-4, N Rockett 0-5 (0-3 f), A Flynn, L Bray 0-1 each.

CORK: A Lee; P Mackey, L Coppinger, M Cahalane; A Healy, L Treacy, L Hayes; H Looney, A Thompson; E Murphy, O Cahalane, S McCarthy; K Mackey, S McCartan, A O’Connor.

Subs: C Healy for E Murphy (52), O Mullins for S McCartan, M Murphy for A Thompson (both 57), A Fitzgerald for L Hayes (60).

WATERFORD: B O’Regan; A McNulty, K Corbett Barry, V Falconer; O Hickey, R Walsh, B Bowdren; L Bray, E O’Neill; A Flynn, B Carton, M O’Brien; A Fitzgerald, N Rockett, K Lynch.

Subs: T Power for B Bowdren (40), M Gostl for M O’Brien (46), M Comerford for A Flynn (55), N Ahearne for A Fitzgerald (60).

Referee: Gavin Donegan, Dublin.