Convincing Cork overcome Waterford to reach semis

Cork booked their place in the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-finals at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh with an impressive victory.

Shane Ronayne's side overcame Munster rivals Waterford to reach the last four of the All-Ireland SFC for the ninth time in ten years.

Having lost to Waterford in the National League but overcoming the same opponents in the Munster Championship, Cork set up a semi-final meeting with either Dublin or Galway thanks to a terrific defensive effort and a third-quarter surge highlighted by a Hannah Looney goal.

There are tougher tests ahead but Ronayne’s side underlined their steady improvement with a superb overall team performance.

Waterford began without a single Ballymacarbry player in their starting fifteen including top scorer Kellyann Hogan who is away travelling.

Emma Murray fired the visitors in front but a dominant Cork responded positively with Aoife Healy, Emma Cleary, Laura O’Mahony and Abbie O’Mahony making it 0-04 to 0-01.

Waterford remained a threat however, as Emma Murray grabbed her second point before a swift move ended with Katie Murray netting a superb goal.

The Rebels, guilty of squandering numerous chances, changed ends 0-06 to 1-02 ahead after Máire O’Callaghan and Emma Cleary efforts helped steady nerves.

A third-quarter surge that yielded an unanswered 10-4 was the foundation for Cork’s eventual win.

Laura O’Mahony, Laura Cleary, Katie Quirke (two) points preceded a swift Cork move that ended with substitute Hannah Lonney firing into the net after 45 minutes.

Utilising a strengthening wind, Cork kept their opponents at arms length for the remainder of the quarter-final despite Clodagh Carroll’s late goal for the Déise.

Eimear Kiely and Clodagh Carroll exchanged scores prior