CORK ARE THROUGH TO ALL-IRELAND SEMI'S

Cork are safely through to the Foras na Gaeilge All-Ireland semi-final on August 20th following their 2-16 to 2-7 victory over Wexford in Wexford Park on Saturday.

The opening half was close and tense as both sides battled hard for victory, but once the second half came it was all Cork as the Rebels thought the Model county a harsh lesson.

When one entered beautiful Wexford Park there was a real carnival atmosphere with almost two hundred young children gathered together to take to the pitch before the game and again at the break to perform their camogie skills.

Playing into the town end, Wexford had to wait eleven minutes before their full-forward Michelle Hearne sent over their first point, by which time Cork captain Elaine Burke and Gemma O'Connor had sent over 0-2. Three minutes later Kate Kelly levelled for the Model county and then Wexford received a real boost when Cork's opening goal was disallowed by Tipperary referee John Morrissey as a Cork player was judged to have already been in the square.

However, Cork's new found full-forward the former full-back Stephanie Dunlea made no mistake eight minutes later when she fired home the opening goal of the day to put the Rebels ahead 1-2 to Wexford's 0-4. It was now all to play for as two minutes late Kate's sister Mags found the Cork net to put the home side in the lead, 1-5 to Cork's 1-2. Suddenly we had a real game on our hands. Two further points from Jennifer O'Leary, a free and a point meant the Rebels only trailed by a point at the break, 1-4 to Wexford's 1-5.

Immediately after the restart, Wexford lost their lead and never again regained it as Cork's Jennifer O'Leary fired over the first point with just three minutes gone. The Rebel county added a further nine points before Wexford got their opening point from full-forward Michelle Hearne. It was probably a huge relief to their mentors that they had got one score as for so long they looked as if they might never score.

Cork introduced several subs, amongst them Sarah O'Donovan who knocked in Cork's second goal with one minute of normal time left. In a direct response Kate Kelly who had tried so hard at midfield for Wexford cracked home a second goal to soften the blow for Wexford. Ursula Jacob, sister to hurlers Michael and Rory sent over the final point of the day, but Cork had done enough to see them safely through to the All-Ireland semi-final, while Wexford will have it all to do the next day against Galway on July 30th in Galway.