The Waterford ladies will face Monaghan in a relegation play-off next month as Doireann O'Sullivan led Cork to victory at a blustery Portlaoise on Saturday evening (2-10 to 1-5).
The Déise led 1-5 to 1-1 with 20 minutes on the clock, after Lauren McGregor goaled, but they failed to score for the rest of the contest. O'Sullivan struck 1-7 for the Rebelettes who march on to the All Ireland quarter finals.
Pat Sullivan made two changes from the defeat to Donegal as Aileen Wall and Rebecca Casey replaced Chloe Fennell and Aoife Murray. Murray was ruled out due to illness.
Cork captain Maire O'Callaghan won the toss and elected to play against the strong wind. After just 20 seconds, Annie Fitzgerald saw her shot blocked by Cork goalkeeper Meabh O'Sullivan. Waterford missed four chances before Doireann O'Sullivan opened the scoring at the other end from a free.
The Déise looked dangerous on the counter attack and two Katie Murray points edged them ahead. On 16 minutes, Orla Finn intercepted a short Waterford kickout and Doireann O'Sullivan slotted the ball to the net (1-1 to 0-2).
Lauren McGregor (free) and Kellyann Hogan levelled up matters. On 19 minutes, Annie Fitzgerald slipped the ball inside for McGregor to rattle the Cork cobwebs (1-4 to 1-1). Kate McGrath opened up a four point gap.
Ciara and Doireann O'Sullivan raised white flags for the Rebelettes. Katie O'Hanlon saved from Libby Coppinger as Waterford led 1-5 to 1-3 at the break. Sullivan's side were guilty of seven first half wides.
O'Hanlon produced another save from Laura O'Mahony as Cork cranked up the pressure. Doireann O'Sullivan kicked four points in a row for the Rebelettes as Waterford turned over the ball high up the pitch.
Seven minutes from time, O'Sullivan lobbed in a high ball which Libby Coppinger stole from O'Hanlon and blasted to the net (2-7 to 1-5). Pat Sullivan felt that the Waterford goalkeeper was fouled. The O'Sullivan sisters and Katie Quirke added late points for Shane Ronayne's side who can look forward to the knockout stages.
Emma and Katie Murray, Kate McGrath and Megan Dunford were best for Waterford who now turn their thoughts to Monaghan in a relegation battle on July 9.
Scorers for Cork: Doireann O'Sullivan 1-7 (4fs), Libby Coppinger 1-0, Ciara O'Sullivan 0-2, Katie Quirke 0-1.
Scorers for Waterford: Lauren McGregor 1-1 (1f), Katie Murray 0-2, Kate McGrath, Kellyann Hogan 0-1 each.
Cork: Meabh O'Sullivan; Róisín Phelan, Eimear Meaney, Meabh Cahalane; Melissa Duggan, Maire O'Callaghan, Laura O'Mahony; Sarah Leahy, Brid O'Sullivan; Emma Cleary, Doireann O'Sullivan, Libby Coppinger; Ciara O'Sullivan, Aine O'Sullivan, Orla Finn.
Subs: Katie Quirke for Aine O'Sullivan (HT), Aisling Hutchings for Brid O'Sullivan (HT), Eimear Scally for Finn (43), Rachel Leahy for Cleary (51), Shauna Kelly for Leahy (51).
Waterford: Katie O'Hanlon; Megan Dunford, Laura Mulcahy, Rebecca Casey; Hannah Power, Emma Murray, Kate McGrath; Karen McGrath, Katie Murray; Aine O'Neill, Lauren McGregor, Mairead Wall; Kellyann Hogan, Aileen Wall, Annie Fitzgerald.
Subs: Brid McMaugh for McGregor (HT), Chloe Fennell for Mairead Wall (40), Aisling Mullaney for O'Neill (53), Caoimhe McGrath for Hogan (53).
Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow)
