The Waterford minor camogie team went down to Cork by 1-13 to 1-10 in the All Ireland A final at UPMC Nowlan Park.
Maggie Gostl got seven points, Laoise Forrest netted an injury time goal and Eimear O'Neill scored two points as the Déise's second half fightback came up short. Player of the Match Emily O'Donoghue finished with 1-5 while Erinn Curtain chipped in with four points from play as Cork captured their fourth minor title in five years.
The Rebels raced eight points up after 22 minutes. Waterford number one Katelyn Gardner batted away an early shot at goal from Erinn Curtain. Gardner saved again from Ciara Morrison in the seventh minute but Emily O'Donoghue whipped the rebound to the net.
Maggie Gostl got Waterford on the scoreboard with a 45 on thirteen minutes. The De La Salle forward added another from play when she collected a long delivery from Laoise Forrest.
White flags from O'Donoghue, Curtain, Amy Sheppard and Amy McCarthy left Cork 1-7 to 0-2 in front. The noise levels went up in the stand as the Déise finished the half strongly. Gostl was fouled and converted the subsequent free. Gostl then set up a point for Eimear O'Neill and nailed an injury time 45 to cut the deficit to five at the break (1-7 to 0-5).
Two more Gostl dead balls left a goal between them in the third quarter. Emily O'Donoghue replied with two points for Cork.
The Déise dragged themselves back into the contest. O'Neill and Gostl made it a three point game again. The elusive Erinn Curtain pushed the Cork lead back out to six with two late points.
Waterford went for broke in injury time and moved Laoise Forrest up front. The joint captain lashed over a close range free after Gostl was dragged down. Four minutes into added time, she blasted the sliotar to the Cork net. Time ran out however as the Rebels celebrated wildly at the full time whistle.
