Cork 1-25 Antrim 0-19:Cork will meet Kilkenny in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final after easing past Antrim at Croke Park with a performance that was enough on the day but will not have many running for the bookmakers ahead of a meeting with the defending champions.
The Rebels did enough in the first half with a goal from Niall McCarthy deflating Antrim shortly before the break.
After the break, Denis Walsh’s side just did enough to get by, matching their opponents point for point without shining too brightly.
“We played some very nice hurling at times and Antrim really put it up to us,” Walsh told RTE afterwards.
“We were under a bit of pressure to kind of perform … but we weren’t able to drive on with the intensity we would have liked.”
Cork took an eight point lead in at the break, a scoreline that looked harsh on Antrim given the effort they had put in.
They were three down early on after points from Paudie O’Sullivan, Cathal Naughton and Aisake O’hAilpin
At the back, Antrim weren’t getting close enough to the Cork attack and it was evident in the opening eight Rebel points coming from play.
Neil McManus, however, got five from frees and Liam Watson – lucky to be on the pitch after getting just a yellow for striking Eoin Cadogan in the head with his hurl - chipped in with four from play to keep Antrim within striking distance.
At least, that was the case until Niall McCarthy latched on to an inside handpass from O’hAilpin and batted the ball into the net from a tight angle for a six-point lead.
Two Ben O’Connor frees quickly followed and Antrim looked down and out.
There was very little between the two teams after the break. Antrim showed glimpses of the stylish hurling they are capable of and McManus and Watson added to their tallies, though latter was eventually dismissed five minutes from time after grabbing the face-guard John Gardiner.
Twice Watson, who despite his indiscipline was outstanding throughout with six points from play, was denied on the line from close range frees and Donal Og Cusack scooped a loose ball from under his crossbar.
Walsh admitted had one of these crossed the line the game could have been very different but his side always looked capable of finding another gear had Antrim closed the gap too much.