Cork produced a late rally to collect the points and remain top of the section after this less than convincing victory over Roscommon at Pairc Ui Rinn yesterday. Cork require just one more point to secure a place in the knock-out phase.

The sides were tied at 0-9 to 1-6 entering the closing stages, but under-strength Cork found another gear and points from Brendan Walsh, Joe Kavanagh, Fachtna Collins and Pat Hegarty sealed the win. Roscommon dominated long stretches of the opening half, but were wayward in their shooting. They led by 1-3 to 0-5 at the break, but they should have been out of sight. Their goal came in the ninth minute from left corner-forward Thomas Grehan.

Cork began the second-half with a succession of points from Nicholas Murphy, Collins and Kavanagh to surge 0-8 to 1-3 ahead after 37 minutes. All Roscommon's scores came from Grehan and Derek Duggan, the latter keeping the visitors in touch with some fine free-taking to force equality entering the final 10 minutes.

Cork: M Maguire; E Sexton, R McCarthy, A Lynch; M O'Donovan, M Hayes, M Cronin (0-1); N Murphy (0-2), S Og O hAilpin; B Walsh (0-2), F Collins (0-4), A Dorgan; J Kavanagh (0-3), P Hegarty (0-1), F Murray. Subs: B Collins for Hayes; D Davis for Dorgan.

Roscommon: B Morekan; K Grogan, D Donlon, E Gavin; K Henegan, C McDonnell, M Kelly; G Keane, A Nolan; L Dowd, J Neary, D Duggan (0-4); F Grehan, F O'Donnell, T Grehan (1-2). Subs: T McLennon for T Grehan; N O'Donoghue for McLennon.

Referee T Sugrue (Kerry).