Joe Kavanagh pointed experimental Cork in the right direction as Waterford pushed them all in the way in this Section D tie at a neardeserted Pairc Ui Rinn yesterday. The Nemo Rangers sharp shooter accounted for 0-5 of Cork's total in a featureless game.

The best player on view was Cork midfielder Nicholas Murphy, a county under-21 this year, who also showed up well in the first round victory over Tipperary. His impressive performance coupled with the expected availability of Damien O'Neill and Liam Honohan should leave Tompkins in a much stronger position against Clare.

Waterford forced Cork to endure some anxious moments in the final 10 minutes after midfielder Michael Radley pounced for the only goal, but the visitors were unable to capitalise on a number of opportunities in the closing spell, leaving Cork unimpressive four point winners. Cork could only manage a 0-6 to 0-4 interval lead after Waterford began promisingly with their fullforward line of Noel Curran, Michael Power and Sean Cunningham particularly prominent. Points by Martin Cronin, Brendan Walsh, Mark O'Sullivan and Kavanagh gave Cork the edge at the break.

There was greater urgency in Cork's play on the resumption with Murphy an inspiration in the middle and he chipped in with a couple of points as well. Surprisingly, O'Sullivan made little impression before being substituted and it was left to Kavanagh and Jonathan McCarthy to chalk up the majority of their scores.