Cork romped to a comfortable victory over Derry at Pairc Ui Chaoimh yesterday as newcomer Brian O'Keeffe made the most of his opportunity to impress coach Tom Cashman. The former Cork under-age corner forward claimed a second-half hat-trick to stake a claim for a championship place.

The game was a mis-match with Cork turning over 0-12 to 0-1 in front before upping the tempo, with another youngster, Eoin Fitzgerald, catching the eye by scoring six points.

Cork tried out other fringe players, substituting seasoned campaigners like goalkeeper Donal Og Cusack, Diarmuid O'Sullivan, Mark Landers and Joe Deane.

Cork: D Og Cusack; J Barrett, D O'Sullivan, M Prendergast; R Curran, M Landers, W Sherlock (0-1); J O'Connor (0-1), N Ronan (0-5); M O'Connell (0-3), D Mulcahy, E Fitzgerald (0-6); B O'Keeffe (3-3), A Browne (0-3), J Deane (0-4). Subs: B Rochford for Cusack; B Fitzgerald for O'Sullivan; R O'Doherty for Landers; N McCarthy for Deane.

Derry: K Stevenson; P Kelly, C Murray, R Lynch; D Doherty, C McEldowney, J Young; D McGrellis, M Conway (0-1); F McEldowney (0-1), P McCague, R Kennedy; G Biggs, M Collins (0-2), J McEldowney.

Referee: P Ahern, Carlow.