Cork survived a late Kildare comeback to book their place in the final following an entertaining encounter at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh, yesterday.

The Lee-siders were dominant for most of the game but as time ticked away complacency crept into their play, allowing Kildare the opportunity to mount a determined comeback.

Kildare may feel aggrieved that what looked like a certain foul on Dermot Earley in a scoreable position was waved away by Fermanagh referee, Gerry Lynch, in the final moments of the game.

The Lilywhites will also rue bouts of squanderlust in front of goal, especially in the first half, when they managed to shoot wide of the target from prime positions.

Cork, playing with a slight breeze, were first to score, a point from Colin Corkery, and by midway through the first half, had forged a commanding five points lead.

The final 15 minutes of the half produced the best football as Kildare grew in confidence, with Padraig Brennan and John Doyle leading the Kildare charge. Brennan narrowed the gap to two points in the 27th minute before a late Cork rally produced 1-1 in the space of two minutes. Colin Corkery pointed in the 33rd minute and seconds later a thundering run from centre-back, Owen Sexton, and a neat one-two with Aidan Dorgan, culminated in Sexton crashing the ball past Kildare custodian, Christy Byrne to give Cork a 1-8 to 0-6 lead.

The second half saw the tempo of the game drop as Cork copper-fastened their advantage with points from Aidan Dorgan, Michael Cronin and Philip Clifford.

However, as the half wore on, complacency crept in and by the 53rd minute Kildare had cut the deficit to five points.

The introduction of substitute Karl O'Dwyer sparked life into the Lilywhites and it was his point in the 54th minute and goal in the 59th minute which brought Kildare within striking distance. Sustained pressure from Kildare brought out the best in the Cork defence, with Sean Og O hAilpin and Owen Sexton putting in trojan work. When Kildare centre-forward, John Doyle, narrowed the deficit to just one point in the 69th minute, the game appeared to be heading for extra time.

However, the final whistle couldn't have come quickly enough for a Cork side who clung grimly to their slender lead.

Kildare: C Byrne; B Lacey, C Davey, K Doyle; K Duane, M Ryan, D Hughes; R Sweeney (0-1), D Earley; C O'Reilly, J Doyle (0-3, 2 frees), P Murray (0-1); P Brennan (0-5, 2 frees), B Murphy, T Fennin. Subs: K O'Dwyer (1-1) for Murray; M Wright for Hughes; G Ware for O'Reilly.

Cork: K O'Dwyer; J Miskella, S Og O hAilpin, A Lynch; M O'Donovan, O Sexton (1-0), M Cronin; N Murphy, M O'Sullivan; M Cronin (0-1), F Murray (0-2), A Cronin; P Clifford (0-3, 1 free), C Corkery (0-2, frees), A Dorgan (0-4). Subs: G Canty for Lynch; B G O'Sullivan for Cronin.

Referee: G Lynch (Fermanagh).