Cork's Eoin Fitzgerald and Wexford's Leon O'Connell waged a personal battle for supremacy in marksmanship in this All-Ireland minor hurling semi-final at Croke Park yesterday. Ironically, Fitzgerald was a point short of O'Connell's nine in the final tally, but Cork's two-point victory was the most important statistic.

Fitzgerald (eight points) and O'Connell (nine) between them accounted for 17 of the game's 22 points.

The match badly needed this personal duel and its nail-biting finish to give it some lustre. Otherwise it had little to offer in tears of fluency, control or skill.

Cork always gave the impression that they were playing well below the standard they had set on the way to Croke Park. Wexford, it seemed, just had to hang in there in the hope that O'Connell's impeccable accuracy with the placed ball would carry them through.

Cork goalkeeper Michael Morrissey made an awesome save from Mick Jacob at the expense of a 65 on the hour. The following 30 seconds presented a spell of excitement that was truly out of character with the rest of a shabby game.

With the match now in its final seconds, O'Connell lobbed the 65 towards the Cork goal area. Liam Anthony Griffin won possession in a crowded goal-mouth and when the shot spurted from a cluster of players, Morrissey, for once, was beaten. But up popped corner back Eoin O'Sullivan to clear off the goal-line.

A close shave, then, for the Munster champions who had never been headed and who were in front 0-7 to 0-2 with only five minutes left in the first half.

On cue, O'Connell, the Wexford team captain, came to his team's rescue and popped over three points from frees to leave two points between the sides at halftime, 0-7 to 0-5.

Two further pointed frees by the Wexford captain within five minutes of the resumption had the sides on level terms at 0-7 apiece.

At this stage Cork may well have rued the fact that they had not capitalised on the staunch play of their backs in particular.

The right flank of the Cork attack, made up of James Egan and Cathal McCarthy, had also impressed. McCarthy is a son of the illustrious Charlie McCarthy, while Egan is a brother of present senior Barry Egan.

Cathal McCarthy had a blistering opening, with two smart points, but overall the attack sputtered as the game went on. The introduction early in the second half of Jason Barrett for centre forward Donal Broderick made a big difference. Barrett stole away for two excellent last-quarter points at a time when it seemed that an pointed free from 80 yards by O'Connell was about to inspire a Wexford win.

Cork: M Morrissey; E O'Sullivan, J Olden, D McNamara; B Murphy, R Curran, B Lombard; A O'Connor, N O'Sullivan; J Egan, D Broderick, E Fitzgerald (0-8, four frees, 65); C McCarthy (0-2), G McCarthy, V Cusack. Subs: J Barrett (0-2) for O'Connor (38 mins); M Fitzgerald for Broderick (44 mins); E Deasy for G McCarthy (51 mins).

Wexford: P Carley; N Maguire, D O'Connor, A Kavanagh; R Kirwan, R Mallon, J McDonald; N Lambert, D Conway; K O'Grady, D Stamp (0-1), B Lambert; M Jacob, A Walsh, L O'Connell (0-9, eight frees). Subs: L Griffin for Walsh (47 mins); M Travers for K O'Grady (53 mins).

Referee: T McIntyre (Antrim).