Senior star Joe Deane claimed a second-half hat-trick as All Ireland under-21 hurling champions Cork cruised to a Munster final showdown against Tipperary at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on August 23rd.
Deane's goals highlighted a one-sided second half during which Waterford could only score twice, having been 1-5 to 0-7 behind at the interval, despite playing with a strong wind.
Cork, who opened the scoring with a third-minute Brian O'Keeffe goal, scored three goals in as many minutes midway through the second period to underline their superiority.
Cork: D Og Cusack, W Sherlock, D O'Sullivan, Donal Murphy, D Barrett, Dan Murphy (capt), S Og O hAilpin, A Walsh, M O'Connell (0-2), J Anderson (0-2), T McCarthy (1- 3), B O'Connor, B O'Keeffe (1-1), S O'Farrell (1-3), J Deane (3-4). Subs: L Mannix for Donal Murphy, M Prendergast for O'Connor.
Waterford: B Landers, E O'Sullivan, P Hammond, G Cullinan, J Murray, K McGrath, J O'Meara, D Ryan, D Bennet (0-1), D Shanahan, N Jacob, P Fitzgerald, B Hannon (0-3), M Mur- ray (0-1), A Lannon (0-4). Subs: P O'Donovan for Fitzgerald, P Matthews for Ryan, T Veale for Hammond.
Referee: M Cahill (Tipperary).