Cork booked their return to the top flight by beating Wexford at Pairc Ui Rinn, 2-24 to 1-20.

As well as being guaranteed Division 1A hurling next year, the Rebels are also through to the league quarter-finals, where they will face Tipperary.

The Model County have missed out on promotion but their consolation is a quarter-final date with holders Kilkenny.

The Leesiders led by five points at the interval thanks to goals from Patrick Horgan and Conor Lehane in the 17th and 18th minutes.

Willie Devereux and Paul Morris were late additions to the Model County starting side, while Brian Hartnett replaced Aidan Walsh (hamstring) in the Rebels XV.

Jack Guiney's stunning eighth-minute goal propelled the Model County into a 1-2 to 0-2 lead after Liam Og McGovern, Patrick Horgan (2) and Paul Morris had slotted points at either end.

Hartnett and Morris traded scores but Horgan's first point from play closed the gap to two points on ten minutes.

Seamus Harnedy and Morris exchanged points before the Leesiders swooped ruthlessly for two goals in as many minutes via Horgan (free) and Lehane: 2-5 to 1-4.

When Horgan stroked over another free, the Model County responded with scores from Morris (free) and McGovern, leaving a goal between the teams after 22 minutes.

Harry Kehoe replied to a superb Harnedy brace and it was Horgan's turn to fire a Cork brace after Diarmuid O'Keeffe had closed the gap to three. Half time: Cork 2-10 Wexford 1-8.

Lehane(2), Harnedy and Stephen Moylan added to the Rebels tally after the restart while Morris (3), O'Keeffe and Guiney kept the visitors in touch, 2-14 to 1-14 with 22 minutes to go.

Another Morris free reduced the arrears to two and Lee Chin made it a one-point match before Horgan steadied the creaking Rebel ship with a pointed '65'…

Horgan won and converted a free and Cork substitute Alan Cadogan left four between them with twelve minutes remaining. Horgan knocked over another point in the 61st minute and Harnedy made it a six-point match with seven minutes to go. The brave Model County fightback had been stifled.

Morris and Lehane traded late points and the match was done and dusted as a handful of late points split the posts at either end.

Cork - A Nash; S O'Neill, S McDonnell, K Murphy; S White, C Joyce, L McLoughlin; D Kearney, P Cronin; B Lawton, P Horgan (1-10, 1-5f, 2'65), C Lehane (1-3); B Hartnett (0-1), S Harnedy (0-5), S Moylan (0-1). Subs: P Haughney (0-1) for B Lawton, A Cadogan (0-3) for B Hartnett, D Cahalane for S White, R O'Shea for D Kearney.

Wexford - M Fanning; K Rossiter, M O'Hanlon, B Kenny; L Ryan, L Chin (0-1), W Devereux; D O'Keeffe (0-3), H Kehoe (0-1); S Tomkins, C McDonald, P Morris (0-10, 7f); L Og McGovern (0-2), J Guiney (1-1), R Jacob. Subs: P Doran (0-2) for S Tomkins, PJ Nolan for L Og McGovern, E Moore for L Ryan, E Martin for W Devereux, C Devitt for H Kehoe.

Referee - B Kelly. Tweet

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