Cork defeated Cavan by 0-15 to 1-11 in O'Connor Park this afternoon to book their place in the All-Ireland U21FC final.

In what was an exciting game of football, both sides produced a high standard and the match looked to be heading to extra time, but Enda Reilly, who had been taken off was re-introduced to take a free with the last kick of the game, but his effort drifted wide.

This was Cavan's second All-Ireland semi final defeat in a row and it will have been heart breaking for the players, who in all likelihood probably did deserve a draw and extra time, but it was not to be on this occasion.

The first half was played at a decent pace and no one could argue with Cork's 0-7 to 0-5 lead at the break, as they had the slightly more possession in the opening 30 minutes.

Cavan kicked the first two points of the game and the came from two members of the full forward line Paul O'Connor and Enda Reilly.

Cork were soon level as Brian O'Driscoll and Dan McEoin (free) kicked points as the Rebels began to settle into the match. Both goalkeepers had to deal with long balls in the opening minutes, but Luke Connolly made sure of his effort when he put the Munster champions in front for the first time after seven minutes.

A McEoin free was knocked out for a '45 and up stood full back Damien Cahalane to put the resultant kick over the bar, 0-4 to 0-2 after 12 minutes. Cavan responded with two wides, which was their third in total. However, they did hit the next score and after a patient build up, Jack Brady showed some excellent skill to make room for himself and fire over the bar.

Cavan's Darragh Sexton and Turlough Mooney along with Cork's Brian Hurley then entered the referee's book, but it was by no means a dirty game as both sides were playing a good fast game of football. Luke Connolly was soon to follow the aforementioned players as he received a yellow for an innocuous challenge as the tempo of the game slowed slightly.

A great run by Cork centre back Tom Clancy ended with Connolly kicking over the bar to make it 0-5 to 0-3 after 24 minutes. There were three points between the sides when Alan Cadogan fisted over after the wing forward looked to have run into a cul de sac.

Cavan needed a score and when it came what an inspirational one it was as Mooney launched a kick over from the stand side of O'Connor Park and it sailed over the bar. A Cork attack from the kick out was quickly broken down and Reilly showed what a trusty left foot he has by slotting over a fine score to reduce the gap to the minimum with two minutes of the half remaining.

Just when the Cavan defence looked to have broken up another Cork attack, Mooney gave away a cheap free 20 metres from goal and McEoin kicked over at his ease. At the other end, Brady had the chance to narrow the gap from a free but his effort from 30 metres dropped short in what was the last action of the half.

Brady had a goal chance straight from the throw in, but off balance he blasted the ball wide. At the other end, McEoin found Hurley and the full forward kicked over from close to goals as Cork stretched their lead to three points. The gap was soon four as McEoin and Hurley combined again with the latter kicking his second point of the match, 0-9 to 0-5.

Cork were well on top in these early exchanges of the second half as Mark Sugrue scored a point from 25 metres as Cavan struggled to win any ball in the middle of the park. The Ulster champions made a double substitution in the 34th minute when Conor Moynagh replaced Darragh Sexton and Paul Graham came on for Turlough Mooney.

Cahalane was fortunate to come away with just a yellow when he made a strong armed tackle on O'Connor, but the Cavan defence were now struggling with Cork's direct running and when Sugrue was fouled McEoin kicked over his third point from 20 metres.

In the 43rd minute, a Brady free made it 0-11 to 0-6. The senior star was then fouled 30 metres from goal, but this time his effort drifted wide. Cavan drive forward and the Cork defence had to stand firm when Chris Conroy had a close range shot saved by David Hanrahan.

The pressure soon paid off for the Breffni blues when Reilly kicked his third of the game, but strangely was substituted immediately after. Cork went down the field and Sugrue, who came into the game a lot more in the second half scored a fine point to make it 0-12 to 0-7 after 47 minutes.

An excellent run by the impressive O'Driscoll yielded the wing back's second point of the match as the gap was now six-points. Nonetheless, Cavan were not about to give up and substitute Connor Madden hit an excellent point to keep Peter Reilly's charges in touch.

Clarke came forward from the full back position and he fed the ball to Conroy, who blasted to the net and O'Connor kicked over a point within a minute to make it 0-13 to 1-9 with six minutes remaining.

Sugrue was inspirational at this stage and he scored a Stephen O'Neill esque point from almost the goal line to put two points between the sides, but McVetty responded immediately for Cavan. Three minutes of injury time were played as Cavan went in search of an equaliser and they got it when Moynagh, who was very impressive when introduced kicked from all of 40 metres.

Nonetheless, this was not to be the last of the action as Cavan 'keeper Conor Gilsenan gave away a needless free when Sugrue was going away from goal and McEoin slotted over. Cavan had one more opportunity to draw level when Cahalane was deemed to have fouled O'Connor. Then Reilly was brought back on to kick the free from his left, but his effort drifted wide of the post in the last action of the match, 0-15 to 1-11.

Cork - D Hanrahan; C Dorman, D Cahalane (0-1 '45), A Cronin; B O'Driscoll (0-2), T Clancy, J Wall; S Kiely, I Maguire; A Cadogan (0-1), M Sugrue (0-3), J O'Rourke; D MacEoin (0-4f), B Hurley (0-2), L Connolly (0-2). Subs: C Vaughan for Cadogan, TJ Brosnan for Clancy, J Burns for Maguire.

Cavan - C Gilsenan; J McLoughlin, K Clarke, C Brady; D McVeety (0-1), D Sexton, F Flanagan; B Sankey, M Argue; G Smith, C Conroy (1-0), T Mooney (0-1); E Reilly (0-3), P O'Connor (0-2), J Brady (0-2, 1f). Subs: C Moynagh (0-1) for Sexton, P Graham for Mooney, C Madden (0-1) for Reilly, J Dillon for Conroy, Reilly for O'Connor.

Referee - L Devenney. Tweet

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