Cork will face Limerick in the Munster SHC final after they got the victory they needed against Waterford at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Going into this clash, the stakes were clear for the Rebels – a win would put them in the provincial decider for the first time in seven years whereas a draw would leave them in third place, missing out on the final but advancing to the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals. Defeat would have meant exit from the championship with Waterford progressing instead.

Ultimately, Cork did enough, leading by a point at half-time after playing against the wind and then, with the aid of goals from Brian Hayes and Patrick Horgan, slowly pushing clear in the second half, albeit not without a test from the Déise.

Waterford looked to make the elements count in the opening period and did hold a 0-5 to 0-1 advantage at one stage as Cork took time to settle, but the visitors were also guilty of failing to take full advantage of their opportunities.

Cork’s workrate was much improved from the 16-point loss to Limerick last week, with Seán O’Donoghue, Ger Millerick and Cormac O’Brien excellent in defence while Shane Barrett – captain in the absence of Robert Downey – stood out in attack.

The hosts drew level at 0-6 thanks to a Horgan free before Barrett had them ahead for the first time and the rest of the first half ebbed and flowed, with Michael Kiely and Seán Walsh getting good points for Waterford while Barrett and Séamus Harnedy replied for Cork.

While Jamie Barron had the Suirsiders 0-11 to 0-10 in front on the half-hour, Cork had three of the last four points of the half, Alan Connolly with a pair of nice scores just before the break to send the hosts in leading by 0-13 to 0-12.

Within a minute of the restart, they had extended their advantage as Darragh Fitzgibbon and Tim O’Mahony combined to force a turnover and then worked the ball to Hayes, who finished well. Horgan’s free had them five in front but chances to ease clear were wasted and Walsh and Fitzgerald ate into the deficit before a duo of Stephen Bennett frees cut the lead to one.

Cork’s response to that looked to be emphatic. Harnedy’s third point was followed by Horgan’s seventh free and then the second goal arrived – Millerick did brilliantly in defence and his delivery was touched by Hayes into the path of Horgan, who finished well.

Hayes and Barrett extended the advantage to eight, but Waterford refused to throw in the towel. After a point from Dessie Hutchinson, just on as a sub, Bennett did well to blast home a goal and Jack Prendergast pointed, just after Bennett had a shot come back off the post, to leave it 2-18 to 1-18 with 10 minutes left.

The same gap pertained nine minutes later, sub Shane Kingston having had a good impact for Cork as they did enough to stay in front, and another replacement, Diarmuid Healy, and O’Brien landed late points as they made sure of the win.

Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 1-8 (8fs), Brian Hayes 1-1, Shane Barrett, Séamus Harnedy, Alan Connolly 0-3 each, Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-2 (1f), Mark Coleman, Shane Kingston, Cormac O’Brien 0-1 each.

Scorers for Waterford: Stephen Bennett 1-7 (6fs, 1 sideline), Seán Walsh, Patrick Fitzgerald 0-3 each, Jack Prendergast, Michael Kiely 0-2 each, Billy Nolan (f), Mark Fitzgerald, Dessie Hutchinson, Jamie Barron, Kieran Bennett 0-1 each.

Cork: Patrick Collins; Seán O’Donoghue, Ger Millerick, Eoin Downey; Mark Coleman, Ciarán Joyce, Cormac O’Brien; Tim O’Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Brian Roche, Shane Barrett, Séamus Harnedy; Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes, Patrick Horgan.

Subs: Diarmuid Healy for Roche (47), Luke Meade for O’Mahony (60), Shane Kingston for Connolly (62), Damien Cahalane for Millerick (63, temporary), Conor Lehane for Horgan (70+3), Tommy O’Connell for O’Brien (70+5).

Waterford: Billy Nolan; Ian Kenny, Conor Prunty, Gavin Fives; Mark Fitzgerald, Tadhg de Búrca, Kieran Bennett; Darragh Lyons, Paddy Leavey; Michael Kiely, Jamie Barron, Jack Prendergast; Seán Walsh, Stephen Bennett, Patrick Fitzgerald.

Subs: Dessie Hutchinson for Leavey (41), Kevin Mahony for P Fitzgerald (51), Shane Bennett for Lyons (52, injured), Austin Gleeson for Walsh (60).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).