Fightback ensures Cork go into the semis

More questions than answers did this Cork performance pose, nonetheless, Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s charges remain alive in the hunt for league silverware.

Nine unanswered points in the third quarter turned a six-point interval deficit into a four-point winning margin.

Patrick Horgan, Conor Lehane and Rob O'Shea had brought Cork level on 52 minutes, Daniel Kearney edging the home outfit in front seven minutes later.

From there to the finish, there was only going to be one winner - Harnedy and Paudie O'Sullivan nudging Cork across the line and into a league semi.

Wexford had returned to the dressing room at half-time holding an advantage that few would have predicted beforehand. Mind you, they were full value for their 0-13 to 0-7 lead.

Patrick Horgan and Conor Lehane swapped early efforts with Liam Óg McGovern and Conor McDonald, Wexford capitalising on Cork’s lack of urgency thereafter with six unanswered points.

McDonald, Ian Byrne, Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Daithi Waters and Garrett Sinnott all nailed the target as Wexford swept into a 0-8 to 0-2 advantage.

Sinnott and O’Keeffe were working hard around the middle, with Chin and Liam Ryan most effective further back in negating the threat of Patrick Horgan and Conor Lehane.

A succession of Hogan frees approaching the break narrowed the interval deficit to six points.

Jimmy Barry-Murphy's charges still faced several questions at the change of ends. They answered a sufficient amount to ensure their progression.

Scorers for Cork: P Horgan (0-10, 0-6 frees, 0-1 ’65); C Lehane (0-3); S Harnedy (0-2); P O'Sullivan R O’Shea (0-1 each).

Scorers for Wexford: I Byrne (0-4, 0-4 frees); C McDonald (0-3); J Guiney (0-2, 0-1 free); D Redmond, G Sinnott, D Waters, D O’Keeffe, L Og McGovern (0-1 each).

Cork: A Nash; W Kearney, D Cahalane, S O’Neill; L McLoughlin, K Burke, C Murphy; D Kearney, A Walsh; C Lehane, S Harnedy, R O’Shea; A Spillane, L O’Farrell, P Horgan.

Subs: P O’Sullivan for Spillane (48), J Coughlan for O’Farrell (53), C O’Sullivan for W Kearney (68), B Lawton for Lehane (70), B Copper for A Walsh (73).

Wexford: M Fanning; L Ryan, M O’Hanlon, E Moore; D Redmond, A Shore, L Chin; D Waters, D O’Keeffe; I Byrne, G Sinnott, C McDonald; K Foley, J Guiney, L Og McGovern.

Subs: H Kehoe for Byrne (HT), S Tomkins for Sinnott (59), C Devitt for Og McGovern (64), P Doran for Foley (70).

Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath).