Cork IT 4-15 Carlow IT 1-10:Last year's defeated finalists Cork IT qualified for the quarter-finals as they proved too strong at home to Carlow IT last night. With Waterford IT having already beaten Carlow in the three-team group, it means next week's clash between Waterford and Cork will decide top spot and which team gets a home quarter-final.

Cork began slowly, and an early Paddy Walsh goal had Carlow in a 1-1 to 0-2 lead before some positional switches and a Michael O’Sullivan goal helped the hosts to find their feet.

When Jamie Coughlan added a second Cork goal in the 20th minute, they led by 2-4 to 1-1, and though the free-taking of Stephen Maher meant that Carlow stayed in touch, at half-time it was 2-8 to 1-4. John Cronin’s goal for Cork in the 38th minute decided the outcome.

As the game wound down, Cork added points, Daire Lordan and David Drake impressing.