Seven-goal Cork hammer Dublin to reach All-Ireland final

Cork produced a ruthless display to book a return to the All-Ireland hurling final as they romped home against Dublin with a 7-26 to 2-21 win at Croke Park on Saturday.

On a day when Dublin sought to spring another shock having knocked Limerick out two weeks ago, Pat Ryan's Rebels were in no mood to be caught as they showed absolutely no mercy with a goal blitz which ultimately knocked the stuffing out of the outsiders.

The Munster champions much-vaunted full-forward line contributed 5-11 including a hat-trick of goals for man-of-the-match Alan Connolly and two for Brian Hayes, while midfielder Tim O'Mahony also hit a pair of goals.

Dublin battled throughout and were not far away after 30 minutes, but Cork seemed to always have the ability to land haymakers at key times to quell any notions of an uprising.

A lot of the credit will go to the forwards, but a big platform for Cork's win came around the middle as they turned Dublin over and halted attacks which didn't allow the Leinster side to build any consistent momentum.

Cian O'Sullivan's 2-4 from play, Sean Currie's seven points from frees and the industry of Conor Burke around the middle were bright spots for the Dubs, but they needed so much more.

Alan Connolly scored a hat-trick of goals for Cork

So much talk in the build-up centred on how Dublin's defence would handle the Cork full-forward line of Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes and Patrick Horgan, and this trio arrived in Croke Park with a ruthless mindset as the Rebels went for the jugular early on.

With the teams level on 0-2 early, the first Cork goal arrived as a crisp move resulted in Declan Dalton putting Hayes in to finish with five minutes gone.

Dublin rallied well but were hit for a second goal in the 12th minute as Hayes turned provider when making a fine fetch and putting Connolly in to rattle the net.

A third goal game just moments later as Tim O'Mahony made the assist this time to flick inside and Connolly doubled overhead to grab his second major.

Dublin were rattled, but they responded brilliantly as Sean Currie arrowed a great ball across to Cian O'Sullivan to bury and give the outsiders hope.

They remained in touch with O'Sullivan and Conor Burke landing some fine scores, while Currie was accurate from frees, yet was so unlucky not to hit a second Dublin goal only for the crossbar to deny him.

Yet Cork were flying at the other end as Horgan was on song from frees and Declan Dalton chipping in as they continued to cause Dublin headaches.

However, the margin was just six approaching the break when Cork delivered another haymaker and this time is seemed fatal as Connolly returned the earlier favour to tee-up Hayes for goal and this would ultimately help Cork into a 4-13 to 1-12 lead at the half.

Cork will have the chance to avenge last year's All-Ireland final loss

They were in a decent position but that turned into a great one seven minutes into the second period as Horgan picked out O'Mahony to hit the first of his goals which pushed the gap out to 15.

Dublin did enjoy a mini purple patch from the 45th minute as they got to within nine, aided by O'Sullivan's second goal which came from a quick free by Currie which opened the door for the shot.

But just as the Dublin fans began to gain hope, it was quickly extinguished in the 51st minute as the defence failed to clear and O'Mahony flicked the loose ball to the net.

That was very much that as substitutes Shane Kingston and Conor Lehane found their range, with another of the replacements, Robbie O'Flynn, bursting through in the 66th minute to lay off for Connolly to crack home from a right angle and complete his hat-trick.

It capped a superb Cork performance who are back in the final and will seek to take the ultimate step in a fortnight against either Kilkenny or Tippperary who meet in Sunday's second semi-final at 16:00.

Cork: P Collins; N O'Leary, E Downey, S O'Donoghue; C Joyce (0-1), R Downey, M Coleman; T O'Mahony (2-1), D Fitzgibbon (0-3); D Healy (0-1), S Barrett, D Dalton (0-5, 2f) ; P Horgan (0-8, 6f), A Connolly (3-2), B Hayes (2-1)

Subs: R O'Flynn for D Healy (50), S Kingston (0-2) for P Horgan (55), T O'Connell for R Downey (59), C Lehane (0-1) for S Barrett (63), J O'Connor (0-1) for D Dalton (67)

Dublin: S Brennan; J Bellew, P Smyth, C McHugh; P Doyle, C Donohoe, A Dunphy; C Burke (0-3), B Hayes (0-1); R McBride, F Whitely (0-3), J Hetherton (0-1); S Currie (0-7, 7f), R Hayes, C O'Sullivan (2-4).

Subs: D Lucey for A Dunphy (15), D Power for C McHugh (19), D Burke (0-1) for R McBride (HT), D O Dulaing (0-1) for R Hayes (46), C O Riain for C O'Sullivan (67)

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)