Cork 2-15 Monaghan 1-16

Goals from senior star Peter Kelleher and Ryan Harkin were instrumental in Tullamore as Cork defeated Monaghan by 2-15 to 1-16 to join Mayo in the EirGrid All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship final on 30 April.

Kelleher and Harkin netted in the first half for the Munster champions, who led by just one at half-time, but they remained ahead in a keenly-contested second half to return to their first final since 2013.

Cork lost on that occasion but will be hopeful of claiming a first title since 2009, with both Sean O'Donoghue and Michael Hurley in strong form and contributing 0-07 between them.

Monaghan were competing in just their third All-Ireland semi-final after a rare Ulster title win, but fought valiantly and two late points left just two in it at the finish.

It was an exciting encounter from the off, with Cork edging an exciting first-half by 2-07 to 1-09.

Both teams held the advantage at different stages early on, with Cork initially boosted by Kelleher's 12th-minute goal and moving two ahead.

The senior attacker finished soccer style from close range after good work down the right by Sean Powter, who passed the ball across goals despite being under considerable pressure.

Monaghan responded a minute later with a goal from Barr McGinn, who finished the half with 1-05 and would go on to lead by two. It was a well-taken goal by the Doohamlet man, who cut inside his man before firing right to left across goalkeeper Anthony Casey.

The sides were level again at 1-05 apiece but Cork surged clear again, Harkin netting their second goal after good work by Brian Coakley and Kelleher.

Cork opened up a four-point advantage after 28 minutes but Monaghan responded with three points on the spin to trail by the narrowest of margins at the break.

Cork enjoyed a strong third quarter and reopened their four-point lead thanks to scores from Hurley, Powter and O'Donoghue.

Cork lost Coakley to a 44th-minute black card but retained a three-point lead heading into the last 10 minutes.

They would move four ahead with five minutes remaining, but were given plenty to think about as Monaghan cut the deficit to two in injury-time.

Cork: A Casey; M McSweeney, J Mullins, D Quinn; K Flahive, S Cronin, K Histon; S White, S O'Leary; S O'Donoghue (0-04), S Powter (0-03), R Harkin (1-01); B Coakley (0-02), P Kelleher (1-00), M Hurley (0-03)

Subs: E Lavers for O'Leary, R O'Toole (0-01) for Quinn, S Sherlock (0-01) for Coakley (B/C), D O Duinnin for Harkin, C Dorgan for Powter

Monaghan: C Forde (0-01, 0-01f); B Kerr, M Murnaghan, K Loughran; D Ward (0-01), J Mealiff, N Rooney; N Loughman, A Lynch; R McAnespie (0-01), B McGinn (1-06, 0-02f), D Meegan (0-01); F McMahon (0-03), C McCarthy (0-03), A Treanor

Subs: F Maguire for Treanor, A Curran for Lynch, B McBennett for McMahon

Referee: J Hickey (Carlow)