Bord Gáis Energy U21 Hurling: Tipperary advance; Wins for Antrim and Derry

It was a busy evening of action in the Bord Gáis Energy U21 Hurling Championships in Munster and Ulster.

Tipperary produced a scintillating performance to defeat Cork and advance to the Munster final, while Antrim and Derry will play in the Ulster final after both won their semi-finals on Wednesday.

Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21 Hurling Championship Semi-Final Result: Tipperary 5-19 Cork 2-13

Bord Gáis Energy Ulster U21 Hurling Championship Semi-Final Results: Antrim 1-17 Down 1-14, Derry 2-13 Armagh 1-13

Click here for a preview of tonight's Munster semi-final between Clare and Waterford.

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Munster U21 Hurling Championship Semi-Final: Tipperary 5-19 Cork 2-13

Tipperary cruised into the Munster U21 Hurling Championship final for the second year in a row with a very impressive 15-point win over Cork at Semple Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Goals were ultimately central to the Premier County's win, with their five three-pointers all coming at decisive stages of the game. They took little time to grab the first, Bill Walsh burying to the net after just two minutes after a neat handpass from Aidan McCormack.

Cork came back at Tipperary, but Ken Hogan's side still lead 1-6 to 0-4 after 20 minutes and hit their second goal at this stage, talisman Jason Forde rifling to the net after a mazy run down the left-hand side. The lead quickly swelled to nine points at 2-8 to 0-5 after 25 minutes, but Cork finished the half brilliantly to get right back into the game.

They hit six of the last seven points before the interval - with Jamie Coughlan (3) and Mark Sugrue among their scorers - to go in 2-9 to 0-11 behind.

Then, just two minutes after the restart they got themselves right back into the net when Sugrue found the net, latching onto a beautiful pass from the left wing from Coughlan and burying past Darragh Mooney in the Tipperary goals.

That left just a point between the sides, but just when it looked like Cork had gotten themselves back into the game, Tipperary pulled away dramatically, and very quickly they were out of sight on the scoreboard.

Niall O'Meara, Walsh, Brian Stapleton and Forde all hit points for Tipp to put them six clear again in the space of a couple of minutes, and then a brilliant goal from Walsh on 40 minutes put nine between the sides.

It was all plain sailing for the final 20 minutes for Tipperary, as they ran riot on the scoreboard and cruised to victory. They managed another two goals before the end, Forde (21m free) and Tommy Heffernan both finding the net with steaming efforts to pile on the misery for the Rebels.

Cork managed a late consolation goal through substitute Cian Buckley, but it made barely a dent on the scoreboard as Tipperary saw out their big win. They will play either Clare or Waterford in the Munster final, with those two playing in the second semi-final tomorrow evening at Walsh Park.

Ulster U21 Hurling Championship Semi-Finals

Antrim 1-17 Down 1-14

Antrim will play Derry in the Bord Gáis Energy Ulster U21 Hurling Championship final after both won their semi-finals on Wednesday.

Antrim edged out rivals Down at Casement Park by three points, but they were made to sweat for the victory, as they only scored one point in the final 18 minutes of the game as Down clawed back at the Saffrons' lead.

Down led 1-8 to 0-10 at the break courtesy of Danny Toner's first-half goal, but Conor McCann's strike at the start of the second half put Antrim in control, and they led 1-16 to 1-9 heading into the final quarter.

Down made a spirited comeback, but reigning champions Antrim hung on to reach the final yet again, keeping their bid for five titles in a row intact.

Derry 2-13 Armagh 1-13

Derry advanced to the final with a three-point win over Armagh at Owenbeg.

The Oak Leaf County led for almost the entire game, and were in firm control at half-time, leading 2-7 to 0-5 following first half goals from Johnny O'Dwyer and Niall Ferris.

To their credit, Armagh kept battling and when they found the net late on, it reduced the deficit to just two points at 2-12 to 1-13. However, Derry held their nerve and progressed to the final, which will take place on July 24.