The Rebels dominated the Walsh Park decider with senior star Cathal Naughton scoring 1-04 from play.

Naughton's 13th-minute goal set Cork on their way to their 18th provincial title at this grade.

Waterford trailed by 1-07 to 0-05 at half-time with Kevin Moran, Mark Gorman (0-02), Pa Kearney and Richie Foley on target. But Cork pulled away in the second half to book an All-Ireland semi-final clash with Galway.

Playing in their 26th Munster U-21 final and hoping to regain the title they last won in 2005, Cork began well with their defence, particularly half-backs Eoin Cadogan and Shane O'Neill, mopping up everything that came their way.

Waterford danger man Shane Casey, who scored 3-5 to help the Deise beat Limerick in last month's Munster intermediate final, was kept quiet through the first half.

Indeed, only two Waterford forwards scored from play in the opening 30 minutes - Kevin Moran and Pa Kearney - as Cork's direct hurling helped them build up a 1-07 to 0-03 lead.

Naughton took his goal with aplomb, burying the sliotar past Waterford goalkeeper Darren Ryan after the eagle-eyed Eoin Murphy had played the ball into space.

Naughton was used as a substitute in the Cork seniors' All-Ireland quarter-final draw with Waterford last Sunday but he, along with fellow seniors Shane O'Neill and Pa Cronin, showed little sign of tiredness as they each played key roles for the victors.

Waterford had Paul Flynn and James O'Connor, who played in the county's 1994-winning team, on the sideline as part of their backroom staff but not ever their presence could inspire the Deise youngsters.

Naughton took his tally to 1-2 with a 17th-minute point, then Ross O'Keeffe missed a goal chance for the underdogs before Mark Gorman registered a central free for a 1-04 to 0-03 score-line.

Cork rattled over the next three points - Adrian Mannix, Pat Horgan and Leighton Desmond all raised white flags - to open up a seven-point lead and punish some sloppy defending.

Credit to Waterford, they had the better of the closing five minutes of the half with defender Richie Foley stepping up to slot over from distance, Pa Kearney tagging on another point and only a superb block from Aidan Ryan prevented Gorman from getting a sight at the Cork goal.

Cork opened the second half in determined fashion with three points on the trot from Mannix, Naughton and the excellent Cadogan, who rifled over from close to the 65.

At the other end, Waterford were having little luck in front of goal - Gorman missed a right-sided free and full-forward O'Keeffe had a shot smothered away by the retreating Cadogan and O'Neill.

Points from Gorman and Kearney kept Waterford in the hunt but Cork soon found an extra gear, with their midfield unit of Mannix and Desmond, who finished with 0-06 between them, excelling throughout the hour-long contest.

Cork had nine players on the scoresheet by the finish, with Eoin Murphy becoming the sixth of the Rebels' starting forwards to score in injury-time.

A Waterford comeback, which craved the momentum of a goal, never materialised as time and again they were met by a defensive wall.

On this evidence, Cork certainly have the ability to go far in the All-Ireland championship and their August 18 clash with Galway, the 2005 All-Ireland champions, could be the acid test.