Tipp caught at the death in Minor epic
GAA: Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Tipperary 2-18
Cork 1-21 (AET)
Last nights drawn Munster Minor Hurling semi-final will go down in the memory of all who attended as these two side put on a show of all that is great in this Tipperary/Cork rivalry.
Both sides enjoyed periods of momentum as the pendulum swung violently back and forth with Tipperary unable to hang onto their leads in both normal and extra time with Evan Sheehan's 84th minute goal from a 21 yard free sending the match to a replay.
This Cork side were highly touted coming into the game and after eighteen minutes, they led 0-7 to 0-4 and were much the better side at that stage with Brian Turbull tormenting the Tipperary defence, leading to Jerome Cahill being brought back from midfield to pick him up, which he did very well until late in extra time when the Cork star won three frees which yielded 1-2.
However, Tipperary also upped their workrate massively around the middle third in the period up to half time, closing down the space in which Cork could delivery good ball to their forwards with Paddy Cadell to the fore, the captain leading the way with three points from play while Anthony McKelvey converted four frees.
As they would do throughout the game, Tipperary's forwards struggled for regular penetration while some of the decision-making was poor but you couldn't question their effort as they finished the half strongly with Conor Bowe catching a puckout before passing to Ray McCormack who put the head down in his style before firing past Ger Collins to give Tipp a two point lead.
Paddy Cadell and midfield couterpart Daire Connery traded points as the home side led 1-7 to 0-8 at the break.
With momentum behind them, Tipperary upped a gear at the start of the second half as they stretched the lead out to six points by the 42nd minute, 1-12 to 0-9 with McKelvey converting three frees while also adding one from play with Jake Morris also on target to only one response from Cork's Brian Turnbull.
McKelvey's point in the 41st minute proved to be Tipperary's last for 22 minutes as they became wasteful in attack, particularly in terms of playing in the man in the best position. Cork were threatening more but the final pass tended to let them down, particularly McKelvey firing wide in the 50th minute when he had two teammates screaming for a pass in a goal-scoring position.
However Tipp's defence were holding their end of the bargin with Craig Morgan outstanding at centre back while Michael Purcell was also prominant. However Cork slowly whittled away at the lead through the outstanding Turnbull (2, 1 free), Linehan, Connery (2 frees) as the lead was down to one going into the second of four minutes of added time when the drama upped a notch. Robert Downey equalised for Cork but within seconds Jake Morris looked to have won it for Tipp. But as the clock went beyond the four minutes, Cork got one final chance with Downey firing over from a difficult angle to send the game to extra time.
With the momentum behind them, Cork opted to take the strong breeze again at the start of the first period of extra time but Tipperary's character upped another level as they hassled and harried Cork all over the field, as did the rebels in fairness in what was a superb contest.
Sub Darragh Woods was introduced late in normal time and he would make a marked impression in extra time scoring two points (1 free) in the first period while Cork responded through Declan Hanlon and Daire Connery (free) as the sides went to the change-around level once again.
As the exertions were beginning to take their toll on both sides, Cork looked to have made the decisive move with Turnbull winning a free from Jerome Cahill which he converted while adding a second shortly after.
As was the way all evening, the team under pressure responded with Darragh Woods firing over from play from the wing before in the 78th minute, he reacted quickest from a fumble by Cork keeper Ger Collins to kick to the net.
Cork responded with another Turnbull free (again won himself) but in the dying moments it looked as if Woods (free) and Willie Barry fired Tipp into a three point lead going into the final of two minutes of added time.
Cork had won last chance and they again worked the ball to Turnbull who won the ball under pressure and drew the foul from Jerome Cahill who gave away a good foul, it seemed at the time, to concede a 21 yard free, however you just knew this game was destined to end in stalement as Evan Sheehan's free found the back of the net.
It seemed to be the last play of the game but the referee played on with Tipp having one final chance to snatch victory but Willie Barry couldn't set himself up in time to get his shot away as Cork got back to cover to ensure this epic tie deserved an encore.
MATCH DIGEST
Man of the Match: Paddy Cadell (Tipperary)
Scorers – Tipperary: Anthony McKelvey 0-8 (7 frees); Darragh Woods 1-4 (0-2 frees); Paddy Cadell 0-3; Ray McCormack 1-0; Jake Morris 0-2; Conor McCarthy 0-1.
Cork: Brian Turnbull 0-9 (5 frees); Daire Connery 0-7 (5 frees); Evan Sheehan 1-0 free; Robery Downey 0-2; Diarmuid Linehan, Liam O'Shea, Declan Hanlon 0-1 each.
Teams – Tipperary: Eoin Collins (Drom & Inch 7); Kieran Breen (Knockavilla Kickhams 8), Michael Feehan (Sean Treacys 7), Michael Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields 8); Robbie Quirke (Cappawhite 7), Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs 9), Bryan O'Mara (Holycross/Ballycahill 6); Jerome Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs 7), Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens, Capt 9); Conor Bowe (Moyne-Templetuohy 8), Jake Morris (Nenagh Eire Og 7), Ray McCormack (Borris-Ileigh 7); Niall Hoctor (St Mary's Clonmel 6), Anthony McKelvey (Moycarkey/Borris 7), Cathal Bourke (Clonoulty/Rossmore 6).
Subs: Andrew Ormonde (JK Brackens 5) for Bourke (37); Kevin McCarthy (Toomevara 6) for Hoctor (58); Billy Seymour (Kiladangan 6) for O'Mara (60+1); Darragh Woods (Holycross/Ballycahill 8) for Ormonde (60+3); Bryan O'Mara for Bowe (ET); Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs 6) for Quirke (ET); Conor Bowe for McKelvey (9 ET); Willie Barry (Cappawhite 7) for McCormack (13 ET).
Cork: Ger Collins (6); Conor O'Callaghan (8), Sean O'Leary Hayes (9), Eoin Roche (8); Ger Millerick (7), James Keating (8), Ross Howell (6); Daire Connery (8), Diarmuid Linehan (6); Craig Hanafin (6), Liam O'Shea (6), Brian Roche (6); Evan Sheehan (6), Robert Downey (7), Brian Turnbull (9).
Subs: Aaron Walsh Barry (7) for Howell (30); Barry Murphy (5) for O'Shea (38); Colin O'Brien (5) for Hanafin (47); Declan Hanlon (8) for Sheehan (50); Liam O'Shea for Murphy (4 ET); David Jones (6) for O'Brien (10 ET); Evan Sheehan for Roche (16 ET).
Referee: Rory McGann (Clare)