Senior Final mirrors Under 21 campaign of 2018

By Shane Brophy

The build-up to this first All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final between Tipperary and Cork, there is a remarkable symmetry to the 2018 Under 21 campaign, with many faces from both teams, on and off the field, lining out again this Sunday.

Seven years ago, the teams also met twice in the championship, with Cork handing out a thirteen point beating to Tipperary in the Munster Final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh; a star-studded team that contained current senior starters Niall O’Leary, Mark Coleman, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Declan Dalton and Tim O’Mahony, while Robbie O’Flynn, Shane Kingston and Jack O’Connor have featured off the bench for the Rebels in this campaign.

Then, as now, Tipperary were managed by Liam Cahill who described the nature of that defeat as a “long evening,” and they had “no answers” for anything Cork did.

However, 2018 was the first year the back-door was extended to under 21 hurling with Tipperary afforded the chance to rebound against Galway in an All-Ireland semi-final. Commenting in advance of that game, Cahill said: “We had a large panel, but we have tightened it up to thirty and the form shown in training will have a big influence on who faces Galway.”

He was true to his word and much like in the aftermath of this years senior round-robin defeat to Cork, Cahill rang the changes for the semi-final, reshaping the team in the five weeks, making, six changes while some starters dropped out of the match-day panel altogether.

Barry Hogan took over in goal; Eoghan Connolly, still a minor, came into the full back like to add some steel, with Portroe’s Robert Byrne doing the same at centre back, replacing Paddy Cadell. Cian Darcy was also a major addition to the attack in a new-look full forward line with Jake Morris and Mark Kehoe, and they sparkled in a six-point win over a Galway side that had defeated Tipp (managed by Liam Cahill) comprehensively in the All-Ireland Minor final three years earlier.

Speaking ahead of the All-Ireland Final rematch, Cahill’s comments on Cork can also be applied to their senior team seven years on. “It’s going to be massive task for us to stem their pace and their ability to get onto breaking ball, and their ability to go by the tackle,” he said.

Due to Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland, the All-Ireland Final was played on a dreary Sunday evening in the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick.

As rank outsiders, it was Tipp who set the tone on this occasion, racing into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead after quarter of an hour with Jake Morris scoring the goal from a penalty.

However, Cork responded by reeling off 1-6 without reply; Robbie O’Flynn’s speed and Conor Cahalane’s industry instrumental as Denis Ring’s team came thundering back impressively. By the time the interval rolled around, Cork were 1-9 to 1-7 ahead, plus had the elements at their back for the second half.

However, Tipp dug in, and a 50th minute goal from Stevie Nolan, one of the new faces from the Munster final, had them back in front in a see-saw battle.

Cork responded with four points courtesy of Declan Dalton (2), replacement Brian Turnbull, and Tim O’Mahony, to hit the front two minutes into four of additional time.

However, a never-say-die Tipp (sound familiar) struck for a third goal, one of the most beautifully scrappy goals to ever win an All-Ireland by current senior Conor Stakelum, with a David Gleeson point sealing an unlikely All-Ireland success.

What chance a repeat on Sunday?

MUNSTER Final:

CORK 2-23 TIPPERARY 1-13

Cork: Ger Collins; David Lowney, David Griffin, Niall O’Leary; Eoghan Murphy (0-1), Mark Coleman (0-3, 1f, 1 s-cut), Billy Hennessy; Seadnaidh Smyth, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Robbie O’Flynn (1-1), Declan Dalton (0-7, 4f, 1 s-cut), Shane Kingston (0-4); Liam Healy (0-2), Tim O’Mahony (0-1), Jack O’Connor (1-2).

Subs: Conor Cahalane for Fitzgibbon (22), Daire Connery (0-1) for Smyth (45), Aaron Myers (0-1) for O’Flynn (55), Micheal O’Halloran for Healy (57), Chris O’Leary for Dalton (57).

Tipperary: Ciaran Barrett; Podge Campion, Brian McGrath, Killian O’Dwyer; Cian Flanagan, Paddy Cadell, Dillon Quirke; Ger Browne (0-4), Colin English; Jerome Cahill (0-1), Paudie Feehan, Mark Kehoe; David Gleeson, Jake Morris (0-1), Darragh Woods (0-2).

Subs: Craig Morgan for Campion (22), Lyndon Fairbrother (0-5, 4f, 1 ’65) for Woods (HT), Cian Darcy for Gleeson (HT), Shane Neville (1-0) for English (44), Conor Stakelum for Kehoe (54).

All-Ireland Final:

Tipperary 3-13 Cork 1-16

Tipperary: Barry Hogan; Eoghan Connolly, Brian McGrath, Killian O’Dwyer; Podge Campion, Robert Byrne, Dillon Quirke; Stephen Nolan (1-0), Ger Browne (0-1); Colin English (Capt 0-1), Jerome Cahill (0-3), Paudie Feehan (0-1); Jake Morris (1-4, 0-3f), Mark Kehoe, Cian Darcy (0-2).

Subs: Conor Stakelum (1-0) for Feehan (29); David Gleeson (0-1) for Darcy (41); Craig Morgan for O’Dwyer (49); Paddy Caddell for Campion (52); Lyndon Fairbrother for English (60+1).

Cork: Ger Collins; David Lowney, David Griffin, Niall O’Leary; Billy Hennessy, Mark Coleman, Eoghan Murphy; Conor Cahalane (1-3), Darragh Fitzgibbon (0-1); Robbie O’Flynn (0-3), Declan Dalton (0-5f), Shane Kingston (0-1); Liam Healy, Tim O’Mahony (0-1), Jack O’Connor (0-1).

Subs: Brian Turnbull (0-1) for Healy (38), Ger Mellerick for O’Connor (57).