Tipp are well beaten by Cork in McGrath Cup

GAA: McGrath Cup Group B Round 2

Tipperary 0-10

Cork 1-26

Report: Stephen Barry in Cappawhite

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Seán McDonnell (Cork)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Seán O’Connor 0-4 (2 frees); Mark Russell 0-2 (2pt); Emmet Moloney, Paudie Feehan, Cian Smith, Michael Barlow 0-1 each.

Cork: Seán McDonnell 0-6 (1x2p); Ruairí Deane 1-1; Mark Cronin 0-4 (1x2p); Colm O’Callaghan 0-3; Rory Maguire (2p), Cathail O’Mahony (2p), Brian Hurley (1f) 0-2 each; Seán Walsh, Conor Cahalane, Matty Taylor, Steven Sherlock, Luke Murphy, Denis O’Connor 0-1 each.

Tipperary suffered a 19-point defeat against a strong Cork selection which featured thirteen different scorers in their second round game in the McGrath Cup on Tuesday night.

Ruairí Deane hit the net on his first start since 2024 and Seán McDonnell landed 0-6 from play to put the Rebels within one step of a McGrath Cup final. A result against Limerick on Sunday would secure their progress.

Seán O'Connor scored 0-4 for the second time in five days as Tipp's attentions turn towards their Division 4 campaign, which starts away to London.

Cork's supremacy was clear from the start, registering 1-4 without reply inside four minutes. Deane, who was named as captain for this game, handpassed over after 22 seconds and palmed to the net in the third minute from Chris Óg Jones’ pass. In between, McDonnell landed a two-pointer.

Tipp captain Paudie Feehan registered their first point from play and produced a superb goal-line save from Jones. Emmet Moloney and an O'Connor free accounted for the rest of Tipp's first-half total.

Further two-pointers from Cathail O’Mahony and a controversial Mark Cronin free, for a 4v3 breach, left it 1-11 to 0-3 at half-time.

Mark Russell landed Tipp’s only orange flag after the break, but Cork’s control continued as centre-back Rory Maguire cannoned over their fourth a two-pointer. Colm O’Callaghan came forward for three points: one off his right, one off his left, and one with his fist.

When John Cleary called upon his subs, five worked the umpires. That included one from Steven Sherlock on his return to the Rebel panel and a debut point for Denis O’Connor.

Tipp nailed the final two points in stoppage time through corner-forwards Cian Smith and Michael Barlow.

TEAMS - Tipperary: Robbie McGrath (Galtee Rovers); Emmet Moloney (Portlaoise), Eoin O'Connell (Loughmore/Castleiney), Manus McFadden (Grangemockler/Ballyneale); Darragh O'Brien (Aherlow), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule, Capt), Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers); Mark Russell (Aherlow), Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields); Cathal Deely (Clonmel Commercials), Ben Carey (Ballylooby/Castlegrace), Niall Heffernan (Golden/Kilfeacle); Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials), Seán O'Connor (Clonmel Commercials), Michael Barlow (Ardfinnan).

Subs: Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers) for O'Brien (25); Mark Stokes for Carey (HT), Shane Ryan (Moyle Rovers) for McGrath (47); Michael Lowry (Arravale Rovers) for Heffernan (47); Billy O’Connor (Kilsheelan/Kilcash) for Boland (47); Heffernan for Russell (60+2).

Cork: Patrick Doyle; Maurice Shanley, Seán Meehan, Kevin O'Donovan; Brian O'Driscoll, Rory Maguire, Luke Fahy; Colm O'Callaghan, Seán Walsh; Ruairí Deane (Capt), Seán McDonnell, Conor Cahalane; Mark Cronin, Chris Óg Jones, Cathail O'Mahony.

Subs: Darragh Cashman for O’Driscoll (HT); Daniel O’Mahony for Shanley (HT); Luke Murphy for C O’Mahony (HT); Darragh Newman for Doyle (36); Denis O’Connor for Jones (36); Colm O’Shea for O’Donovan (46); Matty Taylor for Walsh (46); Steven Sherlock for McDonnell (46); Brian Hurley for Cronin (46).

Referee: Seán Joy (Kerry).