Tipp Minor Hurlers pull away late on to see off Cork

GAA: Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship Round 3

Tipperary 2-17

Cork 0-16

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Chris Dunne (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Chris Dunne 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-4 frees); KJ Dunne 1-1; Conall Morrisson 0-4; Ciaran Gantley, Shane Ryan 0-2 each; James Finn, Rian McGrath 0-1 each.

Cork: Sam Ring 0-7 frees; Liam O’Regan 0-3; Tadhg McCarthy, Ryan Cagney 0-2 each; Cathal Barry, Tadhg Murphy 0-1 each.

Tipperary are assured of involvement in the knock-out stages of the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship and are well on course for a final spot in the Munster final following their seven point win over Cork on Friday evening in their second game of the provincial campaign.

For forty minutes, there was little indication that Tipperary would emerge with a decisive win but the Premier boys outscored the visitors 1-8 to 0-2 in a strong finish, climaxed by five unanswered points in the closing six minutes.

Prior to that, it was never plain-sailing, and at times, Cork looked the more likely winners, but Tipp’s tenacity, and the elimination of earlier handling and striking errors, tipped the scales in favour of James Woodlock’s charges.

Tipperary’s remaining games in the provincial journey are both away from home, to Limerick next, and then Waterford, with victory in at least one of them required to ensure a place in the provincial final. There are solid grounds for confidence that that can be achieved on the evidence of the opening rounds as Tipp seek to regain titles won at this level in 2024.

An 1,812 attendance saw Cork, wind assisted, open brightly to go 0-4 to 0-2 clear after twelve minutes but the tide turned in Tipp’s favour when, in the thirteenth minute, Zach O’Keeffe was dragged down heading for goal and Chris Dunne made no mistake from the resulting penalty for a 1-2 to 0-4 lead.

Both sides had an extra defender sweeping and defences were having the better of things. Tipp lost Zach O’Keeffe to a suspected concussion in the eighteenth minute as Cork flashed over three points to hit the front approaching half-time (0-7 to 1-3).

As the scoreline suggests, it was not a free-flowing contest, and both sides were error-prone but Tipp finished the half the better, points from Chris Dunne (2) and centre-back James Finn edging them 1-6 to 0-8 ahead, not a bad position to be in after playing into the fresh breeze.

Any notion that Tipp would dominate the second period were quickly dispelled as Cork levelled, fell two behind to Shane Ryan and Chris Dunne points, before striking four points on the trot for a 0-13 to 1-8 lead after 37 minutes.

An exchange of points between Conal Morrisson and Sam Ring followed before the turning point of the game when Morrisson set up KJ Dunne for a Tipp goal after 40 minutes and a 2-9 to 0-14 lead.

Rian McGrath and Chris Dunne stretched the lead and with five minutes to play Tipp led 2-12 to 0-15. Tipp then spurned the chance to make it a four point game, Chris Dunne opting to take a quick free to KJ Dunne who netted, but the referee deemed that the Toomevara lad was too close to the free-taker and disallowed the effort.

Sam Ring pointed a Cork free to leave them just two points behind but Tipperary finished with a flourish Chris Dunne (2), Conal Morrisson and Ciaran Gantley whipping over Tipp points to consolidate the lead and ensure a second championship win.

It was never easy, and a seven point winning margin certainly flattered the Tipp boys, but James Woodlock will be encouraged by the spirit his squad showed in digging out a positive result when things were not always going to plan.

In this win, the key players led the way with Chris Dunne and Conal Morrisson the big men in attack where KJ Dunne again impressed and Zach O’Keeffe was doing very well until injured. Oisin Kennedy, James Finn and Conor Collins had fine games in a defence that worked hard throughout to close down the Cork attack.

Cork will still be a force to be reckoned with in the competition and had very promising players in Liam O’Regan, Finn Cahill, Sam Ring, Tadhg McCarthy, and David Nolan.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Eoin Connolly (Carrick Swan); Colm Ryan (Newport), Daniel Groome (Borris-Ileigh), Conor Collins (Galtee Rovers, Capt); Oisin Kennedy (Newport), James Finn (Golden-Kilfeacle), Travis McLoughlin(Cahir); Shane Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), Hugo Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Conor Kennedy (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Conall Morrisson (Moyle Rovers), Eanna Tucker (Nenagh Eire Og); Zach O’Keeffe (Holycross/Ballycahill), Chris Dunne (Gortnahoe/Glengoole), KJ Dunne (Toomevara).

Subs: Josh Moroney (Ballina) for O’Keeffe (20 inj); Ciaran Gantley (Cappawhite) for Healy (40); Rian McGrath (Kiladangan) for Tucker (40); Sean Burke (JK Brackens) for C Kennedy (58); Conor Tobin (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone) for Moroney (60+2).

Cork: Marley Walsh; Jack Batterberry, Howard O’Donovan, Nathan Coffey; Finn Cahill, Sean Riordan, Dave Nolan; Tadhg Murphy, Cathal Barry; Tadhg McCarthy, Stephen McHugh, Liam O’Regan; Cormac Murphy, Tom Huggins, Sam Ring.

Subs: Ryan Cagney for C Murphy (HT); Bobby Power for Huggins (44); Conor Stack for Barry (48); Ger Kingston for T Murphy (51).

Referee: Eoghan O’Leary (Clare).