Under 20’s fail to build on promising start

GAA: O’Neill’s.com Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship Round 3

Cork 1-28

Tipperary 1-19

Report: Shane Brophy at Pairc Ui Chaoimh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Ben Cunningham (Cork)

SCORERS – Cork: Ben Cunningham 1-13 (0-8 frees); William Buckley, Diarmuid Healy 0-3 each; Tadhg O’Connell, Colin Walsh, Jack Leahy 0-2 each; Darragh O’Sullivan, Ross O’Sullivan, Eoin O’Leary 0-1.

Tipperary: Jack Leamy 0-10 (8 frees, 1 65); Sean Kenneally 1-1; Darragh Stakelum, Peter McGarry 0-2 each; Joe Caesar, Eddie Ryan, Tony Cahill, Darragh McCarthy 0-1 each.

Tipperary fell to their first defeat in the Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship as Cork overwhelmed the Premier County in their round 3 clash last Wednesday.

The visitors were four points in front at one stage in the first half but fell to a nine-point loss which hurts their score difference in a very tight group ahead of their next game at home to Limerick on Friday, 21st April.

Manager Brendan Cummins made one change from their opening game draw against Clare with Tony Cahill coming into the attack in place of Ciaran McCormack.

Cork opened the scoring inside five seconds from Tadhg O’Connell but for much of the rest of the half, Tipperary were in the ascendency moving the ball quickly and brought and intensity and aggression which unsettled Cork, highlighted by James Morris at wing back who was impressive in the early going.

They reeled off the next four scores, three superb long range frees from Jack Leamy with Sean Kenneally providing the point from play. Peter McGarry cancelled out a Ben Cunningham score for Cork and after the Rebels attacker pointed a free, Leamy (free) and a Darragh Stakelum point had Tipp three to the good. Following another Cunningham free, Leamy converted a 65 before he assisted for a Joe Caesar point from play as Tipp were five to the good on twenty minutes.

Tipp were playing the smoother hurling and forcing Cork into the concession of frees, however, the home side were staying on their tails and found their groove before half time, reeling off five unanswered points with Diarmuid Healy, Colin Walsh and in particular the imposing Ben Cunningham (son of Ger) becoming more prominent as they led 0-12 to 0-11 lead.

Tipp were hoping half time would break the Cork momentum, but it continued in the second half despite getting on terms at 0-13 apiece through points from Leamy and Stakelum.

Eoin Downey started to dominate at centre back for Cork which took away Tipp’s long puckout, now forced to work the ball out more and more, and increased Cork pressure led to Ben Cunningham scoring their only goal in the 39th minute, which broke the game open after Tipp lost possession in their own half back line and from the turnover, Cunningham was played in and finished superbly.

Tipp struggled to create decent goal chances, although sub Conor McCormack had one ruled out on 50 minutes, but they did get one two minutes later from route-one hurling as a Darragh Stakelum long range free was doubled to the net by Sean Kenneally, and with Jack Leamy adding his only point from play, the margin was down to three going into the closing stages.

However, Cork finished much the stronger and outscored Tipp 0-7 to 0-1 down the home straight to secure their second win in two games and take a giant stride towards the knockout stages while Tipp must now likely beat Limerick and Waterford to join them.

TEAMS – Cork: Brion Saunderson (6); Sean Daly (6), Shane Kingston (6), Darragh O’Sullivan (8); James Dwyer (7), Eoin Downey (8), Micheal Mullins (7); Tadhg O’Connell (7), Adam O’Sullivan (6); Ben Cunningham (9), Colin Walsh (7), William Buckley (8); Diarmuid Healy (7), Jack Leahy (7).

Subs: Timmy Wilk (6) for Keating (28); Ross O’Sullivan (6) for A O’Sullivan (45); Eoin O’Leary (8) for Leahy (45); David Cremin (6) for Healy (55); Ciaran Doolin (6) for Walsh (59).

Tipperary: Eoin Horgan (Knockavilla Kickhams 7); Danny Slattery (Clonoulty/Rossmore 7), Robert Doyle (Clonoulty/Rossmore 7), Luke Shanahan (Upperchurch/Drombane 6); Michael Corcoran (Silvermines 6), Cathal Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs 6), James Morris (St Mary’s 7); Joe Caesar (Holycross/Ballycahill 7), Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields, Capt 7); Jock Fogarty (Thurles Sarsfields 6), Peter McGarry (St Mary’s 7), Eddie Ryan (Borris-Ileigh 6); Sean Kenneally (Moneygall 7), Tony Cahill (Drom & Inch 6), Jack Leamy (Golden Kilfeacle 7).

Subs: Ciaran McCormack for McGarry (blood 15-20); Ciaran McCormack (Loughmore/Castleiney 6) for Fogarty (HT); Pat Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane 6) for Corcoran (43); Maidhc Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch 7) for Morris (47); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara 7) for Cahill (51); Stephen Dee (Solohead 6) for E Ryan (53).

Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)