Cork………………………………………………………………………………………………3-14
Tipperary……………………………………………………………………………………….1-19
Trailing by seven points at one stage in the second half, Cork staged a great rally in the last 15 minutes to snatch victory from Tipperary by the narrowest of margins when they clashed in the Co-Op Superstores Munster Senior Hurling League final at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.
Played in wet and damp conditions, the sides were level at 0-1 each early on before the hosts struck for the first of their three goals in the fourth minute. A clearance by keeper Patrick Collins was gathered by Declan Dalton on the edge of the square. His effort at goal was cleared off the line by the Tipperary keeper Rhys Shelly but the alert Patrick Horgan was on hand to finish the rebound to the net. Cork who were going very well with Tommy O’Connell making an impact at midfield, stretched their advantage courtesy of a pair of frees by Patrick Horgan and Patrick Collins that helped them move into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead. As the half went on Tipperary got to grips. Enda Heffernan, Pauric Campion and Brian McGrath who was later named ‘man of the match’ were very prominent in the half backline as they cut off the supply going into the Cork full forward line. Jason Forde was also heavily involved at centre forward for the Premier County accounting for 14 points over the course of the game. Forde (3) and Seamus Kennedy chipped in with points as a goal separated the teams by the 19th minute 1-5 to
0-5. Robbie O’Flynn and Jason Forde traded a point before Tipperary were back on level terms in the 25th minute when Sean Ryan and Jason Forde combined well with Forde’s return pass setting up the inrushing Ryan who billowed the Cork net with a cracking goal. The momentum was now with Tipperary. Jason Forde added another point from a free with Conor Bowe’s effort at goal going narrowly over the crossbar for a point as Tipp moved 1-8 to 1-6 in front. In stoppage time Jason Forde with a difficult free from out near the sideline saw Tipperary complete the first half scoring as they held a 1-9 to 1-6 interval lead.
On the changeover Tipperary finished the way they finished the opening half with Seamus Kennedy, Dan McCormack, Conor Stakelum, Patrick Maher and Cathal Barrett all making an impression. Jason Forde sent over an early free while in the 41st minute a Cork attack on goal was intercepted by Cathal Barrett and the clearance down the field was picked up by Jason Forde who scored a great point from long range 1-11 to 1-6. Moments later Forde won possession from a puckout from the Tipperary keeper Rhys Shelly to send over another point from long range that helped push his side deservingly ahead 1-12 to 1-6
Cork were finding it very hard to make headway against a strong Tipperary defensive unit. They found scores very hard to come by as the game appeared to be slipping away from their grasps. In the 45th minute they got their second half account up and running when Robbie O’Flynn set up Sean Twomey who was now operating at full forward for a well taken point. Patrick Horgan landed a free soon after that closed the deficit to 1-12 to 1-8. Still it was Tipperary that were showing the greater composure. A good pass by Pauric Campion set up Conor Stakelum who pointed from long range. This was followed by two more points by Jason Forde as Tipperary looked on course for victory when moving 1-15 to 1-8 clear by the 50th minute. However, they were unable to build on their lead and instead it was Cork that improved slightly with Brian Roche impressing at midfield. With the opening round of the National Hurling Leagues only two weeks away both teams tested the strength of the benches throughout this half. Both teams added a point before Cork struck for their second goal in the 54th minute when Patrick Horgan and Brian Roche linked up well to set up Brian Hayes who finished to the net. The goal looked to be a consolation score with Tipperary responding with two more Jason Forde points as they moved 1-18 to 2-9 in front. However, Cork showed great character from here to the finish. Conor Lehane scored a great point along the flank and they were right back in the mix in the 68th minute when a delivery by Lehane set up substitute Jack O’Connor for a well taken goal that suddenly closed the margin to two points 1-18 to 3-10. The lead was down to the minimum a minute later when Patrick Horgan set up Jack O’Connor for a point. The resultant puckout by Tipperary’s Rhys Shelly was won by Cork where Cathal Cormack, Declan Dalton and Patrick Horgan combined well along the flank to set up Brian Roche as he cut in from the slde line to score a cracking point to level matters at 3-12 to 1-18. In a thrilling finish Patrick Horgan and Jason Forde with a point apiece had them level again at 3-13 to 1-19 and the game seemed destined for penalties. In the end it was Cork that struck for the all important match winning score in injury time with Patrick Horgan pointing a crucial free as Cork emerged victors in the end by the narrowest of margins.
Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 1-6 (0-6f), Jack O’Connor 1-1, Brian Hayes 1-0, Patrick Collins 0-2f, Brian Roche 0-2, Sean Twomey 0-1, Robbie O’Flynn 0-1, Conor Lehane 0-1,
Tipperary; Jason Forde 0-14 (0-9f), Sean Ryan 1-0, Brian McGrath 0-1, Conor Stakelum 0-1, Seamus Kennedy 0-1, Cian O’Dwyer 0-1, Conor Bowe 0-1,
Cork: Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig) Sean O’Donoghue (Inniscarra) Robert Downey (Glen Rovers) Sean O’Leary/Hayes (Midleton) Cathal Cormack (Blackrock) Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons) Damian Cahalane (St Finbarr’s) Tommy O’Connell (Midleton) Brian Roche (Bride Rovers) Sean Twomey (Courcey Rovers) Robbie O’Flynn (Erins Own) Luke Meade (Newcestown) Colin Walsh (Kanturk) Declan Dalton (Fr. O’Neill’s) Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers). Subs: Brian O’Sullivan (Kanturk) for Tommy O’Connell, Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s) for Colin Walsh, Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields) for Sean Twomey, Conor Lehane (Midleton) for Robbie O’Flynn, Shane Barrett (Blarney) for Luke Meade.
Tipperary: Rhys Shelly (Moycarkey Borris) Cathal Barrett (Holycross Ballycahill) Michael Breen (Ballina) Conor McCarthy (Nenagh Eire Og) Enda Heffernan (Clonoulty Rossmore) Pauric Campion (Drom and Inch) Brian McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney) Dan McCormack (Borrisoleigh), Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields) Seamus Kennedy (St Mary’s) Jason Forde (Silvermines) Cian O’Dwyer (Clonakenny) Conor Bowe (Moyne Templetuohy) Patrick Maher (Lorrha-Dorrha) Sean Ryan (Templederry Kenyons). Subs: Gavin Ryan (Upperchurch-Drombane) for Conor McCarthy (inj), Ger Browne (Cashel King Cormack’s) for Conor Bowe, Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne Templetouhy) for Seamus Kennedy, John McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney for Patrick Maher, Noel McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney) for Cian O’Dwyer, Jerry Kelly (Borrisoleigh) for Sean Ryan, Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers) for Conor Stakelum,
Referee Eamon Stapleton (Limerick)