By Stephen Gleeson
Tipperary 1-8 Cork 2-13
A good start is half the battle and it was Cork who got that in this Munster minor hurling championship clash between the old rivals at Pairc Ui Chaoimh tonight. Looking fired up in the warm up under the watchful eyes of mentors Sean Og O Halpain and Kieran Murphy, Cork got down to business from the off and hit 1-6 before Tipperary registered their first score on 21 minutes with a neat piece of trickery and a flick from the sideline by corner forward Jack Hayes.
The game was a big concern for Tipp by then as Cork were tuned in from the off and didn't relent while Tipp looked dazzled. Early points from the influential Barry Walsh with 80 seconds on the clock got them rolling. That one was quickly followed by Sean Meade, Barry O'Flynn and Finn O 'Brien points.
At the quarter mark Cork attacked again as Zack Biggane controlled a Barry O'Flynn pass and shot at the goals but Darragh Linnane got in the way. The meandering ball broke nicely for O'Flynn as he rose, turned and aimed at the net before shaking it. A point from Barry Walsh 18 minutes in signalled Cork's superiority.
One way traffic then until Hayes hit Tipps first and started a revival until half time but with a mountain to climb to get back on parity, Tipp hopes were fading rapidly.
They rallied all the same. The impressive Mullinahone native Sam Rowan, who stayed working all night, won a free. Up stepped Robbie Ryan to leave it 1-7 to 0-2 on 25 minutes. The Holycross man struck again to leave it 1-7 to 0-3 at the break. Tipp who hadn't shown up for the first 20 minutes were beginning to adjust and find their bearings.
James Woodlock was grateful to reset at the break and while Cork reemerged quickly, he held Tipp inside and figured a way back into it. Carrick Swans Stefan Tobin entered the fray and, with Woodlocks words ringing in his ears, he made an immediate impact.
Gathering the ball outside the 21 he headed for goal less than 30 seconds after the restart. Four of them couldn't stop him as he fired past a helpless Oisin Walsh in the goal to bring it back to four on a 1-7 to 1-3 scoreline.
It reignited Tipp. Jack Hayes fired over from close range and Tipp looked more fierce all of a sudden. They hit a purple patch but again ball was sent into the forwards without a message on it and the Cork defenders led by Ben Walsh held their position of strength.
David O'Leary mopped up loose ball all night and when he played the ball out it was to a teammate but Tipp kept trying and got back into the game. The stands rang out with Woody's encouragement as Tipp looked stronger by then and Cork more meek.
Scores were traded. Barry O'Flynn pointed for the reds and Sam Rowan responded. Jack Hayes struck again for Tipp and it was a two point game as Cork led 1-8 to 1-6.
That was as good as it got though as Barry Walsh kneeled then stood up to shoot for a point approaching the three quarter mark. Cork attacked on 46 minutes when a slick move resulted in a quick handpass and Barry O'Flynn was clipped on the heels by Oisin O'Donoghue.
The penalty was awarded and boomed into the corner of the net despite the despairing dive of the keeper Harry Loughnane. The biggest roar of the evening went up and the Cork crowd knew it was a substantial 2-9 to 1-6 lead as the rain got heavier.
The night got darker for Tipp. A Keith Loughnane free drifted wide on 48minutes, the 8th wide for Tipp at that stage with Cork on a similar tally at that point. Barry Walsh, the excellent half forward, struck again to make it 2-10 to 1-6.
Both teams made changes galore but the train of the game stayed the same. The train was going one direction and Cork kept tagging on the points while Tipp faded with the light.
Afterwards James Woodlock lamented the penalty which was the turning point in the second half:
"I thought it was outside the box but the referee was closer to it than me. Look I'd have questioned some decisions but so would Cork, that's just the way. I'd be disappointed with our work rate overall. Our work rate had to be higher.
"Ah, it's disappointing. We were inexperienced. Only one starter is young enough next year. This is their year at minor and it is difficult to try and breathe in that experience that is needed. We had to go from Wolfe Tones field which was difficult, down to a beautiful stadium with big open spaces and that suited us more, but it suited Cork down to the ground. We had the hardest draw going away from home in our first two games."
Cork manager Kieran Murphy felt how his side settled quickly was key as well as the second half penalty strike: "The start that we got was probably the difference. That was huge for us.
"Tipp came at us hard after half time and we got the score after Tipps purple patch in the second half to slow them down and then we got the penalty. That was vital for us really."
Cork travel to Sixmilebridge now while next up for Tipp is a home game where a rampant Limerick awaits. Plenty to play for still but after tonight the teams look to be sailing in different directions. Tipp must just dust themselves off and go again.
Scorers for Tipperary: S Tobin (1-0); J Hayes (0-3); R Ryan (0-2 frees), S Rowan (0-2 each); L Loughnane (0-1 free).
Scorers for Cork: B Walsh (1-4, 1-0 pen, 0-2 frees); B O’Flynn (1-2); J Murphy, F O’Brien (0-2 each); Conor McCarthy (Glen Rovers), S Meade, J Casey (0-1 each).
TIPPERARY: H Loughnane (Roscrea); S Nash (St Patrick's), E Morris (Holycross-Ballycahill), J Lahart (Holycross-Ballycahill); C Ryan (Moneygall), O O'Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), D Linnane (Mullinahone); K Loughnane (Durlas Og), S Buckley (Knockavilla Kickhams); D Costigan (Moycarkey-Borris), S Rowan (Mullinahone), J Ormond (JK Brackens); A Ryan (Arravale Rovers), R Ryan (Holycross-Ballycahill), J Hayes (Moycarkey-Borris).
Subs: S Tobin (Carrick Swan) for A Ryan (30 mins); L Loughnane (Roscrea) for Buckley (40); C Byrne (Golden Kilfeacle) for Nash (48); C Kennedy (Sean Treacys) for R Ryan (54); T Corbett (Upperchurch-Drombane) for C Ryan (58).
CORK: O Walsh (Youghal); O O’Callaghan (Liscarroll Churchtown Gaels), D McCarthy (Passage), C Cronin (Midleton); C O’Callaghan (Kiltha Og), Ben Walsh (Killeagh), D O’Leary (Ballincollig); J O’Leary (Lisgoold), C McCarthy (Glen Rovers); J Murphy (Dromina), Z Biggane (Charleville), Barry Walsh (Killeagh); S Meade (Killeagh), B O’Flynn (Sarsfields), F O’Brien (Erin’s Own).
Subs: J Casey (Youghal) for Meade (37); R Dooley (Douglas) for Biggane (44); Conor McCarthy (St Finbarr’s) for Murphy (54); B Lynch (Youghal) for Barry Walsh (58); K O’Gorman (Charleville) for Conor McCarthy (59).
Referee: S Walsh (Waterford).
