Cork storm back as Tipp falter in final minutes

Cork 3-12 Tipperary 1-18

Cork played second fiddle for long periods but came from five points down with 15 minutes left to fashion an exciting draw, which takes Tipperary back to Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday night next for the replay.

Tipp will be kicking themselves at not winning this final. They were by far the better side for most of the 62 minutes that were played, but faded in the closing minutes as Cork threw everything at them to save the day.

There were some outstanding individual performers on both sides. Tipp's Eoin Kelly was back to his brilliant best, scoring eight points seven of them from play while John O'Brien had a superb first half but wasn't as influential on the changeover.

Cork were almost totally reliant on Kieran Murphy (Sars) for scores. He contributed 1-8, 0-7 from frees, and also had a hand in his side's two other goals.

Urged on by the huge home following in an attendance of 10,168, Tipp led from the fifth minute, playing superb hurling, and it took Cork until the 50th minute to finally draw level with them. In those hectic closing minutes, the sides were level twice more until Eoin Kelly pointed a difficult free, his side's only score from a placed ball, to edge Tipperary in front. But Cork weren't to be denied and Murphy's equaliser sets up another intriguing final between the great rivals.

Apart from Kelly and O'Brien, Tipperary had excellent players in Hugh Moloney, Eamonn Ryan and Tony Scroope. Few of the Cork side measured up on the night, and they were grateful for the excellent play of Cian O'Connor, Graham Callinan, Kieran Murphy (Sars) and substitute Michael Naughton.

Cork, aided by the wind, got the perfect start when Kieran Murphy (Sars) pointed a 45-metre free after just 20 seconds. However, Tipp settled well, particularly in defence, and with Kelly in outstanding form at cornerforward they led 0-3 to 0-1 after five minutes.

Tipp's dominance in defence, particularly that of Michael Phelan on Setanta Ó hAilpín and Diarmuid Fitzgerald on Kieran Murphy (Erin's Own), meant there was little penetration in the Cork attack. At the other end, Eoin Kelly caused enormous problems for Brian Murphy.

John O'Brien made it equally uncomfortable for Cork fullback Jerry O'Brien and as a result, it came as no surprise when Tipp's sustained pressure paid off in the 17th minute, when O'Brien plucked Hugh Moloney's long-range free out of the sky before giving goal-keeper Martin Coleman no chance from 12 metres.

Tipp were rampant now, with Kelly showing marvellous pace and skill. He rattled over three quick points to open up a commanding 1-8 to 0-4 lead.

Given that most of Cork's problems were in defence, it was surprising that they took off Steven O'Sullivan in attack and brought on David Cashman. He was involved in a move that should have brought Cork a badly-needed goal in the 26th minute, but the Tipp goalkeeper, Vincent Doheny, saved superbly from Ó hAilpín. Unfortunately for him, he was seriously hurt in the process and had to be stretchered off.

Kelly continued to sparkle in attack, and the home side were well worth their half-time lead of 1-10 to 0-4.

Cork reappeared for the second half with a completely rearranged team. Cian O'Connor was now at fullback, Jerry O'Brien on his right, Graham Callinan went to midfield and Kevin Hartnett moved back to his wingback position. Sars' Kieran Murphy was now on the 40, with Ó hAilpín at full forward and all switches worked. In three minutes, Cork had the deficit down to four points after Kieran Murphy (Sars) set up Diarmuid O'Riordan for a goal and Murphy himself added a point to put Cork back in business.

However, Eoin Kelly continued to display his wizardry at cornerforward and he rifled over three excellent points to restore his side's advantage.

But Cork refused to give up the chase, and when Diarmuid O'Riordan's long delivery broke kindly to Michael Naughton, the Cloyne man made no mistake from close range.

Cork stepped up a couple of gears and they took the lead for the first time since the opening seconds with an excellent point from a John Gardiner 65-metre free. It was anybody's game at this juncture but in the end, a draw was a fair result.

Scorers for Cork: K Murphy (Sars) 1-8 (0-7 frees), D O'Riordan, M Naughton 1-0, K Murphy (Erin's Own), S Ó hAilpín, J Gardiner (free), G Callinan 0-1 each.

Tipperary: E Kelly 0-8 (0-1 free), J O'Brien 1-3, H Moloney 0-2, F Devaney, T Scroope, M Farrell, D Kennedy, E Buckley 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: V. Doheny; E. Buckley, J. Devane, M. Phelan; M. Maher, D. Fitzgerald, H. Moloney; E. Ryan, P. Buckley; T. Scroope, F. Devanney, M. Farrell; E. Kelly, J. O'Brien, R. O'Brien. Subs: J Ryan for Doheny, D Kennedy for Farrell, C O'Mahony for P Buckley.

CORK: M. Coleman; S. Murphy, J. O'Brien, B. Murphy; G. Callinan, J. Gardiner, C. O'Connor; P. Tierney, K. Hartnett; S. O'Sullivan, K. Murphy, F. Murphy; S. Ó hAilpín, D. O'Riordan, K. Murphy. Subs: D Cashman for O'Sullivan, M Naughton for F. Murphy, M. O'Connor for Cashman.

Referee: M. Wadding (Waterford).