Tipp’s late blitz clinches title
For long periods in this disappointing final, Tipp trailed their great Munster rivals, but when it mattered most, they finished with a brace of points to see off the Cork challenge for the third year in a row.
16-year-old Shane Long was the most impressive player on show, finishing with two goals and a point to his credit. His goals, crucially came at stages when Cork looked like taking control. Niall Teehan, Paddy Stapleton, David Sheppard and Ritchie Ruth were others to play well for the winners.
Cork struggled at the back, while in attack only Brendan Barry, Brian Canty and Michael Allen who was surprisingly substituted, looked to have the beating of their men.
In one of the poorest finals in recent years, the teams were level seven times until Cork's greater accuracy in attack saw them forge four points clear at the three quarter stage.
However they failed to sustain the effect and when Long goaled for a second time in the 48th minute, a Tipp victory always looked likely.
Cork played with the strong wind in the opening half and were quickly into their stride with a Michael Allen point after a minute. David Young levelled it two minutes later before Tipperary goalkeeper Daragh Egan produced a tremendous stop from Allen.
The champions then suffered a major blow when full back Sean Ryan was forced to retire with a shoulder injury. But this did not upset the Premier momentum, as on eleven minutes Shane Long scored his first goal of the day from close range.
The first touch of both sides was extremely poor and as a result play was very scrappy, and they were level three more times before Cork finally began to get a grip in defence where Niall Horgan and Michael Aherne did a lot of excellent work.
Defensively Tipp were also impressive with Paddy Stapleton, at centre-back, and Niall Teehan, on his right, the pick of the bunch. A mighty point by Michael Aherne from all of 80 metres restored Cork's advantage and Donagh Lucey added another which gave the Leesiders an 0-8 to 1-3 half-time lead in a game that so far had lacked any real bite.
Aisake Ó hAilpín's accuracy from free-taking helped the Leesiders to stretch their lead to four points after 37 minutes. But then things began to go horribly wrong.
Ten minutes later, Shane Long rifled home his second goal of the afternoon and Tipp began to sniff victory. Barry Coleman and Long exchanged points, to leave the game level for the seventh and final time with two minutes on the clock.
A long free from the Cork square was caught superbly by Tipp wing back Richie McGrath and from all of 70 metres out, he returned the sliothar with interest for a great lead point. Ritchie Ruth tacked on another.
Cork tried desperately for a winning goal, but Tipperary were not to be denied the title for the third successive year.
Scorers Tipperary: S. Long 2-1, R. Ruth 0-4 (0-3 frees), D. Sheppard, S. O'Brien 0-2 each, D. Young, D. Morrissey, R. McGrath 0-1 each. Cork, A. Ó hAilpín 0-5 (frees), B. Barry 0-3, M. Allen, B. Canty 0-2 each, M. Aherne (free), D. Lucey, B. Ring, B. Coleman 0-1 each.
CORK: K. Barry, O. O'Sullivan, N. Horgan, M. Foley, S. O'Neill, M. Aherne, B. Clifford, M. Harrington, D. Lucey, K. Canty, B. Coleman, B. Canty, A. Barry, A. O hAilpín, M. Allen.
TIPPERARY: D. Egan, I. Delaney, S. Ryan, C. Hayes, N. Teehan, P. Stapleton, R. McGrath, K. Bergin, JB McCarthy, S. Long, D. Sheppard, J. Woodlock, R. Ruth, D. Young, D. Morrissey. Subs. D. McGrath for S. Ryan, M. Heffernan for J. McCarthy, S. O'Brien for J. Woodlock, P. ryan for D. Young.
CORK: K. Barry, O. O'Sullivan, N. Horgan, M. Foley, S. O'Neill, M. Aherne, B. Clifford, M. Harrington, D. Lucey, K. Canty, B. Coleman, B. Canty, A. Barry, A. Ó hAilpín, M. Allen. Subs. B. Ring for D. Jucey, S. Cronin for Harrington, M. O'Sullivan for M. Allen,
Referee, D. O'Driscoll (Limerick).
