Tipp stop the rot as Cork leave it too late

Tipperary 1-16 Cork 1-13

The win gives Tipperary their second title in a row, but more importantly puts an end to a bad run of defeats at the hands of their arch rivals in this year's championships.

The result was about right, but it might have all so different had John Gardiner been fit to play. He cried off with a serious hand injury which could keep him out of the All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Wexford in 11 days time.

The winners owed much to their defence.

They soaked up enormous pressure for long periods particularly in the closing minutes as Cork sought the goal that might have taken the game back to Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Their entire full backline of Andrew Morrissey, Conor O'Mahony and Hugh Moloney completely closed out the Cork attack which struggled all through and only Kieran Murphy (Sars) and substitute James Bowles posed any real danger.

The loss of Gardiner had a huge effect on Cork but all credit to his colleagues who battled very hard for the honours, only to come up short by a puck of a ball.

Defensively they did exceptionally well with Shane Murphy, Kevin Goggin, and Kevin Hartnett the pick of the bunch, but they had no answer to the silken skills of Tony Scroope, Evan Sweeney and Pat Buckley.

The two evenly matched sides were level five times in the opening 20 minutes as they matched each other point for point, Tipp's aerial dominance particularly in catching the ball was crucial and from one such catch, they carved out their only goal in the 21st minute.

It came following a great run by Pat Buckley who drew the Cork defence before setting up the highly impressive Tony Scroope for a marvellous goal and when the same player added a point a minute later, it put some daylight between the sides for the first time.

Cork were in need of a goal if they were to stay in touch and it finally came in injury time when Brendan Barry's first time cross found Kieran Murphy and the Sars man billowed the Tipp net.

However Tipp had the facility to hit back almost immediately and Scroope had the final say of the half with his fifth point which helped his side to a 1-10 to 1-7 half time lead.

The second half developed into a titanic battle as the sides continued to swap points and Tipp still had their three point advantage at the end of the third quarter.

The Cork attack continued to struggle against the very tenacious Tipp and their mentors finally moved to try and remedy the situation by bringing in James Bowles for the out-of-touch Michael Cussen and it worked well for them.

The Newtown man knocked over two points but Tipp were also scoring points from limited possession to keep Cork at bay.

The Leesiders needed a goal if they were pull this game out of the fire and Bowles had a first time shot blocked on the line by Tipp 'keeper Patrick McCormack.

It was backs to the wall defending for Tipp in those hectic closing minutes but a resolute Tipperary defence held firm for a deserved victory, their second in a row over the Munster rivals.

Scorers: Tipperary: T. Scroope 1-6 (0-3 frees, 0-1); E. Sweeney 0-4; S. Sweeney, P. Buckley 0-2 each; J. Caesar, R. Ruth, 0-1 each. Cork; K. Murphy (Sars) 1-2 (0-1 free); M. Naughton 0-3; B. Barry, K. Murphy (Erins Own), F. Murphy, J. Bowles 0-2 each;

TIPPERARY: P. McCormack; A. Morrissey, C. O'Mahoney, H. Moloney; D. Kennedy, D. Fitzgerald, E. Hanley; J. Caesar, S. Sweeney; P. Buckley, F. Devanney, M. Farrell; W. Ryan, T. Scroope, E. Sweeney. Subs. D. Shepherd for Farrell; G. Griffin for Caesar; R. Ruth for Ryan; D. Morrissey for Griffin.

CORK: M. Coleman; J. O'Mahony, C. O'Connor, K. Goggin; S. Murphy, K. Hartnett, PJ Copse; M. Naughton, K. Murphy (Erins Own); B. Barry, J. Crowley, F. Murphy; D. O'Riordan, M. Cussen, K. Murphy (Sars).

Subs. M. Prout for Copse; M. O'Sullivan for O'Riordan; J. Bowles for Cussen; D. Dorris for Murphy.

Referee, D. Richardson (Limerick).