Three-goal Crowley lifts Cork

Cork 3-6 Tipperary 0-8

The St. Brogan’s youngster might have had a fourth goal but for some great goalkeeping by John King, who also denied Danny O’Callaghan a goal with a truly wonder save midway through the second half.

While Crowley was the scoring hero, Ross Cashman, county minor last year, played a major role in Cork’s victory.

The Kilbrittain man was a colossus at centre back, driving the Tipp forwards back time and time again with some huge clearances.

David Lynch at full-back, Darren Ryan at left corner-back, John O’Callaghan at left half-back and full-forward and captain Danny O’Callaghan also contributed handsomely to the victory.

The final scoreline is a bit hard on a skilful and pacey Tipperary side and on a drier day the result may well have been different.

Cork had wind advantage in the opening half but scores were at a premium. The holders led 0-2 to nil at the end of the opening quarter before Crowley struck for his first goal. A great sideline cut by Danny O’Callaghan was plucked out of the air by Crowley and he drilled the sliotar home from close range.

Tipp had to wait until the 16th minute for their opening score, an Eoin Gleeson point, and they finished the half with a flourish scoring two further points. Crowley’s goal separated the teams at the break.

Despite the heavy rain there was no let up in the intensity of the exchanges in the second half but Cork’s greater physical strength was a telling factor.

Both sides exchanged points before Tipp keeper John King made a brilliant save to deny Danny O’Callaghan a goal, but he won the rebound to stretch his side’s lead to four points.

Cork were rampant and it took another great save by King to deny O’Callaghan before Tipperary hit back strongly. Darrell Darcy pointed a free before Darren O’Connor took the sliotar out of the air in the Cork square, but he couldn’t get in his strike.

It was the closest they came to a goal and Cork upped the ante when O’Callaghan picked out the unmarked Darren Crowley for his second goal which put Cork 2-5 to 0-6 in front by the three quarter stage.

However, Tipp came in search of a goal which might have turned the game around, and it took some great defending by Cashman, O’Callaghan and Darren Ryan to deny Darrell

Darcy and substitute Dwayne Fogarty.

Cork finally killed off the Tipp challenge with their third goal in the 50th minute. Ross Cashman drove a free from inside his own half deep into the Tipp defence which goalkeeper John King could only bat out to Crowley who rifled home his third goal to put the issue beyond the Premier County.

Scorers for Cork: D. Crowley 3-0; D. O’Callaghan 0-4 (0-2 frees); N. Quaid, L. McLoughlin 0-1 each.

Tipperary: D. Darcy 0-3 (frees); M. Heffernan 0-2 (0-1 free); E. Gleeson, D. O’Connor, L. Mackey 0-1 each.

CORK: R. Cunningham; J. McLoughlin, D. Lynch, D. Ryan; K. Lane, R. Cashman, J. O’Callaghan; C. O’Donovan, E. Clancy; D. O’Sullivan, C. O’Riordan, N. Quaid; D. Crowley, D. O’Callaghan, M. Hickey.

Subs. L. McLoughlin for O’Riordan; M. Sexton for Hickey; J. McCarthy for Quaid.

TIPPERARY: J. King; D. Buckley, J. Quigley, B. Cahalan; E. Hogan, P. Codd, L. Mackey; D. O’Connor, S. Kelly; E. Gleeson, D. O’Meara, M. Heffernan; D. McCormack, D. Darcy, M. Costelloe.

Subs. D. Fogarty for Costelloe; N. McCormack for Heffernan; K. McMahon for O’Connor.

Referee: M. O’Connor (Limerick).