Tipp see off Rebels to gain quarter-final place

All-Ireland SHC Qualifier:

Tipperary 2-16 Cork 1-18, Thurles

Tipperary upset the applecart at Thurles this evening as they secured their first championship win over Cork since 1991 to qualify for the All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals as Group 1B winners.

Thanks to this morale-boosting win, Tipp gain an easier draw in the last-eight - they will face beaten Leinster finalists Wexford - with Cork, as Group 1B runners-up, now set to renew rivalries with Waterford, the team that dethroned them of their Munster title.

Babs Keating's Tipp side put on their best display for some time as they struck 2-13 from play, with Willie Ryan scoring both of their goals.

The win meant even more given that Cork led by 0-6 to 0-1 after 13 minutes' play and could have run riot with Joe Deane (0-2), Jerry O'Connor, team captain Kieran Murphy, Neil Ronan and Ben O'Connor all landing points.

Tipp got back in touch with scores from Seamus Butler, Hugh Maloney and Benny Dunne, and while the Rebels were still in front at the break - leading by 0-12 to 1-8 - Lar Corbett's point, the last of the first half, signalled what was to come from the Premier county.

A Benny Dunne point and Ryan's second goal suddenly rocketed Tipp into a 2-9 to 0-13 lead as they hit the front for the first time in this free-flowing contest.

Keating's side banged over five of the game's next six points, including two scores from distance from goalscorer Ryan, for a 2-14 to 0-14 buffer.

The introductions of Timmy McCarthy and Cathal Naughton got Cork back on track slightly, although their defence was surprisingly letting them down.

A Deane delivery was sent to the net by Pa Cronin to leave the Rebels trailing by just a single point at 2-15 to 1-17. Tipp's nerves must have been jangling but they showed great determination to hold on for the victory with John Carroll and Deane trading late points.

All that means Tipp will be back in action for the seventh successive weekend - they play Wexford tomorrow week - with Cork's intriguing clash with Waterford down for decision on July 29.