Cork comeback not enough to topple Tipp

Tipperary 1-19 Cork 0-19

Tipperary began the defence of their Munster SHC crown with a determined display against a Cork side that gave it their all in front of a 35,103-strong crowd at Semple Stadium this afternoon.

A goal, early in the second half, from 20-year-old forward Seamus Callanan proved crucial in the end as Liam Sheedy’s men pulled through to set up a semi-final showdown with Clare on June 21.

Much of the pre-match focus had been on Aisake O hAilpín, who made his Championship debut for Cork at full-forward, but it was talismanic wing-forward Ben O’Connor who led the Rebels’ attack in the opening half.

He scored seven points in the opening 35 minutes, mostly from frees, as Cork hung onto the coat-tails of the champions - Tipperary led by 0-13 to 0-9 at half-time.

Eoin Kelly, making his first appearance this season for Tipp, set them on their way with a point after only 19 seconds.

Teenage corner forward Noel McGrath lit up Thurles with three excellent first-half points, while Callanan, Lar Corbett and Shane McGrath, who popped over an inspirational sideline cut, also added to Tipp’s total.

Cork recovered well after the shock of Callanan’s goal, which came after Cork had lost possession in defence and Micheal Webster put the goal-scorer through.

Points from newcomer O hAilpín and top scorer O’Connor edged them closer at 1-14 to 0-11 and then the red-shirted hordes celebrated what they thought was a legitimate goal.

Timmy McCarthy had managed to knock the ball to the net but referee Barry Kelly called play back after blowing for a foul, just seconds before McCarthy slotted home.

The decision was a penalty and unfortunately for Cork, a driven shot from Pat Horgan was hit straight at Brendan Cummins and the experienced Tipperary goalkeeper had little difficulty in saving it.

Tipp were able to keep Cork at arm’s length over the remaining half-an-hour, but Denis Walsh’s Cork side, who move on to the qualifiers, put in an impressive all-round performance and kept the game in the melting pot right until the finish.

On one of the hottest days of the summer so far, it was fitting that the red hot atmosphere of a Munster SHC tie helped the 2009 Championship season burst into life.

These arch rivals were level on five occasions, inside the opening 21 minutes, before Tipp manage to pull ahead thanks mainly to the efforts of the McGraths, Corbett and Callanan.

Cork, to their credit, had to cope with a big loss when corner-back Shane O'Neill was forced off following a collision with Webster. A blood-stained O'Neill was helped off the pitch, with Shane Murphy taking his place.

After that stoppage, Niall McCarthy managed to nudge Cork in front for the first and only time in this well-contested quarter-final.

Points from Callanan and McGrath soon put Tipp back in front, only for O'Connor to square things up at 0-5 apiece after target man O hAilpin had drawn a foul.

The former Aussie Rules player was eager to impress but the quality of ball going into him was generally poor and the Tipp defenders were able to keep his influence to a minimum.

Tipp began to hit their stride at the other end, with McGrath's sideline cut being followed by scores from John O'Brien, McGrath again and Kelly (free).

O'Connor and Corbett traded points, before Webster picked out Noel McGrath for a well-taken point after an initial hook.

McGrath, growing in stature, picked off his third point just a minute later to make it a 'double scores' lead at 0-12 to 0-6.

But Cork had the better of the remaining minutes of the first half.

O'Connor released Tom Kenny for a right wing run and point, Corbett replied but two injury-time frees from O'Connor put just four points between the sides at the break.

However, that good work was partly undone in the opening minute of the second half. Cork tried to hand-pass their way out of defence but Tipp snaffled the ball back and after some industrious play from Webster, Callanan smacked a deflected shot to the net.

Callanan followed up with a point, O hAilpin and O'Connor did likewise at the other end and then came Cork's goal agony.

Pat Horgan rasped a shot just wide of Cummins' goal, after being set up by the increasingly influential O hAilpin.

McCarthy's delight at finding the net then turned to despair when referee Kelly signalled that he had blown for a foul before the goal had been scored. Worse followed when Horgan's penalty effort was saved by Cummins and Ben O'Connor failed to convert the resulting '65'.

But Cork failed to cave in. They continued to press in attack and with full-back Eoin Cadogan and company in defiant form at the back, Walsh's charges soon had the deficit down to three points.

Substitute Pa Cronin and Ben O'Connor raised successive white flags as Tipp's lead was whittled down to 1-14 to 0-14.

Cronin increased the heat on the champions by landing a 51st minute point. Against that, Cork's wides tally was beginning to spiral and the O'Connor twins were both guilty of missing potential points.

Kelly ended Tipp's barren spell, getting them back on track with a pointed free which Ben O'Connor soon matched with just 15 minutes left.

John Gardiner made it a one-point game - launching a '65' between the posts - to give Cork further momentum.

O hAilpin had a chance to slip through a team-mate for a certain goal-scoring chance, with the Tipp defence stretched, but the rangy full-forward's pass was over-hit and Cummins bravely saw off the danger.

Cummins sustained a bloodied head in the process, allowing Darren Gleeson come on in his place to make his Championship debut.

Cork's efforts to grab the leveling point were valiant but Tipp crucially hit scoring form once again in the closing five minutes.

Kelly scored his fifth point of the afternoon from a free and substitute Benny Dunne scored from play before Gardiner replied with a long range free.

Cork's accuracy in front of goal was fading and a wide from Jerry O'Connor - the Rebels' 12th of the game - was quickly followed by another Dunne point.

Ben O'Connor tagged on a free but with time running out, Cork needed a goal and it never came.

It was left to Corbett to sew up the win for Tipp, who are hoping to win back-to-back Munster titles for the first time since 1987-88-89.