Cork face relegation play-off as Tipperary book quarter-final place

Tipperary 2-27 Cork 2-15

By Larry Ryan

Seamus Callanan made a scoring return as Tipperary booked an Allianz HL quarter-final place against Division 1B winners Clare in a lacklustre Semple Stadium contest that took the appearance of a puck around long before the end.

Ronan Maher, Tipperary, in action against Seamus Harnedy, Cork. Allianz Hurling League, Division 1A, Round 5, Tipperary v Cork, Semple Stadium, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Picture credit: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE

Callanan was introduced at half-time to his usual full-forward berth and had three goal attempts foiled before he finally got off the mark, landing the first of two points to the loud acclaim of the sizeable crowd.

Tipp led by 13 points to 10 at half-time, having struck nine first-half wides in a patchy contest that never ignited.

Michael Breen was the star turn in that period for Tipp, striding forward to land four points, one a presentable goal chance.

Conor Lehane leads the charge for @OfficialCorkGAA in their game with @TipperaryGAA! #GAA pic.twitter.com/LEWr2AvCDi

— sportsfile (@sportsfile) March 20, 2016

He did hit the net in the second half, following Niall O’Meara’s earlier strike that effectively ended the contest. John Mcgrath set up both goals and scored five points of his own.

For Cork, late goals from Patrick Horgan and sub Paudie O’Sullivan put respectability on the scoreboard but their effort never matched the intensity shown in last week’s narrow defeat by Kilkenny.

They now face a relegation play-off with Galway, having lost all five league matches.

Scorers for Tipperary: J O’Dwyer (0-10, 0-9f); M Breen (1-4); J McGrath (0-5); Niall O’Meara (1-1); N McGrath (0-2); D McCormack (0-2), S Callanan (0-2); B Maher (0-1)

Scorers for Cork: P Horgan (1-7, 5 frees); C Lehane (0-3); P O’Sullivan 1-0; B Cooper (0-2); B Lawton (0-1); L O’Farrell (0-1); C Lehane (0-1);

TIPPERARY: D Gleeson; C Barrett, J Barry, C O’Brien; B Heffernan, R Maher, P Maher; B Maher, M Breen; J O’Dwyer, N O’Meara, N McGrath; K Morris, J McGrath, A Ryan

Subs: D McCormack for A Ryan (HT); S Callanan for K Morris (ht; W Ryan for B Heffernan ( A Coffey for N McGrath (58) T Hamill for J Barry( 60)

CORK: P Collins; C Burke, S McDonnell, C O’Sullivan; C Murphy, C Joyce, L McLoughlin; P Haughney, J Cronin; B Lawton, B Cooper, C Lehane; L O’Farrell, A Cadogan, P Horgan

Subs: D Kearney for J Cronin (HT); P Cronin for B Lawton (55) P O’Sullivan for B Cooper (57); S Murphy for K Burke (57);

Referee: Paud O’Dwyer