Rising Rebel tide sweeps Tipp away

Therese O'Callaghan

It has been a fantastic few days for Cork hurling. We saw a brilliant victory for the senior team in Thurles on Sunday. And the U21 side showed they are well capable at competing at the top table with this emphatic win over Tipperary last night.

One of the big fears coming into this Munster U21 hurling final was the high level of expectation among the Rebel hurling fraternity.

Having claimed back-to-back senior hurling provincial titles, the Red and White followers who came to the Páirc were hungry for more silverware.

The pre-match talk, naturally enough, centred around Darragh Fitzgibbon, Mark Coleman, and Shane Kingston, and the other names on John Meyler’s bench — the likes of Jack O’Connor, Robbie O’Flynn, Tim O’Mahony, and David Griffin (all seven are the backbone of this team).

And of course, the fact the U21s came within two points of Limerick in the final of 2017, there were high hopes this was going to be Cork’s year.

To be part of two big games within three days, though, was going to be a big ask for the players involved. The mindset needed to be re-adjusted, and more importantly, re-focused.

Coming down from those lofty heights and having to deliver again so soon. However, we have noticed in recent months the bond between players and supporters has grown on Leeside. And there was plenty of support from the stands again this time.

There need have been no fears that we wouldn’t get a complete and inspirational performance in this, the last Munster inter-county competition of 2018. Before an attendance of 6,632, Denis Ring’s side won their first Munster title since 2007.

There were no signs of fatigue. If there were any reservations about how the senior players would respond, they were not warranted.

That Fitzgibbon — who was outstanding for the seniors in the second-half last Sunday — had to retire on 22 minutes after being ill last week, was a hard pill to swallow for the Charleville player.

He didn’t get to play in last season’s Munster decider either after picking up a red-card in the semi-final. There will, no doubt, be better days for this young star.

Coleman was named man of the match, using all his experience around the middle of the field. He performed what has now become his trademark side-line cut and closed out the scoring with a brace.

Kingston (0-4) became the first captain to lift the trophy since Shane O’Neill 11 years ago.

By half-time, Cork were 1-12 to 0-5 up. It was a decisive result long before Johnny Murphy’s full-time whistle.

Watch Full-time Highlights as @OfficialCorkGAA beat @TipperaryGAA to win the @MunsterGAA Under 21 Hurling Final 2018 pic.twitter.com/1f82biPHEi

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 4, 2018

There was no way back for the visitors who will be massively disappointed as they never looked like troubling the hosts.

One of the highlights of the first half was Ger Collins penalty save in the fourth minute — he stretched full length low to his right — to deny Darragh Woods. Another was Robbie O’Flynn’s 14th minute goal.

When he got the chance, he buried after being put through by Tim O’Mahony. Conor Cahalane too, who was introduced for Fitzgibbon, slotted in and played the role effectively.

The outcome was a foregone conclusion. Ten Cork players got on the scoresheet. O’Connor’s excellent major at the start of the second-half meant one-way traffic. Declan Dalton arrowed over seven points, including another majestic side-line cut.

It was a no-show really from Tipperary. After an inconsistent Munster senior hurling championship campaign, the pressure was on them in this Munster U21 final. Their nine-point semi-final victory over holders Limerick suggested they would be formidable. They are capable of more. This was not a true reflection of their ability.

With the exception of a late, late Jerome Cahill goal, they didn’t have a memorable visit to the new stadium.

Liam Cahill was the manger when they won the All-Ireland minor title two years ago. He had a strong representation from that panel again, but they were under pressure from the word go.

You would wonder, did it matter that both counties were already guaranteed an All Ireland semi-final place? They could meet again.

Meanwhile, Cork and Tipperary remain the dominant teams in the U21 hurling grade. It now stands Tipperary (20) and Cork (19) titles.