Cork cruise to Munster U20 football title with 10-point win over Tipp

Seven clear at the break, 1-13 to 2-3, Cork were never troubled during a second-half where their lead grew to as large as 12 points

Cork's Sean McDonnell celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Cork 3-20 Tipperary 3-10

A dominant second quarter display — during which Keith Ricken’s charges outscored their hosts by 1-7 to 0-1 — delivered Cork a 28th Munster U20 football crown.

This second provincial U20 title of Keith Ricken’s hugely successful reign moves Cork level with Kerry at the top of the Munster roll of honour.

Adding a second All-Ireland title in three years is now the focus of this group, with Leinster winners Offaly their next assignment in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Mistakes made here, particularly in the full-back line, will be more severely punished against the Faithful, but one suspects the sporadic carelessness to Cork’s defending had a bit to do with the fact that from the minute they nullified Tipperary’s two early goals to get back level on 23 minutes, they didn’t for a second look like coming off second best in this fixture.

Tipperary's Emmett Butler and Darragh Cashman of Cork. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Seven clear at the break, the visitors were never troubled during a second-half where their lead grew to as large as 12 points on three occasions.

Any hope of a Tipperary second-half revival was put to bed inside the opening minutes of the restart as David Buckley and Colin Walsh tacked on points before half-time sub Seán McDonnell delivered a superb individual goal to swell Cork’s advantage to 2-15 to 2-3.

Buckley was the outstanding player on show, the Newcestown forward finishing with 0-10 to his name, seven of these kicked from play.

Dual star Jack Cahalane, playing his third game in seven days, was another to impress. He had a hand in the creation of so many Cork scores, including their third green flag finished by Walsh.

The extent to which Tipperary struggled after their bright opening is highlighted in their failure to raise a flag of any description between the 19th and 40th minute.

Cork already had one hand on the title come half-time, Ricken’s charges ahead by 1-13 to 2-3.

As mentioned above, their seven-point interval lead had its roots in a dominant second quarter. Included in this was a run of 1-6 without reply.

Cork players in a huddle after the Munster U20 FC success. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Cork had started the half in similarly impressive fashion, racing three in front in as many minutes following points from Dara Dorgan (free), the excellent Buckley, and Walsh. This smart opening, however, was wiped out in one excellent passage of play from Paddy Christie’s Tipperary on six minutes, Ben Comerford and Kevin Grogan combining to send through captain Seán O’Connor who finished well.

Ryan Walsh subsequently edged the hosts in front and they breached the Cork defence for a second goal on 10 minutes, Jamie Holloway fashioning a goal out of nothing. Their lead of 2-1 to 0-4 was to prove the high watermark of Tipperary’s evening, though, as from there to the break, Cork outscored the Premier 1-9 to 0-3.

The scoreboard read 2-2 to 0-6 at the first water break, with Dorgan (free), Conor Corbett (0-2), and Buckley (0-2, one free) splitting the posts to return Cork in front — 0-11 to 2-3 — on 25 minutes.

The Cork goal followed thereafter, and what a score it was. Dorgan offloaded to Diarmaid Phelan following a quick sideline on the Ryan Stand side, the full-back then taking off on a lengthy run that ended with the Aghada youngster crashing the ball past ‘keeper Callan Scully.

Scully endured a difficult first-half with his restarts, two of which were sent straight out over the sideline. Those kicked long to the middle of the field were time and again gobbled up by red shirts, this dominance of the kick-out the launchpad for so many of Cork’s 14 first-half scores.

Tipperary's Conor Cadell and Darragh Cashman of Cork. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

In truth, Cork could have led by even more than seven turning for the second half as they registered six wides to Tipp’s none, as clear a sign as any as to which end of the field the play was centred in.

It was more of the same in the second period, Cork celebrating a second Munster U20 crown in three years.

Scorers for Cork: D Buckley (0-10, 0-2 frees, 0-1 mark); C Walsh (1-3); D Phelan, S McDonnell (1-0 each); D Dorgan (0-3, 0-1 free); C Corbett (0-2); M O’Neill (0-1 free), J Cahalane (0-1 each).

Scorers for Tipperary: S O’Connor (2-2, 0-2 frees); K Grogan (0-3, 0-3 frees); J Holloway (1-0); R Walsh, C Deeley (0-2 each); E Butler (0-1).

CORK: G Creedon (Kilshannig); C O’Donovan (Newcestown), D Phelan (Aghada), C McGoldrick (Éire Óg); A Walsh-Murphy (Valley Rovers), T Walsh (Kanturk), D Cashman (Millstreet); B Hayes (St Finbarr’s), N Hartnett (Douglas); E Cooke (Ballincollig), D Buckley (Newcestown), C Corbett (Clyda Rovers); D Dorgan (Ballincollig), J Cahalane (Castlehaven), C Walsh (Kanturk).

Subs: S McDonnell (Mallow) for Corbett (HT); N Lordan (Ballinora) for O’Donovan, C O’Sullivan (Kilshannig) for Hayes (both 47); M O’Neill (Buttevant) for Dorgan (48); S O’Sullivan (Adrigole) for Cooke (58).

TIPPERARY: C Scully (Nenagh Éire Óg); S Daly (Grangemockler-Ballyneale), T Condon (Clonmel Commercials), B McKeown (Moyle Rovers); E Butler (Kilsheelan Kilcash), B O’Connor (Kilsheelan Kilcash), L Kennedy (Grangemockler Ballyneale); C Deeley (Clonmel Commercials), B Comerford (Grangemockler Ballyneale); C Cadell (JK Brackens), R Walsh (Fethard), J Holloway (Carrick Swans); J Kiely (Cahir), K Grogan (Cahir), S O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials).

Subs: J Duncan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams) for McKeown (23 mins); B Kehoe (Kilsheelan Kilcash) for O’Connor (HT); C English (Ballyporeen) for Holloway (39); M Lyons (Grangemockler Ballyneale) for Comerford (48); K Costello (Thurles Sarsfields) for Walsh (60).

Referee: B Griffin (Kerry).