As it happened: Cork see off Tipp to claim first Hurling League title in 27 years
Shane Barrett of Cork in action against Michael Breen of Tipperary during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A final match between Tipperary and Cork at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
In his ninth senior national final, Patrick Horgan is at last a winner as Cork’s explosive first-half exhibition delivered their first Allianz League title since 1998.
Click here to read the rest of John Fogarty's match report from SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Stay tuned to our website from all the best of the analysis and reaction throughout the evening.
And that's pretty much it for our liveblog. Thanks for following on a day Cork reclaimed the Hurling League title for the first time in 27 years.
"We're thrilled but there's more important games to come down the line," says Patrick Horgan speaking to TG4 post match, as 'Afterall' by the Frank and Walters rings around the Páirc.
As ever, Patrick Horgan makes no mistake with the free.
That Patrick Collins save from a Jason Forde close-range free keeps the green flag rooted. Cork are headed for a third successive clean sheet, a first of the Pat Ryan era.
Jason Forde sends over the '65.
Jason Forde goes for goal from a free relatively close in but Patrick Collins makes the save for a '65.
Darragh McCarthy's removal as early as the 46th minute signifies the dominance in that duel of Seán O'Donoghue. The former did not score from play and was not prominent from open play. Last year's Cork captain was under pressure in recent weeks to hold onto his starting spot for the '25 championship. Today's display means he will at least be part of the line-up at Ennis in two weeks' time.
Cork sub: Shane Kingston replaces Shane Barrett.
Point for Tipp with Jason Forde doing the business from play.
Just the seven points for Cork in this half but since the break it has really felt more like a league game. The atmosphere, tempo and intensity has dropped.
Alan Connolly wins a free and Patrick Horgan duly taps it over.
Jason Forde fires over the '65.
Tipp battling until the end here as Sean Kenneally scores a point before they see a goal shot blocked for a '65.
End to end stuff here as shortly after Cork score, Tipp hit back through Andrew Ormond.
Possible goal chance for Tipp there but they take the point instead through Jake Morris.
Patrick Horgan extends his and Cork's tally with a free.
Cork sub: Luke Meade on for Darragh Fitzgibbon.
Jason Forde arrows over a free. Moments over he sends over an excellent strike from play.
48 nóim #GAABeo@OfficialCorkGAA 3-19 (28)@TipperaryGAA 0-15 (15)
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) April 6, 2025
Jake Morris le scór mór mílteach
Huge score by Jake Morris
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV @AllianzIreland #AllianzLeagues #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/LthCSF1uln
Cork sub: Declan Dalton for Brian Hayes.
Cork sub: Mark Coleman for Cormac O'Brien.
Great build-up play by Cork allows Brian Hayes to split the posts from close-range.
Monster point for Tipp by Jake Morris.
Cork sub: Seamus Harnedy is on for Diarmuid Healy. Shortly after the two teams swap wides.
Darragh Fitzgibbon continues to impress, this time he fires over the black spot from way out the Páirc.
Patrick Horgan blasts over another free.
Understandably the tempo in the second half doesn't seem to be as quick as it was in the first.
Cork notch their first point of the second half through Barrett.
Sean Kenneally adds another point for Tipp.
Free for Tipperary and McCarthy sends it over.
Patrick Horgan hits wide shortly after the restart.
Clare beat Kilkenny in last year's league final by a score of 3-16 to 1-20. Cork have registered that in the first half here.
Afternoon all. Andrew Horgan here to talk you through the best of the action from the second half.
We have an attendance of 43,243, John tells us. The majority of whom will be satisfied with that first-half performance.
Andrew Horgan will take us through the second period.
From Eoghan Cormican: More praise for the Cork midfield pairing of Tim O'Mahony and Ethan Twomey. Their 1-4 contribution is equal to the 0-7 that Tipp's starting line-up managed from open play in the first-half.
Tim O'Mahony notches the last score of the half and Cork go in 13 points up at the break. That was end to end for the entire first period.
Healy feeds Ethan Twomey who's in full flow and the Barrs man scores from the right-hand side, at some distance.
From Eoghan Cormican: "Brian Hayes, albeit he did assist Fitzgibbon's goal, is the sole Cork forward yet to score. He came into the game as their top-scorer from play with 5-7."
Darragh Stakelum is making an impression since his introduction, and has tacked on a point. Darragh Fitzgibbon points not long after his major.
"29 scores in 32 minutes and six wides, five of them for Cork. Cork are full value for their lead but the intensity of the game is lacking," John Fogarty writes.
Darragh Fitzgibbon is played through and he taps home. Earlier, McCarthy had converted a Tipp free and Diamuid Healy added to his tally.
Patrick Horgan arrows a free.
Ciaran Joyce adds a point for Cork and Darragh Stakelum, who's on for Willie Connors, gets on the board.
From Eoghan Cormican: "First Alan Connolly Cork goal since May 19 of last year. His 20th green flag in red in total."
From : By no means calling this a phony war but the lack of pressure on the shot-taking is standing out in this first half. Alan Connolly had it too easy for that goal there too.
Alan Connolly collects the ball wirth his back to goal. He turns, has options on his left and right but buries it in the corner. It's been coming.
Some quick-fire points from Darragh Fitzgibbon, Jake Morris, Tim O'Mahony and Diarmuid Healy; the later on the end of great Cork movement. They're three up all of sudden.
"Noticeable Tipp puck-out strategy is to overload the South Stand side of the field," writes Eoghan Cormican, "and then have Barry Hogan send the sliotar into the unmarked green grass on the North Stand side. That latest Darragh McCarthy free originated with Tipp winning their own puckout on that open North Stand side. Cork will surely look to go zonal at some point to force Hogan to look elsewhere."
Jason Forde wins a free out of Eoin Downey and Darragh McCarthy tacks one on before Pat Horgan produces a textbook Hoggy point. McCarthy reciprocates to narrow the gap to one.
The freetaker is booked moments later for a trip on Sean O'Donoghue who'd won possession.
A couple of quick-fire points from the Rebels; first, through Connolly and then Ethan Twomey.
The visitors go ahead through Sam O'Farrell before Darragh Fitzgibbon replies.
From the notebook of John Fogarty, in his vantage point at the Páirc. The match-ups:
Horgan v Doyle
Hayes v Breen
A Connolly v E Connolly
Healy v Caesar
Fitzgibbon v Maher
Barrett v O'Mara
O'Brien v O'Connor
Rob Downey v Sam O'Farrell
Joyce v Tynan
O'Donoghue v McCarthy
Eoin Downey v Forde
O'Leary v Morris
What a score from Jason Forde. Right on the sideline, under pressure from Eoin Downey, he snaps over the equalising point.
- It's been a hectic opening. Gearoid O'Connor narrows the gap to one point once more as he drives through the middle and points.
Patrick Horgan opens his account with a great score before Alan Tynan replies. Ethan Twomey then announces himself to put Cork two up.
Jason Forde levels it with a great strike over the shoulder after Bryan O'Meara turns the ball over.
As I type, Shane Barrett edges Cork ahead again.
First blood Cork. Alan Connolly stretches his legs, gets his shot away and it's a great effort.
Here we go!
The Barrack Street Band are leading the teams in the pre-game parade as we speak and we're nearly ready for throw-in. This may not be championship but it feels pretty close.
John Fogarty checks in from the Páirc Uí Chaoimh pressbox with this insight: "No changes to either Cork or Tipperary team. Brian Hayes is set to start despite his knee injury last month. Dessie Hutchinson, in his Division 1B cup acceptance speech, made a point of the ticket hassle Waterford supporters had experienced for this double-header."
: Patrick Collins; Niall O'Leary, Eoin Downey, Seán O'Donoghue; Ciarán Joyce, Robert Downey (C), Cormac O'Brien; Tim O'Mahony, Ethan Twomey; Diarmuid Healy, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Shane Barrett; Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes.
: Barry Hogan; Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly, Michael Breen: Joe Caesar, Ronan Maher, Bryan O'Mara; Craig Morgan, Sean O'Farrell; Alan Tynan, Willie Connors, Gearoid O'Connor; Darragh O'Connor, Jake Morris, Jason Forde.
Both managers have been speaking to TG4 - Pat Ryan says Cork will go 'hammer and tongs' for a cup while a relaxed Liam Cahill says this game will stand to Tipp in preparation for the Munster championship.
In the blue-and-gold corner, Liam Sheedy says the Tipperary manager has turned a corner with his panel.
"A worrying apathy had crept in among Tipperary supporters, but Liam Cahill has started conversations again."
Some last-minute listening? Here's how Anthony Daly, Mark Landers and TJ Ryan think this much-anticipated game will play out.
While Dalo puts his cards on the table in his column.
"Tipp need to try and keep control of the scoreboard, stay in the game and not let Cork get out ahead of them early, as they did in Thurles last May. If Tipp can stay in the match for as long as possible, they have more than a chance. Yet I still can’t see Cork being stopped."
Let us know how you see this one playing out: adrian.russell@examiner.ie
An mbeidh an lá le Corcaigh nó le Tiobraid Árann inniu in aice leis an Laoi?
— GAA BEO (@GAA_BEO) April 6, 2025
Who will be celebrating later today in Páirc Uí Chaoimh? 🏆
📆 Inniu/Today
⏰ 15:30
🥎 @OfficialCorkGAA v @TipperaryGAA
📺 @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/ApEApCkenH
The last time Cork and Tipperary met in a league decider, the film cameras were there, but the game wasn't liveblogged.
Amazingly, these fiercest of Munster rivals haven't met in the league finale since 1960, in a game adorned with names like Ring and Doyle.
We'll go minute-by-minute for the afternoon as Pat Ryan and Liam Cahill send out their sides at a sold-out Páirc Ui Chaoimh.
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