EIRGRID MUNSTER U21 FOOTBALL FINAL: TIPPERARY 1-15 CORK 3-8
Tipperary are EirGrid Munster U21 football champions after a superb second half performance denied Cork a fifth successive provincial title in Thurles. The Premier County recovered from the concession of Peter Kelleher goals either side of half-time to record just their second Munster title in this grade – and first since 2010.
Man of the match Ian Fahey and captain Colin O’Riordan, who lined out despite not being listed in the starting line-up, were superb.
Tipp were 0-8 to 0-3 ahead approaching half-time before Seán O’Donoghue pointed to bring Cork to within four points. And Kelleher notched a scruffy goal in first half stoppage time from Cathal Vaughan’s speculative delivery to cut the interval deficit to just a single point, 1-4 to 0-8.
Tipp were rocked within 14 seconds of the restart when O’Donoghue set up Kelleher for his second goal. But Tipp were in no mood to collapse and spurred on by O’Riordan, well enough to play despite being concussed on senior duty recently, they came roaring back.
Kevin O’Halloran, drafted in from nowhere to start, was superb too, kicking five of his six points from frees in front of 2,137 spectators.
And when Fahey netted midway through the second half, through Michael Martin’s legs, Tipp were 1-11 to 2-5 in front. Josh Keane smashed a shot off the crossbar soon after before O’Riordan pointed the follow-up. And O’Riordan was at it again in the 53rd minute to put Tipp five points clear and in control.
Points from Cian Dorgan and Cathal Vaughan had the visitors back within striking distance but scores from Jason Lonergan and O’Halloran had Tipp five clear again. Dorgan netted in the 59th minute and Tipp feared a repeat of the 2009 decider, when Cork snatched it at the death. Brian O’Driscoll’s late free had Cork just a point behind before Dorgan shot wide in the dying seconds.
***
Scorers for Tipperary: K O’Halloran 0-6 (5f), I Fahey 1-0, J Lonergan, J Keane (1f), P Maher & C O’Riordan 0-2 each, S O’Brien 0-1.
Scorers for Cork: P Kelleher 2-0, C Dorgan 1-1, C Vaughan 0-4 (2f), B O’Driscoll (f), S O’Donoghue & D Murphy 0-1 each.
TIPPERARY: E Comerford; C O’Shaughnessy, J Feehan, K Fahey; R Mulcahy, L Boland, B Maher; S O’Brien, C O’Riordan; J Lonergan, I Fahey, L Casey; K O’Halloran, J Keane, P Maher. Subs: TJ Ryan for Keane (57), W Connors for Boland (59).
CORK: M Martin; J Davis, T O’Rourke, S Cronin; B O’Driscoll, S White, C Kiely; A O’Donovan, S O’Leary; S O’Donoghue, C McIntyre, D Murphy; C Vaughan, P Kelleher, C Horgan. Subs: K Davis for Horgan (h.t.), C Dorgan for McIntyre (37), D Quinn for O’Donovan (48), M Desmond for O’Donoghue (54), M McSweeney for Kiely (57), C Hyde for White (59).
Referee: S Joy (Kerry)
***
Report: Jackie Cahill for GAA.ie
Tipperary will play Dublin in the Eirgrid All-Ireland Under 21 Football Championship Semi-Final on Saturday April 18th at 4pm in O’Connor Park Tullamore.
Lár na Páirce
Museum of the GAA and Gaelic Games
