McCarthy hopes first victory will be Cork’s catalyst

THEY were made sweat to the end as Tipperary came at them with a frantic rally but Cork were good value for their victory, and the relief was palpable as Rebels’ manager Ronan McCarthy digested their first win of the campaign.

There is still a fair bit of work to do against Donegal and Armagh if they are to avoid dropping to the third tier of the league for the first time, but McCarthy is hopeful that the confidence gleaned from this win, in front of just 1,179 at Semple Stadium on Saturday night, will propel them.

A goal from Ruairi Deane four minutes from time wrapped up a badly needed win but they still had to survive a spirited fightback from a Tipperary side with their own considerable relegation worries.

“It’s massive, there was an awful lot riding on the result,” said a relieved McCarthy.

“I thought we played some really good football in the second half, There’s a lot more in them, that’s the message that we’ll give to them and we’ll excuse the hesitancy at the end, we were hanging on a bit. Hopefully we’ll see it in a couple of weeks’ time again.

“We control our own fate in the league and that’s a big thing for us – that we’re not depending on anybody else.”

Cork led by 0-7 to 0-4 at the break having played with the wind but they pushed on after the restart and landed four points, with the impressive Luke Connolly getting a brace and Cillian O’Hanlon and Mark Collins also finding their range.

Sean Powter set Deane up for a fine goal that opened a six-point lead but while Tipperary rallied and got it back to three, they were unable to equalise despite going very close in a hectic finish in a crowded goalmouth.

“They’re all must-win games, it’s very tight,” said Tipperary manager Liam Kearns.

“I don’t think there’s any easy games for anybody left in this but there’s nothing decided yet. There’s two games to go and it’ll be tough.”