Under 20s pull away in second half

Cork 1-20 Tipperary 0-8

A DISCIPLINED and patient performance brought Cork their reward on overcoming Tipperary in a quarter-final of the EirGrid Munster Under 20 football championship at Páirc Uí Rinn last Saturday evening.

Maybe not as convincing as the full-time scoreline suggests yet as the game aged in both halves, Cork displayed the greater desire, teamwork and imagination to control matters. At times, Tipp hung in, but clinical spells of pressure gave the victors the fillip, they required to negotiate the opening hurdle successfully.

Tipp were committed to a defensive game plan and at times, it stifled Cork progress only for the latter to come to grips with the system. Credit Tipp, they lacked nothing in effort yet failed to halt the cutting edge of a sharper Cork attack that increased a slender advantage to an eight point grip during the closing 10 minutes to the opening half.

Straight from the off, Tipperary withdrew team captain and listed centre-forward Jack Harney to a defensive role. And the visitors gained an encouraging start in a scrappy opening, taking a brief lead courtesy of a Rory Lambe point.

It was a nerve testing time for the rebels, getting their act together on points registered by Matthew Bradley Tadhg Corkery and Damien Gore. In general play, Tipperary remained on par, wayward shooting limited progress yet points to Riain Quigley and Conal Kennedy kept the Premier boys well in touch, behind 0-5 to 0-3 with 20 minutes elapsed on the clock.

With the game up for gabs, Cork ratcheted up the intensity, in defence, Corkery, Aidan Browne and Tom Linehan grew with the demands of the occasion with Maurice Shanley, assisted by Jack Ryan mopping up the ball in the centre.

With Mark Keane operating at a target figure at full-forward, the Cork attack brought their own particular brand of menace as Bradley and Jones offered ball winning ability and scoring power to put the Tipp sweeper system on the back-foot.

Keane blasted a great goal chance wide of the post only for Bradley and Jones show nice telepathy and accuracy to kick three points apiece during the latter stages. For good measure, Jones might well had added a goal only to be denied by a wonder save from Tipp ‘keeper Kian Quinn, Cork trooping off to enjoy a commanding 0-11 to 0-3 position at the break.

For many in the 1,161 attendance, the outcome might had looked done and dusted only for a new determination to surface from Tipp on the restart. Half time substitute Jack Delahunty brought a significant improvement to the attack, landing inspirational points.

Though Cork answered on points to Browne and Cathal Maguire, Tipp remained in contention, Newport’s Delahunty and Conal Kennedy added a brace to trail 0-13 to 0-7 by the 40th minute.

Tipp had offered a steely resolve that Cork needed to answer. And they did so in their willingness to graft and work together.

The introduction of fresh legs added creativity and direction, Cillian Myers Murray pointing with impressive Mitchelstown player Seán Walsh posting a trio of white flags on his second half appearance.

Likewise, Tipperary brought six substitutes into the fare, but they operated with fourteen players for much of the closing quarter after John Lyons incurred a black card. Cork were now comfortably in control of their own destiny, having the closing say to put the cherry on the cake with their lone goal netted by Myers Murray in added on time.

C Óg Jones 0-6 (0-2 45, 0-1 free), C Myers Murray 1-1, M Bradley 0-4(0-2 frees), S Walsh 0-3, T Corkery 0-2, D Gore 0-2, A Browne, C Maguire 0-1 each. TIPPERARY: J Delahunty 0-3, C Kennedy 0-2, R Quigley(f), R Lambe, B Fitzpatrick 0-1 each

CORK: I Giltinan (Carrigaline); N Walsh (Douglas), B Murphy (Nemo Rangers), L O’Donovan (Clonakilty); T Corkery (Cill na Martra), A Browne (Newmarket), T Linehan (St Michaels); M Shanley (Clonakilty), J Ryan (Ballymartle); M Bradley (Aghabullogue), C O’Callaghan (Éire Óg), C Maguire (Castlehaven); C Óg Jones (Iveleary), M Keane (Mitchelstown), D Gore (Kilmacabea) Subs: C Murray Myers (St Finbarrs) for J Ryan (41), S Walsh (Mitchelstown) for C Maguire (47), C Barrett (St Finbarrs) for M Bradley (47), S O’Sullivan (Mitchelstown) for T Linehan (50 inj), M Cronin (Nemo Rangers) for C Óg Jones (51), D Shorten (Ballingeary) for M Shanley (54 inj)

TIPPERARY: K Quinn; G Whelan, D Carew, C Bonnar; D O’Leary, D Egan, G Ryan; B Hyland, C O’Sullivan; R Quigley, J Harney, D Brennan; C Kennedy, D O’Meara, R Lambe Subs: E McBride for C Bonnar (23), J Delahunty for D O’Leary (half-time), J Lyons for R Lambe (42), L Meaghar for R Quigley (44), S Grogan for C O’Sullivan (47), B Fitzpatrick for B Hyland (47). (J Lyons BC 48)

REFEREE: P O’Sullivan (Kerry)