02-05-2025
Winning momentum maintained as final-bound Cork power past Tipp
Munster MHC: Cork 2-17 Tipperary 1-12
Cork were already assured of a place in the final, and they maintained that winning momentum in round 5 of the Electric Ireland Munster MHC at Páirc Uí Rinn on Friday night, claiming an eight-point success over Tipperary.
That's victory now in all four round-robin games for Fergal McCormack's charges and it will be Waterford they meet in the decider on Friday, May 16 at a neutral venue, yet to be confirmed.
Goals in either half from Sam Ring and Seán Coughlan, as well as 10 points from Craig O'Sullivan were central to the victory.
Tipperary, the defending provincial and All-Ireland champions, travelled south having lost all three of their games (albeit by small margins). They did manage to reduce the deficit to four points early in the second half but overall they missed too many scoring opportunities.
Eight minutes from time, James Woodlock's side were reduced to 14 men when Conor Collins received a second yellow for a foul on Cormac Deane.
The winners set out their stall scoring four points inside the first six minutes, the Tipperary reply was a Chris Dunne point from play.
O'Sullivan was beginning to cause problems and with just over a quarter of an hour gone the wing-forward had six points to his name - four from play.
A goal chance fell Cork's way when the excellent Colm Garde fed Eoghan O'Shea but Tipp goalkeeper Patrick McCormack resisted the challenge.
It didn't take long though for a green flag to come, and again Garde was involved. It was his lengthy sideline cut that found Sam Ring in the 20th minute and the Carrigtwohill forward batted to the net.
Tipperary trailed 1-9 to 0-5 and needed a boost. Danny Barry broke through but 'keeper Tom C Walsh pulled off a diving save into the sun to deny him, Dunne converted the '65.
Euan Murray rowed in with three points but so too did O'Shea, for the hosts to hold a decent lead at the break, 1-12 to 0-8.
The advantage was quickly eaten into when Tommy O'Meara found the net from a goalmouth scramble.
Tipp subs Philip O'Dwyer and Harry Lawlor found the range and at the three-quarter stage the gap was down to four, 1-14 to 1-10.
Cork rallied once more and it was Deane's delivery in the 51st minute that led to Coughlan's goal. They comfortably saw it out thereafter.
Scorers for Cork: C O'Sullivan (0-10, 0-4 frees), S Ring and S Coughlan (1-1 each), E O'Shea (0-3), R Donovan and C Deane (0-1 each).
Scorers for Tipperary: T O'Meara (1-0), C Dunne (0-1 free, 0-1 65) and E Murray (0-3 each), H Lawlor (0-2), S Mackey, C Morrisson, J Cahill and P O'Dwyer (0-1 each).
CORK: T C Walsh (Aghada); D Heavin (Russell Rovers), T O'Flynn (Sarsfields), C Lawton (Midleton); M T Brosnan (Glen Rovers), B Carroll (Dromina, Capt), C Garde (Lisgoold); T A Walsh (Carrigtwohill), J Counihan (Watergrasshill); C O'Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh), C Deane (Killeagh), R Donovan (Fermoy); S Coughlan (Passage), E O'Shea (Ballinhassig), S Ring (Carrigtwohill).
Subs: M Quinn (Blackrock) for D Heavin (27 inj), C Coffey (Na Piarsaigh) for T A Walsh (45), R Dineen (Erin's Own) for J Counihan (53), C Hanratty (Carrigaline) for C Deane (56 inj), S Carroll (Midleton) for R Donovan (56).
TIPPERARY: P McCormack (Moneygall); C Collins (Galtee Rovers St Pecaun's), K Fitzpatrick (Newport), F Perry (Moyle Rovers); D Barry (Fethard), S Mackey (Knockavilla Kickhams), D Hennessy (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone); S Cooney (Clerihan), C Kennedy (Clonoulty Rossmore); C Morrisson (Moyle Rovers), E Murray (Durlas Óg, Capt), T O'Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Z O'Keeffe (Holycross/Ballycahill), C Dunne (Gortnahoe/Glengoole), K Rossiter (Durlas Óg).
Subs: P O'Dwyer (Upperchurch Drombane) for S Cooney (18), H Lawlor (St Mary's Clonmel) for D Barry (42), P Hackett (Toomevara) for D Hennessy (43-45 temp ), J Cahill (Ballingarry) for Z O'Keeffe (47), P Hackett for T O'Meara (55), J McGonigle for D Hennessy (56).
Referee: Eoghan O'Leary (Clare).
