IT’S THE LAST of this year’s EirGrid provincial U21 football finals tonight as Cork take on Tipperary in Thurles.
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Result: Tipperary 1-15 Cork 3-8
Welcome along to Semple Stadium as we get set for tonight’s showdown. Throw-in at 7.30pm.
Here’s the starting Cork team.
Cork
1. Micheál Martin (Nemo Rangers)
5. Jamie Davis (Douglas)
3. Tom O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers)
4. Stephen Cronin (Nemo Rangers)
10. Brian O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh) Capt.
6. Sean White (Clonakilty)
7. Cian Kiely (Ballincollig)
8. Alan O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers)
19. Sean O’Leary (Bantry Blues)
11. Sean O’Donoghue (Inniscarra)
21. Cillian McIntyre (Carrigaline)
12. Darragh Murphy (Valley Rovers)
13. Cathal Vaughan (Uibh Laoire)
14. Peter Kelleher (Kilmichael)
15. Conor Horgan (Nemo Rangers)
And here’s the Tipperary starting side.
Tipperary
1. Evan Comerford (Kilsheelan Kilcash)
2. Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials)
3. Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule)
4. Colm O’Shaughnessy (Ardfinnan)
5. Ross Mulcahy (Moyle Rovers)
6. Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers)
7. Bill Maher (Kilsheelan Kilcash)
8. Steven O’Brien (Ballina)
24. Colin O’Riordan (JK Brackens)
10. Jason Lonergan (Clonmel Commercials)
11. Ian Fahey (Clonmel Commercials)
9. Liam Casey (Cahir)
13. Kevin O’Halloran (Portroe)
14. Josh Keane (Golden Kilfeacle)
15. Paul Maher (Kilsheelan Kilcash)
Late team changes then with the big news being that captain Colin O’Riordan starts for Tipperary with Paul Shanahan making way. Cork bring in Sean O’Leary and Cillian McIntyre for Michael McSweeney and Dan O’Callaghan.
Referee tonight is Kerry’s Sean Joy.
Moments away from throw-in here.
Game on here in Thurles.
Early goal chance for Cork as speculative shot by Conor Horgan is palmed by Tipp keeper Evan Comerford and he needs to react smartly to block the rebound which is slapped in by midfielder Alan O’Donovan.
Tipperary 0-1 Cork 0-0
Jason Lonergan opens the scoring with a neat point after being set up by Paul Maher.
Three wides for Cork early on, wing-back Cian Kiely with the latest one there.
Beautiful evening here in Thurles.
Tipperary 0-3 Cork 0-0
Kevin O’Halloran curls over a placed ball after a brilliant run by Steven O’Brien wins the free. Then Paul Maher gets on the end of a good delivery and puts Tipperary three ahead.
Tipperary 0-3 Cork 0-1
Wing-forward Darragh Murphy gets Cork off the mark. They needed that score to settle them.
Tipperary 0-4 Cork 0-1
Straightforward free for Tipperary’s Josh Keane and he knocks over the point.
Tipperary 0-5 Cork 0-1
Terrific point by Steven O’Brien, a DCU Sigerson Cup winner this year, for Tipperary.
Five different scorers in the opening quarter for Tipperary and they’re dominating the midfield exchanges where Cork are missing the influence of senior Ian Maguire.
Cathal Vaughan off target for Cork under pressure. It’s not happening for them in attack so far.
Tipperary 0-6 Cork 0-1
Paul Maher skips inside the Cork defence after a great delivery by O’Brien and the advantage stretches to five.
Tipperary 0-7 Cork 0-1
It gets better for Tipperary as Josh Keane hooks over a point off his left.
Tipperary 0-7 Cork 0-2
Cork pull a point back when Vaughan hits a free after Sean O’Leary was fouled.
Half a goal chance for Cork but Cathal Vaughan drills a left foot shot wide after a good team move. Then Darragh Murphy is unlucky not to point when his long-range effort comes back off the upright. They’re still five adrift with four minutes left in the half.
Tipperary 0-7 Cork 0-3
No mistake on this occasion from Vaughan when he points off his right after a high ball breaks kindly for him.
Tipperary 0-8 Cork 0-3
Great interception by Bill Maher and he carries the ball forward from defence to kickstart a Tipperary move that culminates with a splendid point from Kevin O’Halloran.
Tipperary 0-8 Cork 0-4
Sean O’Donoghue with his first point of the game for Cork after a good pass by Vaughan.
Goal for Cork from Peter Kelleher!
Half-Time: Tipperary 0-8 Cork 1-4
That’s a massive boost for Cork just before the interval. Vaughan pumped in a high delivery that Tipperary couldn’t deal with and Kelleher got a touch to send the ball to the net.
Early second-half goal for Cork!
Cork 2-4 Tipperary 0-8
What a start to the second-half for Cork as Peter Kelleher finds the net, profiting from a Sean O’Donoghue delivery and the Kilmichael man finished clinically to the net.
Half-time change for Cork saw Kevin Davis come on for Conor Horgan in their forward line.
Cork 2-4 Tipperary 0-9
O’Halloran slots over a free for Tipperary as they bounce back from the concession of that goal.
Cork 2-4 Tipperary 0-10
O’Halloran on target again from a free and it’s all square. Brilliant kicking style from the Portroe player.
Cork 2-5 Tipperary 0-10
Vaughan points a free for Cork after Tipperary are penalised for over carrying in defence.
Sub: Cian Dorgan on for Cork for Cillian McIntyre.
Cork 2-5 Tipperary 0-11
We’re level again. O’Halloran on the mark from another placed ball, this time after Bill Maher is fouled following a surging run. Excellent play before that from Liam Casey to dispossess Brian O’Driscoll and force a sideline for Tipperary.
Goal for Tipperary!
Tipperary 1-11 Cork 2-5
Ian Fahey bags a vital goal for Tipperary.
Great counter-attack by Tipperary after a block down in defence by Josh Keane who then released Steven O’Brien. His long pass in set up Paul Maher and the ball broke kindly for Fahey who drilled a low shot that saw the ball go under the legs of Cork goalkeeper Michael Martin and into the net.
Sub: Cork bringing in Dylan Quinn for Alan O’Donovan.
Tipperary 1-12 Cork 2-5
Colin O’Riordan with a point but Tipperary nearly got so much more from that attack as O’Riordan pointed from a rebound after Josh Keane smashed a shot against the post with a goal on.
Tipperary 1-13 Cork 2-5
O’Riordan on target again after great work by O’Halloran to set up the chance.
Tipperary 1-13 Cork 2-6
Excellent point by Cork substitute Cian Dorgan.
Sub: Michael Desmond on for Cork for Sean O’Donoghue.
Tipperary 1-13 Cork 2-7
Vaughan fists over a point after a strong break by Kevin Davis played him in the clear.
Tipperary 1-14 Cork 2-7
Super point for Tipperary by Jason Lonergan.
Sub: Tipperary bringing in TJ Ryan for Josh Keane and Cork introduce Michael McSweeney for Cian Kiely.
Tipperary 1-15 Cork 2-7
O’Halloran converts another free after Lonergan is fouled.
Goal for Cork from Cian Dorgan!
Tipperary 1-15 Cork 3-7
Dorgan boots home after a scramble in the Tipp goalmouth.
Subs: Cork bring in Colm Hyde for Sean White, Tipp introduce Willie Connors for Luke Boland.
Tipperary 1-15 Cork 3-8
Brian O’Driscoll points a long-range free.
Tipperary are Munster U21 football champions!
Full-Time: Tipperary 1-15 Cork 3-8
Cork had one last-gasp chance to draw but Cian Dorgan’s shot under pressure drifted just wide. Tipperary win only their second ever Munster U21 football crown and advance now to face Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final.
