Tipperary 2-27
Cork 2-15
Jackie Cahill reports from Semple Stadium
MICHAEL RYAN’S TIPPERARY advanced to the Allianz Hurling League quarter-finals this afternoon as Cork slumped to a fifth Division 1A defeat from five outings.
Tipp staved off the threat of a relegation playoff with a 12-point win – and will now face Division 1B winners Clare in the last eight.
Cork were already condemned to a relegation playoff before today – and their opponents in that shootout have now been confirmed as Galway.
There was a certain inevitability to today’s result in Thurles, as 7251 spectators looked on.
Cork and Tipp surely didn’t want to face each other again in a relegation battle ahead of the Munster SHC quarter-final in June and consequently, there was a challenge match feel to much of the game.
That was reflected in the final scoreline although there were some notable contributions from key players nonetheless.
Tipp had a brilliant midfield display from rising star Michael Breen, who shot 1-4 from play, while John McGrath also continued his excellent League form with a haul of five points from play.
John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer top-scored for Tipp with 0-10, including nine frees, but he was also off-target with a number of efforts on a day when the hosts won at a canter and still registered 16 wides.
Cork’s scorer in chief was Patrick Horgan but this was another disappointing outing for Kieran Kingston’s Rebels, who must now scrap it out with Galway for top-flight status next season.
Tipp led by 0-13 to 0-10 at half-time before predictably pulling away in the second half.
There was a welcome introduction for Seamus Callanan at the break, as the 2015 Hurler of the Year nominee tasted his first League action of the campaign, and Tipp’s opening goal arrived 20 minutes from time via Niall O’Meara.
Horgan responded for Cork with a goal 13 minutes from time before Breen hammered home a brilliant effort with five minutes left.
From their very next attack, Cork brought some degree of respectability to the scoreboard as sub Paudie O’Sullivan netted but this was too easy for the home side.
It was confirmed after the game the venue Tipp’s clash against Clare will be decided by a coin toss on Monday.
Scorers for Tipperary: John O’Dwyer 0-10 (9f), Michael Breen 1-4, John McGrath 0-5, Niall O’Meara 1-1, Noel McGrath, Seamus Callanan & Dan McCormack 0-2 each, Brendan Maher 0-1.
Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 1-8 (0-6f), Paudie O’Sullivan 1-0, Conor Lehane 0-3, Paul Haughney, Brian Lawton, Bill Cooper & Luke O’Farrell 0-1 each.
Tipperary
1. Darren Gleeson (Portroe)
2. Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill)
3. James Barry (Upperchurch-Drombane)
4. Conor O’Brien (Éire Óg Annacarty)
5. Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg)
6. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
7. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
8. Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh – captain)
9. Michael Breen (Ballina)
10. John O’Dwyer (Killenaule)
11. Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
12. Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
13. Kieran Morris (Moycarkey-Borris)
14. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
15. Adrian Ryan (Templederry Kenyons)
Subs:
21. Dan McCormack (Borrisoleigh) for Ryan (h.t.)
18. Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch) for Morris (h.t.)
26. Willie Ryan (Clonakenny) for Heffernan (52)
19. Andrew Coffey (Éire Óg Nenagh) for N McGrath (59)
20. Tomás Hamill (Moyne-Templetouhy) for Barry (66).
Cork
1. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)
2. Killian Burke (Midleton)
3. Stephen McDonnell (Glen Rovers – captain)
4. Conor O’Sullivan (Sarsfields)
5. Cormac Murphy (Mallow)
6. Christopher Joyce (Na Piarsaigh)
18. Shane O’Neill (Bishopstown)
8. Paul Haughney (Midleton)
9. John Cronin (Lisgoold)
10. Brian Lawton (Castlemartyr)
12. Conor Lehane (Midleton)
11. Bill Cooper (Youghal)
13. Luke O’Farrell (Midleton)
24. Alan Cadogan (Douglas)
15. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers)
Subs:
20. Daniel Kearney (Sarsfields) for J Cronin (h.t.)
22. Patrick Cronin (Bishopstown) for Lawton (55)
23. Paudie O’Sullivan (Cloyne) for Cooper (57)
17. Stephen Murphy (Blackrock) for Burke (58)
25. Stephen Moylan (Douglas) for O’Farrell (67)
Referee: Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow)
