Munster GAA Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi Final – Tipperary 3-18 Cork 2-16

Tipp’s intensity far too much for Rebels

Tipperary 3-18 Cork 2-16

By Denis Hurley for the Irish Examiner newspaper

The curtain-raiser at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday, the Munster IHC semi-final, went Tipperary’s way after beating Cork. Though only five points separated them at the end, the outcome was never in doubt as Tipp led from start to finish. Greater attacking power was key for Tipp, with Kieran Morris, Seán Carey, Michael Heffernan and David Butler all impressing, Cork having to rely on Adrian Mannix for much of their output, Tipp’s greater physicality styming them.

Tipp laid the foundations with an impressive wind-assisted first-half performance, 13 points separating the sides at the interval. The first blow was struck as early as the third minute when Heffernan’s delivery was smartly won by Butler and he had the pace to outstrip the Cork defence and fire past Stephen Nyhan. That opened up a 1-1 to 0-0 lead and while Cork got off the mark through Michael O’Sullivan and Mannix, two fine Heffernnan efforts pushed Tipp clear again. Then, in the 13th minute, Joe Gallagher added a second goal to make it 2-4 to 0-2, profiting from a slip by full-back Darragh Rodgers.

Tipp’s intensity was far sharper than their hosts, with attackers given plenty of time and space with scoring attempts, and while Cork were doing okay in midfield, everywhere else the visitors were on top. Points in the 20th minute from Michael Gleeson and Carey cancelled out scores from Mannix and Séamus Harnedy. Though Cork responded through Olann Kelleher, Carey’s goal, when he sent a nice ground shot to the net after another Heffernan ball wasn’t dealt with, made it 3-6 to 0-5.

Despite Cork moving corner-forward David Drake to the middle sector, Tipp continued to dominate and Butler (two), Morris and Carey added further points before Mannix pulled one back with a free for Cork in injury time. Cork made three substitutions at half-time, having already brought on Maurice O’Sullivan in the first-half, and also rejigged their attack, Michael O’Sullivan moving to centre-forward while Harnedy went from the edge of the square to the left wing. After Mannix and Morris had shared four points in the opening stages, Cork got a glimmer of hope when Harnedy caught Ronan Sherlock in possession and set up Colm Casey for a well-taken goal, Mannix’s 20m free immediately after that cutting the gap to nine.

Tipperary were not as clinical as in the first-half, while the Cork defence had tightened considerably, full-back Rodgers winning a number of balls with Stpehen White also assertive. Though they did get the gap down to six points in the 54th minute, three from Mannix and one by Casey reducing Tipp’s lead to 3-16 to 1-16, Cork never looked like doing anything other than limiting the damage. Just in case there were any doubts, Heffernan and Morris pushed Tipp clear again, Harnedy giving Cork a late consolation with a 62nd-minute goal which James Logue looked to have saved only for it to creep over the line. Tipp now face Clare in the provincial final.

Scorers for Tipperary: K Morris 0-6 (0-4f, 0-1 65), S Carey, D Butler 1-3 each, M Heffernan 0-4, J Gallagher 1-0, M Gleeson 0-2.

Scorers for Cork: A Mannix 0-9 (0-2f), S Harnedy 1-2, C Casey 1-1, Michael O’Sullivan 0-2, D Drake, O Kelleher 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: J Logue; G Walsh, K O’Gorman, C Coughlan; J Barry, E Connolly, R Sherlock; M Gleeson, P White; M Heffernan, D O’Brien, S Carey; K Morris, J Gallagher, D Butler.

Subs: C Dillon for O’Brien (29-30, blood), R Ruth for O’Brien (40), J Sheedy for Gallagher (53), C Haugh for Sherlock (55), Dillon for Ruth (57), N Teehan for Barry (60).

CORK: S Nyhan; B Withers, D Rodgers, B O’Sullivan; J Jordan, V Hurley, S White; Michael O’Sullivan, B Lawton; O Kelleher, M Sugrue, A Mannix; C Casey, S Harnedy, D Drake.

Subs: Maurice O’Sullivan for Kelleher (23), C O’Driscoll for Withers, T Healy for Jordan, J Budds for Sugrue (all half-time), B Coleman for Hurley (52).

Referee: D O’Driscoll (Limerick)

Butler’s early service sends Tipp on their way

Report from the Irish Independent newspaper

Tipperary 3-18 Cork 2-16

A good start proved the key for Tipperary as they overcame Cork in this semi-final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh yesterday. Sent on their way by a third-minute goal from David Butler to go 1-1 to 0-0 ahead, Tipp utterly dominated in the first half thanks to the strong wind at their backs as Cork struggled to get out of the blocks. A second goal, from Joe Gallagher in the 16th minute, made it 2-4 to 0-2 and, while Cork did manage to cut the gap through points from Adrian Mannix and Seamus Harnedy, Sean Carey struck on 24 minutes to make it 3-6 to 0-5 for Tipp. By half-time, that lead had increased to 3-10 to 0-6, Kieran Morris adding further points for Tipperary. Thus, even though half the game remained, the outcome looked to be decided.

While Cork made a raft of changes at half-time, Tipp kept the scoreboard ticking over through Morris, though his scores were answered by Mannix and Cork had some hope when Colm Casey goaled for them on 39 minutes. Harnedy and Michael O’Sullivan were making a difference in the Cork attack, but overall they did not profit from good deliveries into the attack and while Tipp were not as clinical as earlier, they were never really troubled. Cork had the deficit back to six points at one stage, but late points Michael Heffernan and Morris eased any Tipp worries, making Harnedy’s late goal for Cork nothing but a consolation score. Tipp will now meet Clare in the Munster final.

Scorers — Tipperary: K Morris 0-6 (4f, 1 ’65), S Carey, D Butler 1-3 each, M Heffernan 0-4, J Gallagher 1-0, M Gleeson 0-2.

Cork: A Mannix 0-9 (2f), S Harnedy 1-2, C Casey 1-1, Ml O’Sullivan 0-2, D Drake, O Kelleher 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY — J Logue; G Walsh, K O’Gorman, C Coughlan; J Barry, E Connolly, R Sherlock; M Gleeson, P White; M Heffernan, D O’Brien, S Carey; K Morris, J Gallagher, D Butler.

Subs: C Dillon for O’Brien (29-30, blood), R Ruth for O’Brien (40), J Sheedy for Gallagher (53), C Haugh for Sherlock (55), Dillon for Ruth (57), N Teehan for Barry (60).

CORK — S Nyhan; B Withers, D Rodgers, B O’Sullivan; J Jordan, V Hurley, S White; Michael O’Sullivan, B Lawton; O Kelleher, M Sugrue, A Mannix; C Casey, S Harnedy, D Drake.

Subs: Maurice O’Sullivan for Kelleher (23), C O’Driscoll for Withers, T Healy for Jordan, J Budds for Sugrue (all half-time), B Coleman for Hurley (52).

Ref — D O’Driscoll (Limerick)