ESB Munster Minor Football Championship Semi-Final – Cork 2-12 Tipperary 2-9

Cork defeated Tipperary by 2-12 to 2-9 in the ESB Munster Minor Football Championship Semi-Final on Wednesday at Semple Stadium Thurles. 

Rebels forced into major battleCork 2-12 Tipperary 2-9 

By Diarmuid O’Flynn for the Irish Examiner newspaper 

Thursday, May 13, 2010 

AS EXPECTED, Cork qualified for a July 4 Munster final meeting with old rivals Kerry after this semi-final win over Tipperary in Semple Stadium last night, but they were made to earn it. At half-time, leading by eight points (2-7 to 1-2), it appeared as though a rampant Cork were home and hosed, but a tremendous second-half performance by Tipp saw that lead closed to a very nervy two points on a couple of occasions with just minutes to go.  However, a couple of late points, the first by wing-forward Kevin Hallisey, the second – and final score – by substitute Dan McEoin, was enough to see Cork home against a Tipp team that had been reduced to 14 in the dying minutes, after corner-back Paddy Dalton got a second yellow card.  Cork were the better side overall, no question, but on this evidence they will need to improve if they’re to capture that Munster title. 

On a perfect evening for football, Cork dominated the first quarter and led by four points courtesy of towering midfielder Damien Cahalane, full-forward Brian Hurley and wings Kevin Hallisey and Alan Cronin, before Tipperary finally got on the board, a pointed free by Billy Hewitt in the 13th minute.  Thereafter, however, it was Cork again on top, and the next 14 minutes was when they did most of their scoring damage. Two goals and a point they managed in that period, Tipp held scoreless, and both majors were from the top drawer, the result of superb teamwork.  The first came in the 14th minute, a fast free by outstanding wing-back Jamie Wall setting things in motion, the ball passing through the hands of wing-forwards Cronin and Hallisey, to the supporting Mark Sugrue, who drilled home a pile-driver.  The second was equally impressive, and again both Cronin and Hallisey were involved, setting up corner-forward Shane Duggan for another superb team goal. 

Ominously for Cork, however, Tipp too were creating goal-scoring opportunities of their own, two good chances scorned by their inside forwards before Billy Hewitt finally delivered just before the break, leaving those eight points between the teams.  Even seven minutes into the second half there was still no sign of any Tipperary comeback, Cork having extended their lead by a point, 2-9 to 1-3, courtesy of points from Brian Hurley and midfielder John O’Rourke (Cork had eight different scores on the night, six forwards and both midfielders, a fair spread). 

With dangerman Liam McGrath now on the edge of the square, however, and with their outside men finally beginning to speed up their play, Tipp finally came to life.  A point from corner-forward Liam Boland began the fightback, then a goal from dual star McGrath, on the end of an increasing number of lightning Tipperary team moves – Padraig O’Meara with a quick free, taken on by Paddy Dalton (another dual star) with yet another defender, centre-back Michael O’Sullivan, giving the scoring pass.  With the tempo now increased, Tipp attacking in waves, all Cork could do was to hold them out and gradually the pressure began to tell, three frees conceded in scoreable positions (three for Hewitt, one for Boland), along with a fine long-range point from midfielder Donagh Leahy, leaving Cork reeling.  Two points from Hallisey in the closing minutes, however, steadied the ship, and it was sub McEoin with the final say.  An entertaining game, lots of good football from two fine sides, but as noted above, it will take something extra for Cork to stop Kerry. 

Scorers for Cork: M Sugrue 1-2; S Duggan 1-1; K Hallisey 0-3; B Hurley 0-2 (2f); D Cahalane, J O’Rourke, A Cronin, D McEoin, 0-1 each. 

TIPPERARY: B Hewitt 1-4 (3f); L McGrath 1-1; L Boland 0-3 (3f); D Leahy 0-1. 

CORK: D Hanrahan; D Crowley, M O’Shea, D Lester; T Clancy, J Burns, J Wall; D Cahalane, J O’Rourke; K Hallisey, M Sugrue, A Cronin (capt); K Sheehan, B Hurley, S Duggan.
Subs: D Murphy for Crowley, 48; S Ryan for O’Shea, 56; D McEoin for Sugrue, 59. Blood sub: D McEoin for Hurley 17/19. 

TIPPERARY: P Nolan; P Dalton, C O’Sullivan, P O’Meara; B Maher, M O’Sullivan, S Taylor; D Leahy, J O’Callaghan; L McGrath, B Harkin, S Leahy; L Boland, L Treacy, B Hewitt.
Subs: N O’Meara (O’Sullivan 18); B Walsh (Harkin 50); S Carroll (Treacy 60). 

Referee: R Hickey (Clare) 

Sugrue and Duggan power Rebels’ cause for sweet revenge 

From the Irish Independent newspaper 

Thursday May 13 2010 

CORK gained revenge for last year’s shock semi-final defeat against Tipperary with victory against the Premier County in Thurles last night.  Cork’s three-point success sent them through to a July 4 decider with ancient rivals Kerry and that will be a first final appearance in this competition since 2007 for the Rebels.  The visitors had to work desperately hard for their win in front of 949 spectators at a chilly Semple Stadium as the home side launched a spirited second-half revival.  Cork led comfortably at half-time by 2-7 to 1-2 and the interval lead could have been 11 points had Billy Hewitt not raised the green flag for Tipp in stoppage time. 

Eight minutes after the break, Cork were still in complete control and leading by nine points, 2-9 to 1-3, before Tipp gained a firm grip on proceedings. Liam McGrath, cousin of Tipp senior hurler Noel, kick-started the fightback with a well-taken 41st-minute goal at the Killinan End and 10 minutes after trailing by nine points, Tipp hit back to within three.  The Premier County twice got to within two points of Cork but, ultimately, the hosts paid the price for nine poor wides, many of them from very scoreable positions as below-par free-taking proved problematic.  Cork looked good before half-time and surged 0-4 to 0-0 clear before a Hewitt free opened Tipp’s account in the 14th minute. 

Cork’s response was emphatic, within a minute, as the entire half-forward line combined for Mark Sugrue’s goal before full-forward Shane Duggan added a second in the 28th minute.  Liam Boland’s free on the stroke of half-time was Tipp’s first point for 16 minutes and last year’s beaten Munster finalists finally opened their account from play when Hewitt netted two minutes into stoppage time.  Tipp could have found the net earlier in the half but Cork goalkeeper David Hanrahan did well to block Shane Leahy’s close-range effort. Tipp will look back on this defeat with some regret and Cork will certainly need to improve if they are to trouble champions Kerry in the provincial decider.  But Cork will point to a scoresheet containing eight different names, with five of their six starting forwards, both midfielders and substitute Dan McEoin registering scores. Scorers — Cork: M Sugrue 1-2, S Duggan 1-1, K Hallissey 0-3, B Hurley 0-2f, D Cahalane, J O’Rourke, A Cronin, D McEoin 0-1 each. Tipperary: B Hewitt 1-4 (0-2f), L McGrath 1-1, L Boland 0-3f, D Leahy 0-1.CORK — D Hanrahan; D Crowley, M O’Shea, D Lester; T Clancy, J Burns, J Wall; D Cahalane, J O’Rourke; K Hallissey, M Sugrue, A Cronin; K Sheehan, S Duggan, B Hurley. Subs: D Murphy for Crowley (48), S Ryan for O’Shea (56), D McEoin for Sugrue (59). 

TIPPERARY — P Nolan; P Dalton, C O’Sullivan, P O’Meara; B Maher, M O’Sullivan, S Taylor; D Leahy, J O’Callaghan; L McGrath, B Harkin, S Leahy; L Boland, L Treacy, B Hewitt. Subs: N O’Meara for C O’Sullivan (18), B Walsh for Harkin (51), TJ Ryan for Treacy (60). 

Ref — R Hickey (Clare)

Team News

TIPPERARY: P Nolan (Clonmel Commericials); P Dalton (Arravale Rovers), C O’Sullivan (Galtee Rovers), P O’Meara (Shannon Rovers); B Maher (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), M O’Sullivan (Ardfinnan), S Taylor (Clonmel Commercials); D Leahy (Arravale Rovers), J O’Callaghan (Ballyporeen); L McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), B Harkin (Borrisoleigh), S Leahy (Arravale Rovers); L Boland (Moyle Rovers), L Treacy (Loughmore-Castleiney), B Hewitt (Ardfinnan). 

CORK: D Hanrahan (Douglas); D Crowley (Clann na nGael), M O’Shea (Glengarriff), D Lester (Bishopstown); T Clancy (Clonakilty), J Burns (St Finbarrs), J Wall (Kilbrittain); D Cahalane (Castlehaven), J O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers); K Hallissey (Éire Óg), M Sugrue (Bandon), A Cronin (Nemo Rangers); K Sheehan (Mallow), S Duggan (Na Piarsaigh), B Hurley (Castlehaven) 

Match Coverage 

Follow the game with live updates on the Tipperary GAA Facebook page (www.facebook.com/tipperarygaa) or the Tipperary GAA Twitter page (http://www.facebook.com/tipperarygaa). 

ESB MUNSTER GAA MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2010 

QUARTER FINALS 

CORK 1-9 CLARE 0-9 

At Cusack Park, Ennis 

Cork scorers 

B.Hurley 1-5 D.MacEoin 0-4 

Clare scorers 

A.Malone 0-3: N. Hickey 0-3: P. Collins 0-2: T. Kelly 0-1 

LIMERICK 3-10 WATERFORD 2-4 

At Kilmallock 

Limerick scorers 

P. O’Donnell 1-2: P. Scanlon 0-5: D. Frewen 1-1: B. Noonan 1-0: S. Reynolds 0-1: J. Lee 0-1 

Waterford scorers 

P. White 2-1: E. Walsh 0-1: E. Power 0-1: C. O’Shea 0-1 

KERRY 1-12 TIPPERARY 2-7 

At Austin Stack Park, Tralee 

Kerry scorers 

M. Reen 1-2: G. O’Grady 0-4: E. O’Connor 0-3: B. Dwyer 0-2: T. Hickey 0-1 

Tipperary scorers 

L. Boland 1-3: S. Leahy 1-1: B. Hewitt 0-3 

Semi Final Play Off (1) 

Clare 4-10 Waterford 1-6 

at Cusack Park, Ennis 

Clare scorers 

A.Malone 3-1: N. Hickey 1-2: T. Kelly 0-3: P. Collins 0-3: D. Malone 0-1 

Waterford scorers 

Eamonn Power 0-3: Emmet Power 1-0: P. Whyte 0-2: R. Sheehan 0-1 

Semi Final Play Off (2) 

Tipperary 1-8 Clare 1-3 

At Semple Stadium, Thurles 

Tipperary scorers 

L. Tracey 1-0: B. Hewitt 0-3: D. Leahy 0-2: B. Maher 0-1: L. Boland 0-1: B. Harkin 0-1 

Clare scorers 

A.Malone 1-3: 

Top Scorers to date 

A.Malone (Clare) 4-7 

P. White (Waterford) 2-3 

B. Hurley (Cork) 1-5 

N. Nickey (Clare) 1-5 

L. Boland (Tipperary) 1-4 

B. Hewitt (Tipperary) 0-6 

P. O’Donnell (Limerick) 1-2 

M. Reen (Kerry) 1-2 

P. Scanlon (Limerick) 0-5