Electric Ireland Munster MFC S-Final – Tipperary 1-10 Cork 0-9

Premier punch puts Cork on the canvas

Tipperary 1-10 Cork 0-09

By Fintan O’Toole for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Tipperary’s ambitions of retaining their All-Ireland MFC crown remain intact after they staved off the determined challenge of Cork in an engaging Munster semi-final clash in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last night. With several survivors from the side that claimed national success last September, Tipperary required all that experience to emerge with the honours in front of 2,221 patrons. Victory also set up a final showdown on July 8 against a Kerry team they defeated in the opening round.

The critical score in this tight tie arrived just after the interval. Only two minutes had elapsed in the second-half when Tipperary’s John Martin punted in a cross from the left wing and the towering figure of Philip Quirke availed of the new square ball rule to steal in and fist the ball to the net. That proved the only green flag of the game and was the centrepiece of a fine performance by the Moyle Rovers man who posed a significant threat throughout for the Cork rearguard.

Quirke was helped in the attacking department by John McGrath who pulled the strings from centre-forward and scored four points, divided evenly between open play and placed balls, while Ian Fahey, unable to start due to an injury, made a massive impact when introduced at the break. He kicked two brilliant long-range points and enhanced Tipperary’s prowess in claiming aerial possession. “Coming down to Cork and beating a well-prepared team is massive,” enthused Tipperary manager David Power afterwards. “Ephie Fitzgerald had them in great shape and they were super fit. It was probably the toughest game we’ve played over the two years. It’s a pity for Cork that they’re out as I think they’re one of the top eight teams in the country. It wasn’t a pretty performance and we can play better football. Cork restricted us though.”

Defeat here confirmed Cork’s exit from this season’s minor championship and after thrashing Limerick in their opening fixture, it was their misfortune to be handed such a tricky assignment here. They battled furiously throughout. Corner-back Stephen Cronin gave an excellent defensive display in nullifying the threat of Colman Kennedy, Ian Maguire was an energetic force at midfield while Kevin Crowley made several rampaging runs forward. Substitutes Aidan Moynihan and Killian McIntyre shone when drafted on at half-time in improving Cork’s attacking play.

But Cork were left to rue their shooting in front of goal as they amassed 13 wides over the hour that included three misses from scoreable close-range frees. The close attentions of the Tipperary rearguard ensured the Cork forwards never received any clearcut goal-scoring opportunities in open play and their best chance to raise a green flag came with last kick of the game from the penalty spot. Yet Brian O’Driscoll’s injury-time shot was expertly palmed away by Tipperary netminder Evan Comerford, whose accurate kickouts and composed fielding were frequent facets of the play.

The teams were locked together at 0-5 apiece at the break. Tipperary had made the early running with Steven O’Brien and Martin giving them a foothold in midfield, and they led 0-5 to 0-3 by the 23rd minute. However Cork made an encouraging revival before the break with Killian O’Connor and Cathal Vaughan ensuring parity by half-time. Tipperary almost found the net late on when Kennedy lobbed in a cross but O’Brien flashed a shot wide at the far post. The clashes between the respective sets of players in the tunnel as they headed for the dressing-rooms indicated the feisty nature of the action at that juncture.

Tipperary received an early second-half fillip when Quirke found the net but Cork moved back into contention. Moynihan and McIntyre both looked menacing in attack which was reflected in the white flags they raised while Maguire galloped forward to lob another shot between the posts. With ten minutes remaining they were still in contention as they trailed by 1-8 to 0-8. However Tipperary, principally through the twin attacking forces of Fahey and Quirke that contributed a combined total of four points in the second-half, were always able to stay ahead on the scoreboard. Two points was the smallest deficit that Cork ever faced and the sense grew during the second-half that they needed a goal to overhaul their opponents. But a Tipperary defence where James Feehan, Kevin Fahey and Bill Maher produced strong second-half showings held out to triumph.

Scorers for Tipperary: P Quirke 1-2, J McGrath 0-4 (0-2f), I Fahey 0-2, S O’Brien, C Kennedy (0-1f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: C Vaughan (0-1f), I Maguire 0-2 each, A Moynihan, K McIntyre, K Crowley, A O’Donovan, K O’Connor 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: E Comerford; D Cass, J Feehan, L Egan; K Fahey, D Fitzell, B Maher; S O’Brien, P Quirke; J Lonergan, J Martin, G Henry; C Kennedy, J McGrath, J Shelly.

Subs: TJ Ryan for Shelly (half-time), I Fahey for Henry (half-time), J Maher for Lonergan (60)

CORK: M Martin; S O’Leary, T O’Rourke, S Cronin; J Davis, C Hyde, K Crowley; B O’Driscoll, I Maguire; S T O’Sullivan, A O’Donovan, P Fitzgerald; C Vaughan, C Horgan, K O’Connor.

Subs: A Moynihan for Horgan (half-time), K McIntyre for O’Sullivan (half-time), C Ryan for O’Rourke (57)

Referee: Padraig O’Sullivan (Kerry)

Match Preview

To look ahead to the game, Red FM have been speaking to Cork manager Ephie Fitzgerald. Click here to listen to this interview

Team News

CORK (MF v Tipperary): M Martin (Nemo Rangers); S O’Leary (Iveleary), T O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers), S Cronin (Nemo Rangers); K Crowley (Millstreet), C Hyde (Naomh Aban), J Davis (Douglas); B O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh), I Maguire (St Finbarr’s); S T O’Sullivan (Garnish), A O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers), P Fitzgerald (Douglas); C Vaughan (Iveleary), C Horgan (Nemo Rangers), K O’Connor (Mallow).

Subs: P Shanahan (Carbery Rangers), A Moynihan (Canovee), K McIntyre (Carrigaline), E Dennehy (St Finbarr’s), A Murphy (St Michael’s), C Ryan (Pedlar’s Cross), K Davis (O’Donovan Rossa), P O’Brien (Bandon), D O’Driscoll (Clann Na Gael)

The Tipperary Minor Football team to play Cork in the Munster minor football semi-final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Wednesday, May 16 at 7.30pm is:

1. Evan Comerford (Clonmel Commercials)

2. Darren Cass (Clonmel Commercials)

3. James Feehan (Killeneule)

4. Lorcan Egan (Loughmore Castleiney)

5. Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials)

6. Dylan Fitzell (Cashel King Cormacs) CAPTAIN

7. Bill Maher (Kilsheelan Kilcash)

8. Steven O’Brien (Ballina)

9. Philip Quirke (Moyle Rovers)

10. Jason Lonergan (Clonmel Commercials)

11. John Martin (Ballyporeen)

12. Greg Henry (Killenaule)

13. Jack Shelly (Mullinahone)

14. John McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)

15. Colman Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials)

For the Record

MUNSTER GAA FOOTBALL MINOR CHAMPIONSHIP 2012

First Round

Saturday April 14^th

@ Gaelic Grounds Limerick            Cork 3-13 Limerick 0-6
@ Austin Stack Park Tralee            Tipperary 2-9 Kerry 0-8
@ Cusack Park Ennis                      Clare 2-20 Waterford 0-6

Semi-Final Play-off 1

Tuesday April 17^th

@ Fraher Field Dungarvan  Kerry 1-14 Waterford 1-3

Semi-Final Play-off 2

Tuesday April 24^th

@ Austin Stack Park Tralee            Kerry 3-9 Limerick 0-5

Semi-Finals

Wednesday May 16^th

@ Pairc Ui Chaoimh Cork v Tipperary @ 7:30pm

@ Cusack Park Ennis Kerry v Clare @ 7:30pm

Final
Sunday July 8^th

Useful Information

Clare’s victory against Waterford in the first round ensured a semi-final place in May. Clare have qualified for the Munster Minor Football Semi-Final in just 2 of the previous 6 seasons dating back to 2006, losing the semi-finals of 2009 (to Kerry) and 2011 (to Cork).

Kerry’s defeat to Tipperary in the 2012 first round match broke a 12 match unbeaten run at Austin Stack Park Tralee in this competition dating back to 1993. On that occasion, Cork defeated Kerry by 2-7 to 1-9 in the Munster Minor Football Championship Semi-Final on July 9^th 1993.

Prior to 2012, Kerry’s last defeat in a first round Munster Minor Football Championship game was in March 2002 when they lost to Tipperary by 2-11 to 2-9 at Kilmallock. Kerry avenged that defeat with a 3-16 to 2-6 win over Tipperary in the 2002 Munster Final played at Semple Stadium Thurles.

Kerry have never lost 2 Munster Minor Football Championship matches in the one year.

Limerick have lost 7 of their last 8 matches in the Munster Minor Football Championship dating back to 2008. Their only success in that time was a 3-10 to 2-4 victory over Waterford at Kilmallock in the first round in 2010.

Dating back to 2005, Waterford have won 1 of their last 17 games in the Munster Minor Football Championship.

Since 1956, Cork and Kerry have won every Munster Minor Football title with the exception of 1984, 1995 and 2011 when Tipperary were successful.

Tipperary have played 48 matches in the Munster Minor Football Championship since 2000, more than any other Munster county.

Cork, Kerry and Tipperary have won at least 1 match in the Munster Minor Football Championship every year since 2001.

2012 Munster Minor Football Championship Matches played to date

Tipperary 2-9 Kerry 0-8 – April 14^th @ Austin Stack Park Tralee (Munster First Round)

Kerry: S Cahillane; C Ó Lúing, G Crowley, S O’Connor; B Crowley, R Murphy, G Horan; E Doyle, G O’Sullivan; S Moloney, D Ó Sé, E Ó Conchúir; N Sheehy, D Daly, C Keane.
Subs: K Murphy for G O’Sullivan (18); C Fitzgerald for D Daly (30); A Spillane for E Doyle (41); A Barry for N Sheehy (46); J Savage for D Ó Sé (58).

Tipperary: E Comerford; T O’Donoghue, J Feehan, L Egan; K Fahey, D Fitzelle, B Maher; S O’Brien, P Quirke; J Lonergan, J McGrath, G Henry; J Shelly, I Fahey, C Kennedy.
Subs: D Cass for T O’Donoghue (36); J Maher for G Henry (52); T Kirwan for J McGrath (56); TJ Ryan for J Shelly (58).

Referee: James Bermingham (Cork)

Clare 2-20 Waterford 0-6 – April 14^th @ Cusack Park Ennis (Munster First Round)

Clare: L Corbett, F Pyne, S Garry, J Brown, C McNeilis, C Murray, M Bohannon, J Malone (Capt.), E Hanrahan, S Corry, N Deasy, T Lynch, B Lynch, E Cleary, C Cleary
Subs: S McGuire for Corry (38), C Deasy for T Lynch (38), N Pender for C Cleary (46), E Clancy for Bohannon (48), C Burke for E Cleary (52).

Waterford: A Kirwan, D Fitzgerald, B Looby, S Halley, T Devine, T Burke, J Barron (Capt.), M Houlihan, M Casey, M Curry, M Kiely, S O’Donovan, A O’Donoghue, P O’Connor, R Donnelly.
Subs: C Gleeson for Casey (half-time), D Scanlon for Houlihan (39), C Burke for Fitzgerald (41), L Houlihan for Curry (43).

Referee: David Grogan (Tipperary)

Cork 3-13 Limerick 0-6 – April 14^th @ Gaelic Grounds Limerick (Munster First Round)

Cork:  M Martin; S O’Leary, T O’Rourke, S Cronin; K Crowley, C Hyde, J Davis; P Fitzgerald, A O’Donovan; S T O’Sullivan, C Vaughan, B O’Driscoll; K McIntyre, K O’Connor, C Horgan.
Subs: I Maguire for McIntyre (half-time), A Moynihan for O’Connor (half-time), E Dennehy for Crowley (36), A Murphy for O’Leary (53), P Kelleher for Fitzgerald (58).

Limerick: J O’Meara; D Greaney, M O’Connor, K Meade; P White, S Cahill, S Barrett; D Condron, R Burke; S O’Dea, D Daly, R McKenna; J Frawley, D O’Donovan, E O’Donnell.
Subs: T McCarthy for McKenna (28), C O’Shea for O’Dea (28), J Breen for Frawley (35), G Bateman for O’Donnell (50), C Sheehan for O’Donovan (53).

Referee: Edmund Walsh (Kerry)

Kerry 1-14 Waterford 1-3 – April 17^th @ Fraher Field Dungarvan (Munster Semi-Final 1^st Playoff)

Kerry — G Curran; C U Luing, G Crowley, S O’Connor; B Crowley, R Murphy, J Barry; E O Conchuir, K Murphy; N Sheehy, J Savage, C Fitzgerald; K McCarthy, D Daly, C Keane.
Subs: A Spillane for Fitzgerald (27), S Moloney for Barry (h-t), G O’Shea for McCarthy (h-t), G Horan for O Luing (34), A Barry for Sheehy (54).

Waterford — A Kirwan; C Burke, J O’Donnell, B Looby; S O’Donovan, T Burke, J Barron; T Devine, M Kiely; A O’Donoghue, M Curry, P O’Connor; C Gleeson, L Houlihan, R Donnelly.
Subs: S Halley for C Burke (42), M Casey for O’Donoghue (49), M Troy for Houlihan (54), D Scanlon for Kiely (59).

Referee — Kevin Murphy (Cork)

Kerry 3-9 Limerick 0-5 – April 24^th @ Austin Stack Park Tralee (Munster Semi-Final 2^nd Playoff)

Kerry: G Curran; C Ó Luing, G Crowley, S O’Connor; B Crowley, R Murphy, G Horan; E Ó Conchúir, K Murphy; G O’Sullivan, J Savage, C Fitzgerald; N Sheehy, D Daly, C Keane.
Subs: G O’Shea for N Sheehy (41); A Barry for C Keane (54); D Collins for C Ó Luing (58); D Foran for D Daly (60); E Doyle for K Murphy (60).

Limerick: J O’Meara; D Greaney, M O’Connor, K Meade; P White, S Cahill, S Barrett; D Condron, R Burke; E O’Donnell, D Daly, T McCarthy; D Stapleton, D O’Donovan, J Breen.
Subs: J Frawley for T McCarthy (41); R McKenna for D Daly (44); D Jones for D Greaney (48); C O’Shea for D O’Donovan (50).

Referee: Michael Rock (Clare)

2012 Top Scorers – Munster Minor Football Championship

Conor Horgan (Cork) – 3-0 (1-0 penalty)
Eoin Cleary (Clare) – 1-6
Ryan Donnelly (Waterford) – 1-6 (1-0 penalty, 0-1 free)
Jack Savage (Kerry) – 0-8 (0-4 frees)
Colman Kennedy (Tipperary) – 2-2 (0-2 frees)
Conor Cleary (Clare) – 0-6
Niall Sheehy (Kerry) – 0-6 (0-4 frees)
Kieran Murphy (Kerry) – 0-5 (0-2 45)
Conor Keane (Kerry) – 1-2
Eanna O’Conchuir (Kerry) – 1-1
Brian O’Driscoll (Cork) – 0-4 (0-2 frees)
Gerald O’Sullivan (Kerry) – 1-0
Gavin O’Shea (Kerry) – 1-0
Sean T O’Sullivan (Cork) – 0-3
C Deasy (Clare) – 1-0
B Lynch (Clare) – 0-3
J Malone (Clare) – 0-3
Denis Daly (Kerry) – 0-2
Sean Moloney (Kerry) – 0-2
Dara O’Se (Kerry) – 0-2 (0-1 free)
Robbie Burke (Limerick) – 0-2 (0-1 free)
Alan O’Donovan (Cork) – 0-2
Cathal Vaughan (Cork) – 0-2
TJ Ryan (Tipperary) – 0-2 (0-1 free)
Bill Maher (Tipperary) – 0-2

N Deasy (Clare) – 0-2

Greg Horan (Kerry), Cillian Fitzgerald (Kerry), D Scanlon (Waterford), L Houlihan (Waterford), M Curry (Waterford), Jason Lonergan (Tipperary), Ian Fahey (Tipperary), Philip Quirke (Tipperary), Adam Barry (Kerry), Sean Barrett (Limerick), Jack Breen (Limerick), G Bateman (Limerick), C Sheehan (Limerick), Ian Maguire (Cork), Paul Fitzgerald (Cork) 0-1 each

Munster Minor Football Championship Roll Of Honour

Kerry (41)

1931, 1932, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009.

Cork (29)

1939, 1952, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2010

Tipperary (6)

1934, 1935, 1955, 1984, 1995, 2011

Clare (3)

1929, 1930, 1953

Limerick (1)

1956

Munster Minor Football Championship – List of Winning Teams

Visit the Munster GAA web site History section to view the complete list of each winning team since the competition began in1929 – https://munster.gaa.ie/history/mf_teams/

Munster Minor Football Cup

The Tadhg Crowley Cup was presented by Munster Council in 1990 to commemorate late Munster Council Treasurer. Tadhg was elected as Munster Council Treasurer in 1968 and served until his death in December 1989. A teacher by profession, he also served as Kerry County Board Secretary from 1955 until 1970. Tadhg was recognized as a specialist in organizing and handling styles and gates at big Munster Championship games.

All Ireland Minor Football Championship

In the Minor Football All Ireland Roll of Honour, Kerry top the charts with 11 titles while Cork are tied for second with Dublin with 10 titles. Clare won the first All-Ireland Minor Football title in 1929 while Tipperary’s two All-Ireland successes at this grade came in 1934 and 2011. Between them Munster counties have accounted for 24 All-Ireland Minor Football titles, ahead of Leinster and Ulster (20 titles each) and Connacht (17 titles).

Kerry were All-Ireland Minor Football Champions in 1931, 1932, 1933, 1946, 1950, 1962, 1963, 1975, 1980, 1988, 1994

Cork were All-Ireland Minor Football Champions in 1961, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1974, 1981, 1991, 1993, 2000