Tipperary make losing start to defence of All-Ireland hurling crown

Cork 0-29 Tipperary 1-22

All-Ireland champions Tipperary have been left in the starting blocks in the battle for qualification from the Munster Senior Hurling Championship following this opening day defeat by Cork at FBD Semple Stadium.

It was a statement victory for The Rebels, following their heavy defeat by Tipp in last year’s All-Ireland final, and another setback against Limerick in the National League final earlier this month.

Clashes between these great rivals are usually a feast for the senses. This wasn’t one of those occasions. Instead it was a dour arm wrestle, a stop-start, scrappy affair, in which the quality of the hurling never rose too far above the mediocre. But that’s not to take away from Cork’s deserved victory, and they will head into next weekend’s crunch game with Limerick full of confidence. 

Tipp, on the other hand, must recalibrate for their trip to Walsh Park to face Waterford.

In the closing stages of this game, and with Tipp behind by seven points, Jake Morris’ line ball only trickled a few metres before being scooped up by Cork’s Sean O’Donoghue. It was a moment that encapsulated Tipp’s afternoon.

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The All-Ireland champions had little of the energy or “go” that brought them to the summit last year. They have no time to dwell on their disappointment, as they head to Waterford next Sunday.

The teams were level on the scoreboard at the break, 0-13 each. However, as the second half progressed, Cork slowly but steadily turned the screw, building a lead that they held to the finish. Two frees from Alan Connolly, and another score from play from the same player pushed The Rebels seven points clear, 0-23 to 0-16, by the 56th minute.

At this stage Tipp were struggling all over the pitch, especially in attack, where they were struggling to win meaningful possession. At the other end Alan Connolly flashed a shot just wide in the 63rd minute, which would have driven the final nail in the coffin, but Cork were still broadly comfortable.

All afternoon Tipp had searched for a spark, something to ignite their lacklustre performance. It eventually arrived in the shape of Alan Tynan’s goal at the end of normal time, when he drove a low shot to the corner of the net, but it was too little, too late. 

Darragh McCarthy followed up with a successful free but Cork had the final say with William Buckley’s converted free.

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All the leading performers wore red, and few Tipperary reputations were enhanced. Willie Connors, Eoghan Connolly, Oisín O'Donoghue, Jake Morris and Jason Forde all had their moments at different stages, but this overall patchy performance, devoid of inspiration, was never going to be good enough.

Cork, with their forwards who have pace to burn, shining from the throw-in, imposed themselves better on the opening exchanges. Points from Darragh Fitzgibbon, Shane Barrett and Fitzgibbon with two more had them ahead by 0-4 to 0-1 after six minutes, Tipp’s reply coming courtesy of Eoghan Connolly’s long range free. 

Fitzgibbon had his fourth point from play in the 11th minute to give them a 0-5 to 0-3 lead before Tipp drew level by the 14th minute, thanks to scores from Jason Forde’s free, Jake Morris and John McGrath. Tipp edged in front for the first time with a converted free from Jason Forde before Willie Connors extended the lead from an Oisín O’Donoghue assist.

The advantage was 0-9 to 06 from another Jason Forde free, and by the 24th minute the lead was still three, thanks to another accurate free from Forde.

The teams were level three more times before the break, and they retired at the break deadlocked at 0-13 apiece.

Tipperary: Rhys Shelly, Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly (0-2 frees), Michael Breen, Oisín O’Donoghue (0-2), Ronan Maher (captain), Bryan O’Mara, Willie Connors (0-1), Craig Morgan, Jake Morris (0-2), Andrew Ormond, Conor Stakelum (0-1), Stefan Tobin, John McGrath (0-1), Jason Forde (0-7 frees).

Substitutes: Darragh McCarthy (0-4 frees) for Stefan Tobin (half-time), Noel McGrath for John McGrath (41 minutes), Alan Tynan (1-0) for Conor Stakelum (46 minutes), Darragh Stakelum (0-1) for Jason Forde (54 minutes), Sam O’Farrell (0-1) for Willie Connors (58 minutes).

Cork: Patrick Collins, Niall O’Leary, Ciarán Joyce, Sean O’Donoghue, Eoin Downey, Robert Downey, Mark Coleman, Tim O’Mahony (0-2 1 free), Tommy O’Connell, Darragh Fitzgibbon (captain 0-4), Shane Barrett (0-4), Barry Walsh (0-4), William Buckley (0-6 1 free), Alan Connolly (0-7 5 frees) Brian Hayes (0-1).

Substitutes: Alan Walsh (0-1) for Brian Hayes (61 minutes), Hugh O’Connor for Tim O’Mahony (68 minutes), Seamus Harnedy for Barry Walsh (70 minutes), Padraig Power for Alan Connolly (72 minutes).

Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin).