Understrength Tipperary footballers well beaten by strong Cork outfit

Cork 1-26 Tipperary 0-10

Tipperary made their exit from the McGrath Cup in this game played before an estimated attendance of 450 at Cappawhite.

A very strong Cork team made light of the home side’s challenge, with a huge gulf between the teams, and this was apparent from the outset.

The visitors fielded ten players who featured in last summer’s preliminary All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Dublin. They also had the luxury of being able to call on the services of first team regulars Daniel O’Mahony, Matty Taylor and Brian Hurley. Throw into the mix Kevin O’Donovan, who was making his first appearance since coming on as a substitute in their 2024 Munster semi-final defeat to Kerry, and also St Finbarr’s Steven Sherlock, and the task that Niall Fitzgerald’s men faced on the night cannot be underestimated.

The game as a contest was over after four minutes when Cork went ahead by 1-4 to no score. The home side opened their account from a Sean O’Connor free, after the ball was moved up fifty metres for a “solo and go” infringement. Tipperary were finding it extremely difficult to get their hands on the ball, as Cork moved through the lines at pace. They pushed on and with the aid of two two-pointers went into a commanding lead at the short whistle, 1-11 to 0-3.

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Following the restart, they kicked the opening three minors before Sean O’Connor from a free and Mark Russell with a two- pointer kept Tipperary in the hunt. Cork then went on a run that saw them add ten points, including a fourth two-pointer, before Tipperary finished with two late points.

Ruairí Deane kicked the opening score after just 22 seconds and this was a precursor of what was to come. Ninety seconds later on their first big build-up, Mark Cronin set up Sean McDonnell for a two-pointer, before Chris Óg Jones combined with Ruairí Deane for the latter to blast past Robbie McGrath for the game’s only goal. Seán Walsh made it 1-4 to 0-0 on four minutes.

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Sean O’Connor got Tipperary off the mark after nine minutes from a 20 metre freet. Paudie Feehan added a second two minutes later.

Cork kicked the next four points in a ninety second spell, which included a Cathail O’Mahony two-pointer, before Emmet Moloney got on the end of a good Tipperary move to kick a third.

Mark Cronin added a third two-pointer for the Rebels before Seán McDonnell closed out the half with his fourth point of the evening. The half-time score was Cork 1-11, Tipperary 0-3.

Cork got off to a flying start on the resumption with two quick points, before Sean O’Connor doubled his tally from open play. Seán McDonnell eased Cork out to a lead of thirteen points but Mark Russell kicked a good two-pointer for the home side, following a good move seven minutes in. Both sides introduced substitutes, as Cork kicked six on the bounce including a two-pointer from Rory Maguire.

Tipperary came a bit more into the game over the final quarter with a Sean O’Connor brace, and the final two scores of the game from a Cian Smith free and one from open play from Michael Barlow. This was a real learning exercise from the home team, whose next competitive outing is an away game against London in the first round of the Allianz League Division 4 on Sunday January 25.

Scorers: Tipperary: Sean O’Connor (0-4,2f), Mark Russell (0-2, 1x2pt), Paudie Feehan (0-1), Emmet Moloney (0-1), Cian Smith (0-1f), Michael Barlow (0-1).

Cork: Ruairi Deane (1-1), Seán McDonnell (0-6, 1x2pt), Mark Cronin (0-4, 1x2ptf), Colm O’Callaghan (0-3), Rory Maguire (0-2, 1x2pt), Cathail O’Mahony (0-2, 1x2pt), Brian Hurley (0-2, 1f), Steven Sherlock (0-1), Denis O’Connor (0-1), Matty Taylor (0-1), Luke Murphy (0-1), Seán Walsh (0-1), Conor Cahalane (0-1).

Tipperary: Robbie McGrath (Galtee Rovers), Emmet Moloney (Portlaoise), Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore Castleiney), Manus McFadden (Grangemockler Ballyneale), Darragh O’Brien (Aherlow), Paudie Feehan (captain, Killenaule), Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers), Mark Russell (Aherlow), Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields), Cathal Deely (Clonmel Commercials), Ben Carey (Ballylooby Castlegrace), Niall Heffernan (Golden Kilfeacle), Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials), Sean O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials), Michael Barlow (Ardfinnan).

Subs: Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers) for Darragh O’Brien (24), Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan Kilcash) for Ben Carey (HT), Shane Ryan (Moyle Rovers) for Robbie McGrath (47), Billy O’Connor (Kilsheelan Kilcash) for Luke Boland (47), Michael Lowry (Arravale Rovers) for Niall Heffernan (47), Niall Heffernan for Mark Russell (62).

Cork: Patrick Doyle, Maurice Shanley, Seán Meehan, Kevin O’Donovan, Brian O’Driscoll, Rory Maguire, Luke Fahy, Colm O’Callaghan, Seán Walsh, Ruairí Deane (captain), Seán McDonnell, Conor Cahalane, Mark Cronin, Chris Óg Jones, Cathail O’Mahony.

Subs: Darragh Cashman for Brian O’Driscoll (HT), Daniel O’Mahony for Maurice Shanley (HT), Luke Murphy for Cathail O’Mahony (HT), Darragh Newman for Patrick Doyle (36), Denis O’Connor for Chris Óg Jones (36), Colm O’Shea for Kevin O’Donovan (46), Matty Taylor for Seán Walsh (46), Steven Sherlock for Seán McDonnell (46), Brian Hurley for Mark Cronin (46).

Referee: Sean Joy (Kerry).