LONG READ: Tipperary interested spectators when Limerick and Cork clash in league final

Two points in added time saved Tipperary’s blushes in the opening bout of the Munster Under 20 hurling series. In a shaky start to the campaign, 14-man Cork led Tipperary by six points approaching the three-quarter mark before being reeled in and then overtaken in a final flurry of scores.

Last year Tipperary got stung in the opening fixture of this grade when Limerick came and conquered at Semple Stadium. Last Wednesday we appeared to be heading for a repeat before that late lunge took us over the line. It was an escape.

It was also a strange game. Tipperary won the opening and closing quarters but were decidedly second best in the other two periods either side of half-time. Opening fixtures can sometimes have that uncertainty before true form emerges in subsequent games. We’ll wait and see because this was not the most inspiring of displays from either team.

It all looked rosy for Tipperary in the opening quarter. Stefan Tobin made an immediate impact with a brace of points and Tipperary got on something of a roll against slow-starting Cork. After ten minutes we led six-nil after Oisín O’Donoghue flashed one over the bar, which might as easily have dipped under.

Cork steadied, however, and there was a Tipperary let-off when the ball ended up in our net but play was called back for a foul. The ball, apparently, was illegally dispatched while the forward was on an advantage.

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This is an interesting scenario. When the advantage rule was originally introduced there was a stipulation that if the player on advantage committed a foul the free went against him instead of coming back for the first infringement. I don’t know if that part of the rule was changed but, in any case, the practice by referees has always been to come back for the initial foul. It should be clarified.

It was a reprieve for Tipperary but there was no escaping the fact that Cork were now getting a foothold in the game. They were stronger and more aggressive in their running and tackling. By contrast Tipperary looked laboured and lethargic, often struggling to get passes away and being swarmed by tacklers.

Oisín O’Donoghue did have a few chances of goal in that half. One shot was saved and play came back for a free but perhaps the best chance was well defended by goalie and backmen, who ushered the Cashel man into the right corner from where he shot wide. There are times, perhaps, when it’s better to lay off to a colleague than attempting to do it all yourself.

By now Barry Walsh had found his range for Cork after missing a few early frees, and from the 15th minute to half-time the Rebels outscored Tipperary by 0-10 to 0-4. It was a worrying period for the home side. Stefan Tobin continued to shine and Cormac Fitzpatrick was rock solid on the frees, but after leading by six early on we retired at the break one point in arrears.

Crucially, though, Cork were reduced to fourteen men on the cusp of half-time when their number six, John Murphy, lashed out at Shane Cleary in full view of the referee. It was one of those moments of madness that, I’m sure, the player immediately regretted.

Mind you, they could have been down to thirteen men in the second half when substitute Colm Garde escaped with yellow following a frontal tackle on Jamie Ormond. It’s the type of tackle that’s often punished by a red card but wasn’t in this instance.

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Anyway, a player up and a point down was Tipperary’s interval lot following an opening period of contrasting quarters.
Worryingly, the second quarter trend continued on resuming, despite Tipperary having wind backing on the turnover. Cork were dominating the exchanges and feasting on frees. The final free count was 22-13 in Cork’s favour. Tipperary indiscipline was part of the reason, but only a partial explanation of such lopsided figures.

After 41 minutes of play we found ourselves six down and in trouble. The extra man was having no impact and Cork were in bullish mood. We needed a big score to switch momentum and it came with Jamie Ormond’s goal. Cormac Fitzpatrick’s shot hit the base of the post and Ormond flashed home the rebound.

It was the fillip Tipperary needed to up the ante and they responded. Eoghan Doughan came off the bench and hit a valuable point while Cormac Fitzpatrick scored from play and frees to bring Tipperary level by the 51st minute.

From there to the end, however, it was a slog as the game hung in the balance. Stefan Tobin hit the lead point before Johnnie Murphy equalised for Cork. Another Tobin special restored the lead before Barry Walsh missed a crucial free. Eventually Barry O’Flynn levelled matters again as the game drifted into additional time.

Despite an overall improvement in our display, we were struggling to close out the match. Oisín O’Donoghue had been denied earlier, this time by a great save from Oisín Walsh in the Cork goal. The Cashel man, however, was now part of the winning encore. A Cormac Fitzpatrick free restored Tipperary’s lead in the first minute of added time and then O’Donoghue had the last word with a sealing point in the final play of the match.

It was our third year in-a-row defeating Cork in this grade, a four-match winning sequence that includes a double whammy in 2024 with victories in both round robin and Munster final games.

What will please Brendan Cummins and the management most is probably the manner in which the team drove on at the end to secure the points. They had their downtime but imposed themselves when it really mattered.

Ultimately, we had a bit more in attack, which got us over the line. Cork were heavily reliant on Barry Walsh frees (he scored 0-13 from frees and just one from play) whereas Tipperary had impressive attacking displays from man of the match Stefan Tobin and Cormac Fitzpatrick. Oisín O’Donoghue had one of those “nearly” games; he scored 0-2 but could easily have had two or three goals, scores which hopefully will materialise on another day.

Euan Murray, playing wing back, really came into the game in the second half and the defence as a unit managed to prevent any major breaches. Goalie Paddy McCormack had one fine save from Barry Walsh early in the second period and centre back Sam Rowan was busy throughout.

It’s a valuable win and hopefully they’ll push on now. It looks like being a tight group with lots still to play for.

Meanwhile, we’ll be interested neutrals watching Sunday’s league final at the Gaelic Grounds. The Cork/Limerick rivalry has reached a new intensity in recent years and this latest instalment with be fascinating to watch.

They’re the front runners for Munster and All-Ireland glory, with the potential to meet five times this season. If that familiarity doesn’t breed contempt, I don’t know what will. Of course, we’ll wish that they won’t meet so often and that Tipperary will get a look in along the way.

Limerick are slight favourites for Sunday, being listed at 8/13 against 6/5 for Cork. The Shannonsiders have shown glimpses of the greatness that brought them five All-Irelands in six years but the level of consistency hasn’t quite been at the same pitch. Still, the fact that they’ve beaten Cork already, plus the venue, is probably reason enough to earn them slight favouritism.

We’ll watch Clare and Dublin too with interest in the Division 1B final – especially Clare, who are coming in under the radar ahead of the Munster series. The Banner are strong favourites to win here.