Rebels rocked as Tipp finish with a flourish

Tipperary 0-18 Cork 0-17

By Fintan O’Toole for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Tipperary staged a remarkable late revival to plunder the spoils against Cork in last night’s Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21HC semi-final in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, with senior panellist Sean Curran proving the matchwinner when he arrowed over a priceless late point from the wing. It was a stunning transformation as Curran’s strike propelled Tipperary into the lead for the first and only time of the game. At various junctures during the second half, it seemed like their trip south would be an unhappy one as they trailed on the scoreboard.

When Cork led by 0-16 to 0-12 with only six minutes left, the Rebels appeared capable of closing out this game. But Tipperary stuck grimly to their task and diligently chipped away at Cork’s lead. Captain John O’Dwyer, David Collins, Niall O’Meara and their hero Curran were to the fore as they outscored their opponents by 0-6 to 0-1 in the closing stages to fashion a notable triumph. The victory ensured redemption for manager Ken Hogan after the Rebels caused their exit from last year’s championship and sets up a semi-final showdown with reigning champions Limerick on July 18.

Defeat was a bitter disappointment for Cork and followed on other recent underage setbacks for the county, with minor hurling and football teams bowing out of their respective Munster championships. This loss was all the more galling because of the fact that they made the running for long stages. Senior stars Jamie Coughlan and Conor Lehane chalked up 0-12 between them while midfielder David Drake caught the eye with his inventive play as he struck 0-3 and Christopher Joyce was immense at centre-back. Yet those bright aspects of their performance were overshadowed by the fact that their campaign has ground to a halt at the first hurdle.

The game was not the cracking affair that we have grown accustomed to in this championship in recent years but the closely contested nature of it maintained the interest for the attendance of 3,026 present. The adverse weather conditions did not aid free-flowing hurling either and indeed torrential showers before the game raised the distinct prospect of a postponement at one stage. The game did proceed but it was a tough night for players to hurl on a sodden surface that was particularly troublesome as they tried to keep their footing underneath the covered stand.

Cork started in bright and confident fashion with Lehane and Drake impressing in the accuracy of their shooting while Joyce’s play was outstanding at the heart of the rearguard. They led 0-4 to 0-1 after 10 minutes and when Lehane skipped through the defence in the 19th minute before raising a white flag, that three-point advantage was still evident at 0-7 to 0-4. But Tipperary were starting to warm to the task. The performances of Brian Stapleton and O’Dwyer, who started on the 2010 Tipperary All-Ireland U21 winning team, were integral to their recovery as they only trailed by 0-9 to 0-8 after 28 minutes when Stapleton was on target. Scores by Eoin O’Sullivan and Coughlan restored Cork’s lead by the interval but the sense that Tipperary were not going to be dislodged easily, still persisted.

That was maintained in the second half as the teams traded points. Coughlan snapped over three frees which were matched by a brace by O’Dwyer and a point by last year’s Tipperary All-Ireland minor football-winning captain, Liam McGrath. Cork led 0-14 to 0-11 entering the last quarter but they could not strike either a goal or string together a run of points that would have killed off Tipperary’s chances. Instead Tipperary timed their run to the finishing line brilliantly. Stephen Maher, a UCC Fitzgibbon Cup medal winner earlier this year, thundered into the action at right corner-back while Stapleton slotted comfortably into the centre-back position and became one of the game’s most prominent figures. O’Dwyer maintained his accuracy up front while Curran, Collins and O’Meara all assisted him in that regard. Those facets fused into a successful late rally by Tipperary and they also managed to repel a late Cork onslaught that ensured they did not ship a levelling score and eradicated any prospect of Cork bringing the game into extra-time.

Scorers for Tipperary: J O’Dwyer 0-9 (0-6f), S Curran, D Collins 0-2 each, B Stapleton, D McCormack, N O’Meara, E Murray, L McGrath 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: J Coughlan 0-9 (0-6f), C Lehane, D Drake 0-3 each, C Joyce (0-1 ’65), E O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: Paul Ryan; S Maher, A Ryan, Pa Ryan; W Ryan, D Maher, J Cahill; B Stapleton, D McCormack; N O’Meara, S Curran, D Collins; L McGrath, J O’Dwyer, E Murray.

Subs: C Hogan for D Maher (45), A McCormack for Murray (48), T Heffernan for D McCormack (51).

CORK: S Nyhan; P O’Mahony, D Cahalane, C Spillane; D O’Mahony, C Joyce, P O’Brien; N Kelly, D Drake; M Sugrue, J Cronin, C Lehane; J Coughlan, D Brosnan, E O’Sullivan.

Subs: K Kavanagh for Spillane (inj) (8), B Murray for Brosnan (44), C Murphy for Kelly (52), P Haughney for Cronin (60).

Referee: Pat Casey (Waterford).

Team News

The Tipperary under 21 hurling team to play Cork in the Bórd Gáis Energy Munster Under 21 Hurling quarter-final on Wednesday June 6 at Páirc Ui Chaoimh at 7.30pm is: 

1. Paul Ryan (Upperchurch Drombane)             

2. Stephen Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)                

3. Andrew Ryan (Toomevara)                            

4. Pa Ryan (Clonakenny)                                    

5. Willie Ryan (Clonakenny)                              

6. Denis Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)                    

7. Justin Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs) 

8. Brian Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons)        

9. Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh)                     

10. John O’Dwyer (Killenaule) Captain               

11. Sean Curran (Mullinahone)                             

12. Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs)          

13. Eanna Murray (Templederry Kenyons)          

14. David Collins (Drom and Inch)                      

15. Liam McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)         

The Cork team to play Tipperary in Wednesday night’s Bórd Gáis Energy Munster U21 Hurling Championship Quarter-Final, at 7.30pm in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, will line out as follows:

1. Stephen Nyhan

2. Patrick O’Mahony 3. Damien Cahalane 4. Colm Spillane

5. Daniel O’Mahony 6. Christopher Joyce 7. Patrick O’Brien

8. Nicky Kelly 9. David Drake

10. Mark Sugrue 11. John Cronin 12. Conor Lehane

13. Jamie Coughlan 14. Dean Brosnan 15. Eoin O’Sullivan

Subs:

16. Tommy Wallis – Midleton

17. Finbarr O’Mahony – Midleton

18. Colm Barry – Castlelyons

19. Darragh Rodgers – Brian Dillons

20. Kevin Kavanagh – Carrigaline

21. Cormac Murphy – Mallow

22. Sean O’Mahony – Ballymartle

23. Brian Murray – Bishopstown

24. Paul Haughney – Midleton

Extended Panel

Daire Lordan – Courcey Rovers

Philip Crowley – Bandon

Eoghan Finn – St Finbarrs

Rob O’Shea – Carrigaline

Kevin Hallissey – Eire Og

Mark Howard – Passage

Killian Burke – Midleton

Adam Dennehy – Na Piarsaigh

Jamie Wall – Kilbrittain

Patrick Deasy – Blackrock

Eamonn Brosnan – Meelin

Darren Sweetnam – Dohenys

For the Record

BORD GAIS ENERGY MUNSTER GAA HURLING UNDER 21 CHAMPIONSHIP 2012

Quarter-Final

Wednesday June 6^th

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

Semi-Finals

Wednesday July 18^th

@ Gaelic Grounds Limerick            Limerick v Tipperary or Cork                                   @ 7:30pm

or Pairc Ui Chaoimh

Thursday July 19th

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

Final

Wednesday August 8^th

Munster Under 21 Hurling Championship Roll Of Honour

Tipperary (20) - 1964, 1965, 1967, 1972, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010

Cork (18) - 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1982, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2007

Limerick (6) - 1986, 1987, 2000, 2001, 2002  , 2011

Waterford (3) - 1974, 1992, 1994

Clare (1) - 2009

Munster Under 21 Hurling 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 in1964 -http://munster.gaa.ie/history/u21h_teams/

Munster Under 21 Hurling Cup

Corn na Cásca presented by the Munster Council in 1966 to commemorate the jubilee of the 1916 Rising.

All Ireland Under 21 Hurling Championship

In the Under 21 Hurling All Ireland Roll of Honour, Cork top the charts along with Kilkenny with 11 titles. Galway are the defending champions and have 10 titles followed by Tipperary with 9. Limerick have won 4 All-Ireland titles in this grade while Waterford and Clare have 1 title each.

Munster Under 21 Hurling Championship

Tipperary v Cork Past Meetings Breakdown

Details of recent underage meetings

2009 ESB Minor Hurling Semi-Final Replay – Tipperary 2-21 Cork 1-12

Scorers for Tipperary: J O’Dwyer 0-11 (0-7 frees, 0-1 65); D Collins 1-2; D Butler 1-1; D Maher, M O’Brien 0-2 each; W Ryan, E Murray, A Cleere 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: Cork: E O’Sullivan 1-2; D Drake 0-4 (0-2 frees); J Coughlan 0-3 (0-2 frees); D Brosnan, J Dineen, P Houghney 0-1 each.

Tipperary: P Ryan; A Ryan, L Butler, J Meagher; W Ryan, D Maher, A Hogan; A Cleere, B Stapleton; S Curran, P Heffernan, J O’Dwyer; D Collins, R Gleeson, E Murray.

Subs: D Butler for Heffernan (half time); M O’Brien for Cleere (45); T Butler for Gleeson (58)

Cork: T Hogan; R Ryan, D Rodgers, A Cagney; P Wiley, P O’Rourke, J Hutchinson; R O’Sullivan, D Drake; John Dineen, E Brosnan, Paul Hockney; J Coughlan, Odran O’Connell, E O’Sullivan.

Subs: C Joyce for Wiley (20); J Wall for O O’Connell (half-time) P O’Brien for Hutchings (37); B Hartnett for Brosnan (40); C Lehane for Dineen (45)

Referee: Ger Hoey (Clare)
2011 Bord Gais Energy Munster Under 21 Hurling Semi-Final – Cork 4-19 Tipperary 1-21

Scorers for Cork: C Lehane 1-4, L O’Farrell 1-3, D Brosnan 1-2, A Walsh 1-1, J Coughlan 0-5 (0-2f), M O’Sullivan 0-2, W Egan (0-1f), S O’Farrell 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tipperary: J O’Dwyer 0-11 (0-10f), B O’Meara 1-1, N McGrath 0-3 (0-3f), A Ryan, S Curran 0-2 each, K Morris, J O’Neill 0-1 each.

Cork: D McCarthy; C Joyce, E Finn, S Corry; J Nagle, W Egan, M Ellis; S O’Farrell, D Roche; D Brosnan, C Lehane, A Walsh; L O’Farrell, M O’Sullivan, J Coughlan.

Subs: D Drake for Roche (half-time), D Cahalane for Finn (42), E O’Sullivan for S O’Farrell (58).

Tipperary: P Ryan; C Haugh, K O’Gorman, S O’Brien; J Barry, N McGrath, P Heffernan; B Stapleton, A Ryan; J O’Neill, S Curran, P Murphy; K Morris, B O’Meara, J O’Dwyer.

Subs: J Gallagher for Barry (25), S Maher for O’Brien (half-time), M Sheedy for Morris (50), W Maher for Murphy (54).

Referee: Michael Wadding (Waterford)