The result was all the more impressive given that many of Tipp’s regular squad are college-tied, with the list of absentees including Conor Sweeney, Peter Acheson and Ciaran McDonald.

Cork beat Cork IT in the preliminary round last weekend and welcomed back Eoin Cadogan at full-back for his first outing since confirmation of his football-only status.

Conor Counihan’s charges were sluggish in the opening 20 minutes and fell 0-5 to 0-2 behind. Leading marksman Barry Grogan took his tally to four points as Tipp ended the first half with a 0-7 to 0-4 buffer.

Grogan was a key figure for Tipp throughout, but Cork improved on the resumption with Liam Shorten and Ciaran Sheehan both slotting points.

Counihan brought on Aidan Walsh, Pearse O’Neill and Paul Kerrigan as the hosts upped the ante. Tipp though claimed the game’s first goal with Grogan converting a 41st minute penalty.

Creedon’s charges pushed on as Bill Maher claimed a second goal and a shock result was well and truly on the cards, in front of the 489 spectators present.

Sheehan gave Cork a lifeline with a late goal but the five minutes of injury-time failed to produce another score as Tipp, driven on by man-of-the-match George Hannigan, sealed a semi-final berth.

They will have home advantage against Waterford next Sunday afternoon, with the Déise having seen off UL 0-16 to 0-12 after extra-time today.

This was actually the first time Waterford had beaten the University side in the early season Munster competition.

Tipp’s Alan Moloney was a standout performer for UL in the first half, and two successive points from Denis Keohane of Cork had the students 0-10 to 0-9 ahead late on.

But wing back Tony Grey pointed to force extra-time, and the county outfit proved too strong in the two additional periods with Shane Ahearne confirming the four-point winning margin.

Despite a fine scoring display for UCC from Listowel’s Conor Cox, Kerry took the spoils in today’s quarter-final clash in Killarney.

The Kingdom ran out 2-12 to 0-10 winners with full-forward Patrick Curtin scoring 2-1 in the opening half. Captain Kieran O’Leary, Marc Ó Sé and Kieran Donaghy also caught the eye.

Limerick overcame Clare by 2-16 to 2-13 after extra-time at Foynes to set up a date with Kerry in the last-four.

Podge McMahon scored a goal in each half for the Banner men, who led 1-7 to 0-6 at the break.

The lively Ian Ryan found the net for Limerick and they registered 1-2 in the closing two minutes to take the game into extra-time - Seamus O’Carroll grabbed a crucial second goal for the hosts.

Maurice Horan’s men were the better side over the remaining 20 minutes as Derry O’Connor, O’Carroll and Ryan shot them through to the semi-finals.

TODAY’S RESULTS:

MCGRATH CUP QUARTER-FINALS –

Limerick 2-16 Clare 2-13, Foynes (after extra-time)

Kerry 2-12 UCC 0-10, Killarney

Cork 1-9 Tipperary 2-9, Páirc Uí Rinn

Waterford 0-16 UL 0-12, WIT (after extra-time)