By Michael Moynihan, Pairc Ui Rinn
Cork 4-21 Tipperary 2-28
Honours to Tipperary after a stirring third-quarter comeback in Pairc Ui Rinn, overturning a 12-point deficit to beat Cork to the tape.
With both sides through to the knock-out stages, there wasn’t the primal ferocity you expect between the sides and the first half was very open.
Patrick Horgan’s accuracy and Daniel Kearney’s industry helped Cork into an early lead and Jason Forde led the Tipperary fightback, hitting three fine points in a row from play to keep the visitors in touch.
Cormac Murphy’s point halfway through the first half put Cork 0-10 to 0-7 ahead.
Tipp’s radar betrayed them as the half wore on, with some uncharacteristic misses allowing Cork to stretch out to a five-point lead, but the Premier rallied in the closing minutes of the half. Seamus Callanan might have had a goal just before the break, but his clever flick went over rather than under the bar, leaving two between them, 0-15 to 0-13.
The second half had a livelier beginning - a Shane O’Neill clearance was moved through Walsh and Harnedy to Lehane, who goaled well; a minute later Horgan went down the middle before shortening his grip to goal. On 45 minutes Cork were 2-17 to 0-16 ahead.
Noel McGrath hit two good points to rally his side but Cork then hit two more goals in a minute - Paudie O’Sullivan collected a rebound and finishing well, then Horgan soloed up the middle before finding the net, 4-19 to 0-19 and Cork looking good.
Tipp responded with two goals of their own, from Kieran Bergin, overlapping and getting a Callanan pass and a good Forde finish. They were two goals down but roared from there to the finish line, hitting seven unanswered points, McGrath’s last a deserving winner.
Cork departed with plenty of questions and a lengthening injury list. Tipperary went north with a growing sense of optimism about their team’s attitude and application.
P. Horgan 2-8 (0-6 fs); S. Harnedy 0-5; C. Lehane 1-1; P. O’Sullivan 1-0;
D. Kearney and C. Murphy 0-2 each; R. O’Shea, A. Walsh and A. Cadogan 0-1 each.
S. Callanan 0-10 (0-4 fs); N. McGrath 0-7; J. Forde 1-3; K. Bergin 1-0, N. O’Meara 0-3; T. Stapleton, S. Bourke, C. Kenny, J. O’Dwyer (f) and R. Maher 0-1 each.
CORK: A. Nash (c), S. O’Neill, D. Cahalane, S. McDonnell, L. McLoughlin, M. Ellis, C. Murphy, D. Kearney, Aidan Walsh, R. O’Shea, S. Harnedy, C. Lehane, A. Cadogan, L. O’Farrell, P. Horgan.
Subs: P. O’Sullivan for Cadogan, inj, HT; C. O’Sullivan for Ellis, inj, 50; B. Cooper for O’Farrell, 53; Andy Walsh for O’Shea, 60; S. Moylan for Kearney, inj, 64.
TIPPERARY: D. Egan, P. Stapleton, C. O’Mahony, C. O’Brien, R. Maher, Padraic Maher, K. Bergin, S. McGrath, T. Stapleton, N. McGrath, B. Maher (c), J. Forde, J. O’Dwyer, S. Callanan, N. O’Meara.
Subs: Patrick Maher for B. Maher, inj (31); M. Breen for S. McGrath and S. Bourke for O’Dwyer HT; J. Woodlock for , 55; C. Kenny for N. O’Meara, 61.
Referee: B. Kelly (Westmeath).