It was a drama-filled contest during which Tipperary manager Peter Creedon was ordered from the sideline after he interfered with a linesman's flag whe disagreeing with a decision. That incident came after 25 minutes when Cork led 2-7 to 1-5.

Making a lightning start in what was the counties' first U-21 final clash since 1986, Cork had 1-3 on the scoreboard without reply inside ten minutes. Their opening goal being scored by Fiachra Lynch, and senior panellist Daniel Goulding converted a penalty to make it 2-4 to 0-2 after 15 minutes.

Cork led 2-10 to 1-7 at the interval with lively full-forward Barry Grogan getting in for the first of his three goals for Tipperary.

Only two points separated the sides, five minutes into the second half, but champions Cork were never behind.

When wing forward Lynch blasted home Cork's third major, eight points separated the sides and while Grogan's third goal, which came after a lapse in the Cork defence, did set the scene for a tremendous closing ten minutes, Leahy's charges, who included 13 of the side that lost last year's All-Ireland final to Mayo, had the strength to hold on.

Eire Og star Goulding's tally of 1-6 brought his haul for Cork's three-game Munster championship campaign to 2-22.

CORK: K O'Halloran; R Carey, M Shields, G O'Shea; S O'Donoghue (0-1), D Limrick, E Cadogan; F Goold (1-2), A O'Sullivan; F Lynch (1-3), R Leahy (0-1), P Kerrigan (0-4); C O'Neill, D Goulding (1-6), S Cahalane (0-2, 1f).

Subs used: K Harrington for O'Shea (half-time), S McCarthy for Leahy (53 mins), D Kearney for Cahalane (59), A Barry for Lynch (60).

TIPPERARY: M O'Donnell; J Coghlan, P Codd, B Fox; C Aylward, J Hennessy, T Dunne; P Johnson, G Hannigan; P Austin, B Jones, L Coskeran; T Dalton (0-7, 6f), B Grogan (3-2), B Mulvihill (0-2).

Subs used: C McGrath (0-1) for Jones (half-time), D D'Arcy for Austin (40 mins), D Lyne for Coskeran (55), Coskeran for Johnson (60).