Munster SFC Semi-Final

Cork 1-10 Tipperary 1-9

By Denis Hurley at Pairc Ui Rinn

Luke Connolly’s 70th-minute goal sent Cork into the Munster SFC final as Tipperary were edged out at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday evening.

Not since 1940 and ’41 had the Rebels been defeated by their Premier County counterparts in the football championship in consecutive years, but that seemed set to happen with Conor Sweeney netted for Tipp on 69, making it 1-09 to 1-10.

However, Cork held their nerve and the ball was worked through Michael Hurley, James Loughrey and Mark Collins, whose pass allowed Connolly to palm home.

Cork will know that work is needed ahead of the final, though. Peadar Healy’s side only managed one point in the first half, shooting nine wides, but their saving grace was that Tipp were also inefficient in front of the posts, registering four points, but with seven wides of their own.

Twice, Cork had good goal chances, with Colin O’Neill denied by a Ciarán Kenrick save in the second minute and Paul Kerrigan shooting wide on 10.

When Conor Sweeney – Tipp’s attacking talisman after Michael Quinlivan was forced off injured in the first half – kicked two points on the resumption, Tipp were 0-6 to 0-1 ahead and Cork were up against it.

Even though they responded through Kerrigan and substitute Donncha O’Connor, Cork were still finding the Tipp defence difficult to pierce and a counter-attack after such a turnover gave Liam Boland a great chance.

He was allowed to carry the ball deep into Cork territory and opted to go for goal, but Cork goalkeeper Ken O’Halloran saved with his legs. Had that gone in, Tipp would have had a 1-6 to 0-3 lead but, as instead, by the time they would score again, Cork had made a game of it.

Captain Kerrigan led by example, rounding off a team move to get his second, and Luke Connolly, Mark Collins, and Barry O’Driscoll all scored in quick succession to make it 0-7 to 0-6 with 18 minutes remaining.

Sweeney equalised, as he would do after O’Connor made it 0-8 to 0-7 with a free, but the introduction of Mark Collins helped to give Cork a presence in the middle and Kerrigan and O’Connor pushed them two clear by the 64th minute.

Tipp sub Kevin O’Halloran’s shot from distance landed just over the crossbar of his namesake Ken to leave just one in it coming down the stretch. When Sweeney palmed home a high delivery, the Cork faithful were shellshocked. But the Rebels produced a response.

Scorers for Cork: Paul Kerrigan, Donncha O’Connor (2fs) 0-3 each, Luke Connolly 1-2, Barry O’Driscoll, Mark Collins 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tipperary: Conor Sweeney 1-5 (1f), Robbie Kiely, Liam Boland, Liam McGrath, Kevin O’Halloran 0-1 each.

CORK: Ken O’Halloran; Michael Shields, Jamie O’Sullivan, Kevin Crowley; Colm O’Driscoll, James Loughrey, Tomás Clancy; Ruairí Deane, Ian Maguire; Brian O’Driscoll, Paul Kerrigan, John O’Rourke; Colm O’Neill, Peter Kelleher, Luke Connolly.

Subs: Donncha O’Connor for Kelleher (30), Barry O’Driscoll for Brian O’Driscoll (35), Seán Powter for Colm O’Driscoll (half-time), Mark Collins) for Barry O’Driscoll (44-50, blood), Mark Collins for Deane, Michael Hurley for O’Rourke (59), Gary Murphy for O’Neill (66).

TIPPERARY: Ciarán Kenrick; Shane O’Connell, Paddy Codd, Alan Campbell; Bill Maher, Robbie Kiely, Jimmy Feehan; Liam Casey, George Hannigan; Josh Keane, Diarmuid Foley, Brian Fox; Conor Sweeney, Michael Quinlivan, Liam McGrath.

Subs: Liam McGrath for Quinlivan (19, injured), Kevin for Foley (47), Alan Moloney for Casey (52, injured), Kieran Bergin for Hannigan (57), Colm O’Shaughnessy for O’Connell (57), Jason Lonergan for Boland (66).

REFEREE: Ciarán Branagan (Down).