Munster SHC: Cork impress in Thurles

Munster Senior Hurling Championship

Cork 0-29 Tipperary 1-22

By Stephen Barry at FBD Semple Stadium

Cork avenged their All-Ireland final defeat to record a precious Munster Championship-opening victory over Tipperary in front of 44,348 fans at FBD Semple Stadium.

This time, it was the Rebels who came with the dominant second-half surge in a hard-fought rematch. They kept the Premier scoreless from play in the second period until the 64th minute. The match-winning spell yielded 0-11 to 0-1 from the 44th to 59th minutes. In terms of scores from play, the final tally was 0-22 to 1-9.

Cork have now won five successive championship games against Tipp in Thurles, dating back to 2016. This clash also marked their 10th consecutive championship sell-out ahead of next Sunday’s tussle with Limerick.

Cork’s debutants made the telling impact as William Buckley (0-6) and Barry Walsh (0-4) combined for 10 points, with Buckley picking up man-of-the-match honours.

Teenage attacker Stefan Tobin made his Tipp debut, while Liam Cahill also gave a first start to Oisín O’Donoghue. Despite O’Donoghue wearing number 5, he lined out in the half-forwards as Cahill opted against replicating the sweeper system which worked to good effect in last year’s All-Ireland final.

They had to plug an early leak down the left flank as Cork captain Darragh Fitzgibbon registered four points from play in just over 10 minutes. He hit another pair wide, including one ruled out after a HawkEye check.

Bryan O’Mara swapped across with Craig Morgan to get a grip on Fitzgibbon. When Buckley hit the target, the visitors led 0-6 to 0-3.

Two of Fitzgibbon’s points originated from Tipp shots dropped short or off the post. Once Tipp tidied their shooting and choked the Cork supply lines, they reeled off six points on the spin.

O’Donoghue was a key influence. He assisted two points for Jake Morris and one for Willie Connors, and won a free for Jason Forde to convert. His hard work around the middle also yielded a turnover point.

Forde missed his first free, but converted the next five before the break. Meanwhile, Tim O’Mahony struck three long-range frees wide, including back-to-back efforts which could’ve interrupted Tipp’s momentum.

The hosts extended their first lead to 0-9 to 0-6 before Alan Connolly snapped the onslaught. When Liam Cahill was punished for disputing a free, Stack marched the sliotar forward 30 metres, in line with hurling’s new dissent rule. Connolly tapped over.

The Rebels soon struck three points in a row to level at 0-11 apiece. There were eye-catching points from Shane Barrett and Walsh. In between, the hurley-less Brian Hayes made a nuisance of himself to create a goal-scoring opportunity for Buckley. The debutant was left with his head in his hands after firing over the bar.

They traded points from there to the break via Forde’s fifth free, Walsh, O’Donoghue, and Buckley for 0-13 all.

They continued to exchange blows after the break. Tipp were reliant on frees from Eoghan Connolly and two Forde efforts, both of which were won by O’Donoghue. Alan Connolly and O’Mahony replied from dead balls, with the latter advanced 30 yards for Forde’s show of dissent.

When Hayes completed the set of six forwards scoring, it sparked an eight-point streak. Walsh doubled his tally to 0-4. Alan Connolly added four, including three frees. Two of those originated from technical fouls, with Morgan pinged for a throw and Michael Breen for handling the sliotar three times.

Darragh McCarthy’s free offered only a brief respite as Barrett, O’Mahony, and a stunning Buckley effort pushed it out to 0-26 to 0-17.

By that stage, Tipp had emptied their bench. Their entire full-forward line was withdrawn. Ben O’Connor had yet to make his first move.

Alan Connolly floated a goal chance wide before Tipp had their first point from play of the half through Sam O’Farrell.

McCarthy’s third free got the gap back to five. Cork settled through Barrett and Alan Walsh.

As the sideline official announced four added minutes, Alan Tynan drilled a low shot to the net for 0-28 to 1-21.

McCarthy’s deflected shot sparked a scramble before tapping over the resulting free for a one-score game. But Pádraig Power won the clinching free for Buckley to convert.

Both teams are back in action next Sunday. Cork host Limerick in a repeat of the league final, while Tipp travel to Waterford in search of a victory.

Scorers for Cork: Alan Connolly 0-7 (5fs); William Buckley 0-6 (1f); Darragh Fitzgibbon, Shane Barrett, Barry Walsh 0-4 each; Tim O’Mahony 0-2 (1f); Brian Hayes, Alan Walsh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-7 (7fs); Darragh McCarthy 0-4 (4fs); Alan Tynan 1-0; Eoghan Connolly (2f), Oisín O’Donoghue, Jake Morris 0-2 each; Willie Connors, Conor Stakelum, John McGrath, Sam O’Farrell, Darragh Stakelum 0-1 each.

Cork: Patrick Collins; Seán O’Donoghue, Ciarán Joyce, Robert Downey; Mark Coleman, Niall O’Leary, Eoin Downey; Tim O’Mahony, Tommy O’Connell; Barry Walsh, Shane Barrett, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Brian Hayes, Alan Connolly, William Buckley.

Subs: Diarmuid Healy for O’Connell (59), Alan Walsh for Hayes (61), Hugh O’Connor for O’Mahony (68), Séamus Harnedy for Walsh (70+1), Pádraig Power for Connolly (70+2).

Tipperary: Rhys Shelly; Michael Breen, Robert Doyle, Ronan Maher; Craig Morgan, Eoghan Connolly, Bryan O’Mara; Willie Connors, Conor Stakelum; Jake Morris, Andrew Ormond, Oisín O’Donoghue; Stefan Tobin, John McGrath, Jason Forde.

Subs: Darragh McCarthy for Tobin (h-t), Noel McGrath for J McGrath (41), Alan Tynan for Stakelum (46), Darragh Stakelum for Forde (54), Sam O’Farrell for Connors (58).

Referee: Seán Stack (Dublin).