A general view of FBD Semple Stadium. Photo by David Ribeiro/Sportsfile
Electric Ireland Munster MFC semi-final
Cork 2-17 Tipperary 0-20 (After extra-time)
Kerry 3-16 Clare 1-6
By Stephen Barry
Joe Miskella’s 80th-minute goal fired Cork to a fifth consecutive Electric Ireland Munster minor football final after an extra-time classic with Tipperary at FBD Semple Stadium.
They will meet Kerry in the decider after they turned a half-time deficit against Clare into a 16-point victory at windy Quilty. The fixture is set for Austin Stack Park on Friday week (May 23rd, 7.30pm).
It was the second time a Rebel side sickened Tipp with a last-minute score after dumping out their U20s in the final act last month.
Tipp trailed by two points entering the five added minutes at the end of regulation. But James Murphy had a shot deflected over before Reuben Grace drew the levelling free for Ned O’Meara. 1-13 to 0-16 at full-time.
Into extra-time, substitute Daniel McCarthy kicked three points for Cork and Ben Corkery Delaney another.
In response, exceptional midfielder Seán Griffin clipped his fourth highlight-reel point, Murphy launched a two-pointer, and O’Meara slotted his tenth free.
It was outstanding corner-back Matthew Kiernan who produced the turnovers for both goals, and the last couldn’t have been more perfectly timed. Cork countered through their subs as Jack Hanrahan poked the ball to Miskella for the winner.
It didn’t look like being a classic early doors. Donagh Flynn’s precision kick enabled Paddy Murphy to curl over within 40 seconds, but it took 15 minutes until Cork added two more.
Tipp opened their account in the 18th minute as O’Meara drew in a two-point free off the post.
Tipp introduced hurling recruit Jack McGonigle to hoover up breaking ball. His first two involvements laid on superb individual points for Seán Burke and Griffin.
Cork looked to have settled with a Corkery Delaney two-pointer but Tipp responded in kind as O’Meara slotted his second from outside the arc.
On the stroke of half-time, Killian Fitzgerald curled over the lead point for the hosts. 0-8 to 0-7 at the break.
Eoin Maguire got Cork going with a point before captain Cathal McCarthy’s monster two-pointer saw them leapfrog in front. McCarthy marked the next two Tipp kick-outs, which led to a Corkery Delaney point.
Then, the goal. Kiernan came up with his second turnover in as many minutes and kicked forward to Flynn on halfway. He ran towards the sideline before cutting inside and burning off a trail of Tipp defenders to lash home.
They led 1-12 to 0-10 but Tipp chipped their way back with Griffin’s third and O’Meara’s third two-point free, while James O’Brien clawed a Miskella strike off the line.
Daniel McCarthy gave them a two-point cushion on the hour but an extra 20 minutes would be required.
Meanwhile, wind-assisted Clare threatened a shock when leading Kerry 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time.
Their 22nd-minute goal arrived from Ruben Fallon’s long punt into the square, where Gareth Murphy gathered and twisted away to unleash an unstoppable finish.
Kerry wasted no time in rectifying matters after the interval. Ben Kelliher returned a handpass across goal for Gearóid White to roll home the leveller.
The second followed within minutes as Kelliher and Danny Murphy combined for Kevin Griffin to steer to the net.
They reeled off 2-7 in total before Conor Burke broke Clare’s drought. Captain White capped off his 2-2 tally by rattling the roof of the net in the 56th minute when fed by Murphy.
For a finish, the Kingdom won the second half by 3-11 to 0-1.
