Round-up: Fulfil Munster U20 Hurling Championship action

Munster U20 Hurling Championship round 1

Tipperary 1-21 Cork 0-22

Clare 1-10 Waterford 0-12

By Stephen Barry

Stefan Tobin’s six points from play helped Tipperary to an edgy opening round victory over 14-man Cork in the Munster U20 Hurling Championship.

John Murphy was red-carded before half-time with the Rebels one ahead, but they soon moved six in front. Senior star Barry Walsh scored 0-14 from a whopping 21 shots, including 13 out of 18 scoreable frees.

But Jamie Ormond’s 42nd-minute goal sparked a Premier comeback in front of 2,669 fans at FBD Semple Stadium. Cormac Fitzpatrick, scorer of 0-11 (8 frees), and Oisín O’Donoghue struck the winning points in added time.

The All-Ireland champions got off to a flier, reeling off the first six points, with the first brace coming from the roaming Tobin. O’Donoghue provided a long-ball outlet, flashing a dropshot over the crossbar.

Walsh would register Cork’s first five points in the opening 20 minutes. Michael T Brosnan, John Murphy, and Zach Biggane expanded the scoring spread to narrow the gap to the minimum.

Brilliant scores from Fitzpatrick and Tobin, after throwing the perfect dummy, pushed Tipp further ahead, but Walsh closed with the final four frees.

Leading 0-12 to 0-11, Cork lost the impetus before the half-time whistle as Murphy was caught for an off-the-ball incident involving Shane Cleary and sent off.

The free count ended 22-13 in Cork’s favour as five Walsh placed balls plus Johnnie Murphy and Biggane points opened a six-point cushion.

Tipp’s hopes were revived as Fitzpatrick smacked the post and Ormond swept home the rebound; 0-19 to 1-13.

Fitzpatrick strung together three in a row to level before Tobin rode a tackle to retake the lead.

Barry O’Flynn had them back level entering three added minutes, but Fitzpatrick’s free and O’Donoghue made the difference.

Meanwhile, Fred Hegarty’s 58th-minute goal and Ronan Kilroy’s clinching point saw Clare emerge 1-10 to 0-12 victors over Waterford after a low-scoring contest at Sixmilebridge.

The 2023 minor champions got ahead through Darren Moroney and a Hegarty free, but Waterford hit the next four, including three Davy Comerford placed balls.

Seán Mackey, Gearóid O’Shea, and Comerford pushed Waterford four ahead, although Pat Walsh had a goal chalked off for a square ball. A Hegarty free closed the half-time deficit to 0-7 against 0-4.

Clare had a good impact off the bench with first-touch points from Ryan Hayes and Jack Mescall added to by Daniel Costello and a Hegarty free for a narrow lead.

Waterford looked to have made a decisive move when Fiachra Cooney and Mackey nudged them two in front until Paul Rodgers fed Hegarty to drive the sliotar under the keeper.

Mackey’s fourth levelled, but Kilroy had the final say.