Co-Op Superstores Munster Senior Hurling League Final

CORK 3-14 TIPPERARY 1-19

Late goals from subs Brian Hayes and Jack O’Connor were crucial as Cork came from eight points down to defeat Tipperary in the Co-op SuperStores Munster Hurling League final at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.

Trailing by six points, 1-12 to 1-6, at half-time after failing to score in the final 14 minutes of the first half, Cork fell further behind early in the second period. They were 1-16 to 1-8 down with 18 minutes of normal time left before that deficit was halved as Patrick Horgan pointed and Hayes marked his arrival with a well-taken goal, set up by Brian Roche.

Even then, Tipp looked to have nipped the fightback in the bud as Jason Forde added two points to bring his own personal tally to 13 – but they would add just one more, also scored by Forde.

Benefiting from the impact of reinforcements from the bench, Cork set about eating into the deficit. Sub Conor Lehane pointed on 66 and then provided the assist for O’Connor’s goal moments later. When O’Connor added a point in the second-last minute of normal time, Cork trailed by just a point, 1-18 to 3-11.

Roche levelled after good work by Declan Dalton and Patrick Horgan and then Horgan put Cork ahead for the first time since the 26th minute as he landed a free. While Forde levelled and thoughts turned to the possibility of extra time, Cork won a free when O’Connor was fouled and Horgan did the needful to give them the title for the first time since 2017.

Pat Ryan’s side had begun the game well, moving into an early 1-3 to 0-1 lead as Horgan netted following a good Rhys Shelly save from Dalton, but Tipperary, inspired by Forde and the excellent Brian McGrath, found their groove.

While Robbie O’Flynn put Cork 1-6 to 0-5 in front on 21, Tipp outscored their hosts by 1-6 to 0-1 for the remainder of the half. The goal came from Seán Ryan, tying the game at 1-6 each after a good one-two with Conor Stakelum following a McGrath delivery, and they pushed on impressively.

Forde had four points between then and half-time as well as setting up a Conor Bowe score. When they had five of the first seven points of the second half, it seemed as if the cup would be heading to the Premier County, but Cork refused to give up.

Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 1-6 (0-6f), Jack O’Connor 1-1, Brian Hayes 1-0, Brian Roche, Patrick Collins (0-2f) 0-2 each, Seán Twomey, Robbie O’Flynn, Conor Lehane 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-14 (0-5f), Seán Ryan 1-0, Brian McGrath, Conor Stakelum, Séamus Kennedy, Conor Bowe, Cian O’Dwyer 0-1 each.

CORK: Patrick Collins; Robert Downey, Seán O’Leary Hayes, Seán O’Donoghue; Cathal Cormack, Niall O’Leary, Damien Cahalane; Tommy O’Connell, Brian Roche; Seán Twomey, Robbie O’Flynn, Luke Meade; Patrick Horgan, Colin Walsh, Declan Dalton. Subs: Brian O’Sullivan for O’Connell, Brian Hayes for Walsh (both 48), Jack O’Connor for Twomey (52), Conor Lehane for O’Flynn (59), Shane Barrett for Meade (64).

TIPPERARY: Rhys Shelly; Michael Breen, Conor McCarthy, Cathal Barrett; Enda Heffernan, Pauric Campion, Brian McGrath; Dan McCormack, Conor Stakelum; Séamus Kennedy, Jason Forde, Cian O’Dwyer; Conor Bowe, Patrick Maher, Seán Ryan. Subs: Gavin Ryan for McCarthy (31, injured), Ger Browne for Bowe (52), Gearóid O’Connor for Kennedy, John McGrath for Maher (both 57), Noel McGrath for O’Dwyer (64), Jerry Kelly for S Ryan (65), Johnny Ryan for Stakelum (67).

Referee: E Stapleton (Limerick).