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Munster SHC: Cork cruise to victory

Cork's Darragh Fitzgibbon celebrates at FBD Semple Stadium.

Cork's Darragh Fitzgibbon celebrates at FBD Semple Stadium.

Munster Senior Hurling Championship

Cork 3-30 Tipperary 1-24

By Shane Brophy at FBD Semple Stadium

Cork comfortably secured passage to the All-Ireland Series with a comfortable 12 point win over a Tipperary side who finished with 14 men at FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday.

This was despite the Cork getting off to a dreadful start with Tipperary scoring a goal inside 40 seconds from Jake Morris.

The home side made a blistering start with Noel McGrath pointing two frees with Jason Forde pointing from play as they went into 1-3 to no score lead inside five minutes.

But from there to half time it was all Cork. They recovered somewhat with points from Horgan, and two from the blistering Conor Lehane.

Conor Stakelum responded for Tipp before they were awarded a penalty on 11 minutes after Mark Kehoe was fouled by Robert Downey. Noel McGrath’s well-struck penalty came back off the post and Cork cleared up field to where Alan Connolly goals for a six point swing, turning the game completely on its head.

Cork powered on with Lehane and Robbie O’Flynn on target before Darragh Fitzgibbon goaled on 15 minutes for a 2-5 to 1-4 lead.

They powered on and with Lehane running riot with six first half points from play as they opened up an 11-point lead on 31 minutes before three late points from Tipp saw the margin reduced to 2-14 to 1-9 at half-time.

The trend of the game didn’t change after half time as Cork were always comfortable with Conor Lehane bringing his tally to eight points while Shane Kingston also chipped in with four points from play.

Tipperary never threatened a revival despite 13 points from Noel McGrath but they lacked the energy and fluency of Cork who scored 1-4 from the bench with Tim O’Mahony scoring their third goal on 63 minutes, shortly after Tipperary were reduced to 14 men when sub Alan Flynn was sent off following an off the ball incident.

Scorers for Cork: Conor Lehane 0-8 (1 free); Patrick Horgan 0-5 (3 frees, 1 65); Shane Kingston 0-4; Alan Connolly, Tim O’Mahony 1-1 each; Mark Coleman (1 free), Robbie O’Flynn 0-3 each; Darragh Fitzgibbon 1-0; Seamus Harnedy, Jack O’Connor 0-2 each; Shane Barrett 0-1.

Scorers for Tipperary: Noel McGrath 0-13 (12 frees); Jason Forde 0-5; Jake Morris 1-2; Dillon Quirke, Ronan Maher (free), Conor Stakelum, Patrick Maher 0-1 each.

Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Robert Downey, Sean O’Donoghue; Damien Cahalane, Ciaran Joyce, Mark Coleman; Darragh Fitzgibbon, Luke Meade; Robbie O’Flynn, Seamus Harnedy, Shane Kingston; Alan Connolly, Patrick Horgan, Conor Lehane.

Subs: Tim O’Mahony for Horgan (44); Tommy O’Connell for Meade (57); Jack O’Connor for O’Flynn (60); Ger Millerick for Downey (66); Shane Barrett for Lehane (66).

Tipperary: Barry Hogan; Cathal Barrett, Ronan Maher, Craig Morgan; Dillon Quirke, Seamus Kennedy, Barry Heffernan; Conor Stakelum, Dan McCormack; Ger Browne, Noel McGrath, Michael Breen; Jason Forde, Mark Kehoe, Jake Morris.

Subs: Alan Flynn for Heffernan (HT); Patrick Maher for Browne (HT); James Quigley for Barrett (40 inj); Conor Bowe for Breen (47); Gearoid O’Connor for McCormack (69).

Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin).