Tipperary 2-27 Cork 2-15
On a sombre day in Thurles, Cork marched steadfastly towards their relegation play-off destiny by completing a winless league programme. Five defeats from five matches in the spring and the Rebels remain a tough read.
What was real? The unexpected torrent of emotion and speed which almost unseated Kilkenny a week ago or this paler imitation against their oldest foes? The vital signs do not look promising just now. They will play Galway in a fortnight while Tipp, who strolled to this victory in front of 7, 251 largely satisfied customers, will welcome Clare back to Division One in their quarter final. But the main talking point as the crowd exited Thurles town was what to expect from Cork when these sides meet in nine weeks time.
“We started relatively okay,” attested Cork selector Pat Hartnett.
“But the performance speaks for itself. There were a number of changes before the game. We were aware of that that only yesterday. And I think from the performance from last week to today...where we are relative to the two performances because they are two totally different extremes. Time will tell on that.”
The backdrop to this match was formed by the mutual confusion of both squads as to the best outcome. Cork’s participation in the relegation play-off was already confirmed: their interest in this lay strictly in the immediate contest. But a win here would almost certainly consign them to meeting Tipp’ again in that relegation game. That prospect wasn’t something either side wanted, given that they are scheduled to clash in the Munster championship on May 22nd.
“Yes, we were aware that we had a game in two weeks time, that’s for sure,” said Hartnett.
“But we didn’t know against who and our preparation didn’t change mentally or physically before that. So there wasn’t any special exemptions put on today. We went out to win the game and play as well as possible. But it was part of an overall plan in terms of physical fitness and hurling and so on. So we are abiding by that.”
Still, the afternoon had a strange, last day of-term feel in that it was both listless and giddy. Tipperary might have been out of sight by half time but for some errant shooting by their more accomplished marksmen, with Noel McGrath and John O’Dwyer both missing-at-will during the first half. The main first-half treat for Tipp’ fans was wrapped in full-forward numerals.
John McGrath plundered everything flung down upon him in the first twenty minutes. Tipp sought to give long and early ball, with Ronan Maher reminiscent of Tom Brady of gridiron fame as he dropped back around his own 65 and sent huge, arcing downfield passes for his full-forward to conjure into something. McGrath finished with 0-3 play at the break and won two frees which were gimme scores for O’Dwyer.
The dynamism of Mike Breen, bombing forward from midfield to register 0-4 was the other local talking point. His fourth score, when he was the end point of an intricate series of passes involving Aidan Ryan and Niall O’Meara, should have tested Patrick Collins in the Cork goal but his connection took the ball high. Even with nine wides, Tipp’ were coasting.
Kind of. They didn’t quite pull ahead and Cork never fully went away. The late withdrawal of Seamus Harnedy made Luke O’Farrell the chief focal point of the Rebel attack and he bothered Conor O’Brien early on before quietening down.
Patrick Horgan once more divined a big personal tally out of precious little ball and Conor Lehane delivered three fine points from play. Cork trailed 0-13 to 0-10 at the break but then fell off the radar as Tipp outscored them by 1-9 to 0-2 in the twenty minutes after the restart.
By the time Michael Breen underlined a fine afternoon with a spectacular 66th minute goal - deft sidestep, explosive drive past Collins- Tipp were having fun. They were celebrating that goal even as O’Farrell carried the ball down the heart of the Tipp defence and played Horgan, who promptly fired a retort.
It was an incredibly loose goal, a million miles away from championship intensity and marking. Michael Ryan, the Tipp’ manager, admitted his disappointment afterwards but his immediate woes are minor and 2-27 is no bad return.
Seamus Callanan seemed hell-bent on firing a goal upon his introduction at half time but had to settle for two crowd-pleasing points. John McGrath didn’t put a foot wrong and his smooth turn and slip-pass for Niall O’Meara created the 50th minute goal which ended the contest.
The Cork selectors watched on as their charges played out a grim division one campaign. They are showing no outward signs of panic but a first win of the league would leave them no worse off than when they started.
The inference is that they will be a different looking unit when they next meet Tipp’ here. And it is true: time will tell.
Tipperary: 1 D Gleeson; 2 C Barrett, 3 J Barry, 4 C O'Brien; 5 B Heffernan, 6 R Maher, 7 P Maher; 8 B Maher (0-1), 9 M Breen (1-4); 10 J O'Dwyer (0-10, 9 frees), 11 N O'Meara (1-10), 12 N McGrath (0-2); 13 K Morris, 14 J McGrath (0-5), 15 A Ryan. Substitutes: 21 D McCormack (0-2) for A Ryan (half0time), 18 S Callanan (0-2) for K Morris (half time), 26 W Leahy for 5 B Heffernan ( 52 mins inj.), 19 A Coffey for N McGrath (58 mins), 20 T Hamill for J Barry (67 mins).
Cork: 1 P Collins, 2 K Burke, 3 S McDonnell, 4 C O'Sullivan; 5 C Murphy, 6 C Joyce, 18 S O'Neill; 8 P Haughney (0-10, 9 J Cronin; 10 B Lawton (0-1), 11 B Cooper (0-1), 12 C Lehane (0-3); 13 L O'Farrell (0-1), 14 A Cadogan, 15 P Horgan (1-8, 6 frees). Substitutes: 20 D Kearney for J Cronin (halftime), 22 Patrick Cronin for B Lawton (54 mins), 17 S Murphy for K Burke (57 mins), P O'Sullivan (1-0) for B Cooper (57 mins), 25 S Moylan for 13 L O'Farrell (68 mins).
Referee: P O'Dwyer (Carlow).
