Cork 2-20 Tipperary 1-8 

A BLISTERING final quarter from Cork saw them take their second three points of the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland championship group series.

It was a scoring margin that didn’t do justice to Tipperary’s spirited performance. But Tipp’s work-rate was hard to maintain for the 60 minutes and when it waned, the gaps opened, and Cork’s speed and running game split them as they struck 2-7 in the final 18 minutes to secure a comfortable victory, on the scoreboard at least.

Aided with a strong wind in the first half Tipperary didn’t shy away from the challenge of playing the All-Ireland champions and with seven scorers on the board they were level with Cork at the break.

The important score for Tipp was a Megan Ryan goal on twenty-four minutes, which came it must be said, from a Cork defensive error where overpassing, and wayward passing at times, afforded Tipp the opportunity to dispossess.

This Ryan did, and Tipp could have had a second minutes later only for the alert Aoife Murray, who conceded a penalty in preventing a certain goal, Cáit Devane blasting over the bar from the placed ball.

With Megan Ryan doing well at midfield Tipperary struck some lovely distance points yet despite their strong hurling they couldn’t get a lead on Cork who kept tipping away and the sides level at the break was a good result for Cork.

Unfortunately for Tipp they managed only one point in the second half which was less than their efforts deserved.

Cork took off. Eight different scorers hit the mark during that second thirty as they threw the ball around and split Tipp. Amy O’Connor and Katrina Mackey made some great runs and when Cork struck their first goal on 16 minutes Tipperary were never going to make it back.

A great Orla Cronin run was followed by an offload to Amy O’Connor who did likewise to Mackey and Cork led 1-16 to 1-8.

Chloe Sigerson was particularly prominent during the final quarter striking 1-1, the goal coming from a penalty, with Mackey (2) and substitute Ciara McCarthy finishing the scoring.

While not the polished performance Cork again did enough to win comfortably against a good Tipperary side on the night.

Scorers for Cork: K Mackey 0-6, O Cotter 0-5 (0-4 f), C Sigerson 1-3 (1-1 pen, 0-1 f), J White 1-1, L Collins 0-2, O Cronin, A O’Connor, C McCarthy 0-1 each.

Tipperary: C Devane 0-3 (0-2 f, 0-1 pen), M Ryan 1-1, O Dwyer, G O’Brien, E Fryday, M Campion 0-1 each.

CORK: A Murray; L O’Sullivan, L Treacy, N O’Callaghan; H Looney, P Mackey, C Sigerson; L Coppinger, B Corkery; J White, A O’Connor, O Cronin; O Cotter, K Mackey, L Collins.

Subs: C McCarthy for J White (48), K Hickey for L Treacy (54), S McCarthy for B Corkery (60).

TIPPERARY: C Bourke; J Burke, M Ryan, E Loughman; C Quirke, K Kennedy, A McGrath; M Ryan, E McDonnell; O Dwyer, C Devane, E Fryday; G O’Brien, N Treacy, M Campion.

Subs: G Grace for K Kennedy (57), C Mullaney for N Treacy (60).

Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny).