Tipperary 0-7

Cork 0-10

A BETTER second-half performance saw Cork win their opening league encounter against Tipperary at the Ragg yesterday.

Credit must go to their opponents who took the game to the Rebels in the first half and let the All-Ireland champions know they weren’t going to be coming away with the points easily.

No doubt fresh still on their minds was the hammering Cork gave them in the Munster championship last year and there was a determination in them not to let that happen again.

But for all their good first-half play, led by the likes of Megan Ryan and Shauna Quirke, once Cork stepped up a gear in the second half they were unable to live with them.

Cork, overall, showed enough to know they are going to be one of the sides to beat against this year, with the likes of Orla Cotter, Ashling Thompson and Gemma O’Connor in good form.

Add in an impressive display from Briege Corkery when she came on at half-time, and it’s going to take a good side to stop them.

But this was only their first league outing and there is a lot to do before making the qualifying rounds of the league, not to mind the All-Ireland championship.

Niamh Treacy opened the scoring for Tipperary, with Cotter replying from a free for Cork. Cotter set up Linda Collins for the Rebels second point, before a magnificent long-range effort from Eimear Loughman had Tipp level again, with 10 minutes gone.

Four minutes later and they were awarded a penalty when Quirke was fouled by Aoife Murray, with Devane deciding to put the ball over the bar rather than going for goal.

Despite being the better of the two sides Tipp couldn’t shake the Rebels off and Cotter had them back on level terms again, from a 45.

With four minutes to half-time, Cotter scored from another free, to make it 0-4 to 0-3.

But Tipp finished the half strongly, with Devane equalising and then in injury time she put them back in front from a free, as they led 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time.

Cork were back on level terms early in the second half, when Cotter was on target again and with 43 minutes gone she put them in front, 0-6 to 0-5.

Treacy had the sides level again, but a great ball from Cotter set up Libby Coppinger for a point and from here they never lost the lead again.

Cork could have had a goal with 48 minutes played, but Orla Cronin was fouled as she bore down on goal, with Cotter pointing the resultant free.

Campion pulled a point back for Tipp, but points from Sigerson and Cronin ensured the Rebels ran out winners, a game they deserved to win overall, particularly on their second-half display.

Scorers for Cork: O Cotter 0-6 (4f, 45), L Collins, L Coppinger, C Sigerson, O Cronin 0-1 each..

Tipperary: C Devane 0-3 (2f, 0-1 pen), N Treacy 0-2, E Loughman, M Campion 0-1 each.

CORK: A Murray; L O’Sullivan, L Treacy, L Hayes; H Looney, G O’Connor, C Sigerson; A Thompson, L Coppinger; S Hutchinson, O Cronin, A O’Connor; O Cotter, L Collins, C Healy.

Subs: B Corkery for S Hutchinson, S McCarthy for C Healy.

TIPPERARY: C Bourke; J Burke, G Grace, E Loughman; C Quirke, M Campion, A McGrath; M Ryan, E Fryday; S Quirke, J Grace, C McKeogh; C Devane, N Treacy, L Loughmane.

Subs: N Walsh for J Burke, A Loughnane for J Grace, E McDonald for C Devane, G O’Brien for C McKeogh.

Ref: Ray Kelly, Kildare.