Munster MHC: Cork battle back after slow start but Tipp win

Tipperary 1-19

Cork 2-12

A poor start proved costly as Cork lost to Tipperary in their Electric Ireland Munster MHC opener at FBD Semple Stadium on Thursday night.

The Rebels never led at any stage but John Meyler’s side deserve credit for managing to cut out what had developed into an eight-point deficit midway through the game. Tipperary responded well to this, though, and their greater scoring power saw them through.

In the opening stages, Cork struggled to win their own puckouts and when Tipp’s Killian Cantwell claimed one and found Cillian Minogue for his third point, it was 1-10 to 1-2 for the home side. All but a single point of that tally had come from their full-forward line of Minogue, Stefan Tobin and Eoghan Doughan.

Even when Cork’s Adam Lee ended 13 scoreless minutes with a point on 25, Euan Murray replied to keep Tipp eight in front. Incredibly, by half-time the margin would be down to just two.

They knocked a chunk out of the lead with a well-worked second goal. Luke Murphy found Lee, whose lay-off allowed Mark O’Brien to run at the defence. While he shot past goalkeeper Evan Sherlock, full-back Toby Corbett took the ball off the line but Murphy was following up to fire home.

Three points from the influential O’Brien left it 1-11 to 2-6 at half-time and, after Murphy pointed on the resumption, O’Brien levelled in the 34th minute.

However, Cork were unable to fashion a lead point and Tipp were able to settle again. Full-forward Stefan Tobin got his fourth point of the evening after Cantwell and Doughan combined and then Murray’s pass allowed him to get his fifth.

Doughan’s free gave them a cushion of three again, 1-14 to 2-8, with just over a quarter of the game left but Tobin’s injured-enforced departure looked to be a loss. Cork sub John Murphy left a two in it before Tobin’s replacement Aaron Cagney made his presence felt, with a pair of points pushing them four clear before Cantwell extended it further.

Cork had some hope as sub Jack O’Brien pointed before Mark O’Brien brought his tally to 1-5. Cagney and Doughan quelled the uprising with points but, while Jack O’Brien’s late point didn’t make a difference on the night, it might be needed down the line.

Early on, Tipp were dominant. They were 0-3 to 0-0 ahead when Cantwell linked with Patrick Ryan before going for goal. Josh Goulding saved but Minogue netted the rebound. While Cork did have an immediate reply as Cormac Deane set up Mark O’Brien to score a goal with their first shot, it was only brief respite as Tipp continued to build their lead. Cork did manage to summon a response but it was Tipp’s night.

In Thursday’s other game, Clare beat Waterford by 0-22 to 0-13. Next up for Cork is a home game against Limerick next Thursday, April 11.

Scorers for Tipperary: E Doughan 0-6 (0-4f), S Tobin 0-5, C Minogue 1-2, A Cagney 0-3, E Murray 0-2, K Cantwell 0-1.

Cork: M O'Brien 1-5 (0-3f), L Murphy 1-1, A Lee, J O'Brien 0-2 each, J Murphy, D Cosgrave 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: E Sherlock; S Ryan, T Corbett, C O’Reilly; J Donelan Houlihan, O O’Dwyer, P Ryan; K Rossiter, K Cantwell; A Ryan, E Murray, B O’Brien; E Doughan, S Tobin, C Minogue.

Subs: T Ryan for Rossiter (37), A Cagney for Tobin (46, injured), D O’Hora for O’Brien (49), J Cahill for Minogue (52), D Ryan for Cantwell (56).

CORK: J Goulding (Glen Rovers); K Harrington (Ballinhassig), CD O’Connor (Millstreet), L Kelleher (Douglas); K Beechinor (Éire Óg), C Noonan (Kanturk), D Cosgrave (Courcey Rovers); O O’Connell (Carrigaline), J Hegarty (Ballinora); M Brosnan (Glen Rovers), M O’Brien (Douglas), L Murphy (Barryroe); A Lee (Cloyne), J Twohig (Valley Rovers), C Deane (Killeagh).

Subs: J O’Brien (Douglas) for Deane, J Murphy (Mallow) for O’Connell (both 37), C Lowney (Tracton) for Cosgrave (43), F Lardner (Fermoy) for Lee (50), P Barrett (Midleton) for Hegarty (55).

Referee: S Walsh (Waterford).