Late Joe Miskella goal sees Cork minor footballers survive extra-time scare against Tipp

Cork: 2-17 (2-2-13) 

Tipperary: 0-20 (0-4-12) 

(AET) 

After a brilliant game, Cork are into the Electric Ireland Munster MFC final after squeezing past Tipperary after an extra-time thriller at FBD Semple Stadium on Monday evening.

The pendulum swung on so many occasions in this semi-final encounter, so it was no surprise that the game did go the distance, which kept the crowd of 843 on the edge of their seats.

Ultimately, the Rebels showed character and composure to eke out a win in a very enjoyable encounter that wasn’t for the fainthearted with Joe Miskella’s late goal the difference at the end of a breathless match. Joe is the son of 2010 All-Ireland winner John. 

Keith Ricken’s team will now meet Kerry in the provincial decider on Friday week in Tralee.

The game did start well from a Cork point of view. Paddy Murphy pointed after just 42 seconds following a pass by Donagh Flynn.

Niall O’Callaghan and Eoin Maguire added points for Cork while Flynn saw his goal bound effort saved by Tipperary goalkeeper James O’Brien.

The Premier County’s first score was timely and a vital one after 17 minutes when Ned O’Meara kicked over a two-point free, 0-3 to 0-2.

The sides traded points before Tipperary put together two unanswered points to lead for the first time, but Maguire drew parity with a point from an acute angle, 0-5 each after 25 minutes.

A Ben Corkery-Delaney two-pointer looked to have been the perfect score at the right time for Cork to push on, but another O’Meara two-point free drew the sides level once more.

Tipperary led at the break when Killian Fitzgerald kicked a great point, 0-8 to 0-7 at half-time.

The Premier County continued to have the better of it, landing two of the first three points of the second half, with Seán O’Sullivan getting Cork’s score.

The Leesiders then had their purple patch, Maguire and Corkery-Delaney added points with Cathal McCarthy hitting over a two-pointer sandwiched between those scores, 0-12 to 0-10 after 45 minutes.

The tails were up and the Rebels raised a green flag four minutes later when Flynn finished low into the net after a driving run.

Tipperary didn’t buckle though and the game swung again, a Seán Griffin effort and another O’Meara two-point free left just two points in it after 55 minutes, 1-12 to 0-13.

The sides traded points as we went into five minutes of added time, but Tipp tacked on two unanswered efforts to draw level and send the game to extra time, 1-13 to 0-16.

Cork hit three points in the first period of extra time, but Tipp hit a two-pointer and a white flag as it was as you were at half-time in extra time, 1-16 to 0-19.

The sides traded points as the teams went into the dying minutes all square. It was time for a hero as Miskella finished expertly to the net for Cork after being set up by Jack Hanrahan. 

The Rebels prevail!

Scorers for Cork: D McCarthy (0-2 f), B Corkery-Delaney (1 2pt) 0-4 each, E Maguire 0-3, J Miskella, D Flynn 1-0 each, C McCarthy 0-2 (1 2pt), T Whooley (f), N O’Callaghan, S O’Sullivan, P Murphy 0-1 each.

Tipperary: N O’Meara 0-10 (0-4 f, 3 2pt f), S Griffin 0-4, J Murphy 0-3 (1 2pt), K Fitzgerald, K Smith, S Burke 0-1 each.

CORK: R Twohig (Kilmeen); B Coffey (Clonakilty), A Keane (Kinsale), M Kiernan (Carrigaline); J O’Leary (Ballinascarthy), C McCarthy (St Colum’s, c), B Cronin (Ballincollig); S Kelleher-Leavy (Macroom), R Hayes (Carbery Rangers); T Whooley (Clonakilty), D Flynn (Argideen Rangers), N O’Callaghan (Castlehaven); P Murphy (Donoughmore), B Corkery-Delaney (Carrigaline), E Maguire (Castlehaven).

Subs: S O’Sullivan (Aghabullogue) for P Murphy (7, inj), E Looney (Lyre) for J O’Leary (44), D McCarthy (Castlehaven) for E Maguire (50), J Hanrahan (Mitchelstown) for N O’Callaghan (54), J Miskella (Ballincollig) for T Whooley (56), S Long (Newcestown) for S O’Sullivan (60), T Whooley (Clonakilty) for D Flynn (70, inj), E G O’Sullivan (Clyda Rovers) for S Kelleher-Leavy (74).

TIPPERARY: J O’Brien; C McInerney, D Charles, C Hurley; D Bresnan, N Delaney, J Kearney; S Griffin, A McAndrew; S Burke, K Smith, K Fitzgerald; D McCormack, N O’Meara (c), D Maher.

Subs: J McGonigle for A McAndrew (21), C Hall for N Delaney (42), C Morrissey for D McCormack (49), R Grace for K Fitzgerald (53), J Murphy for D Maher (59), D McCormack for D Bresnan (75), K Fitzgerald for K Smith (78), R O’Reilly for J McGonigle (80).

Referee: Evan Horan (Kerry).