Cork 1-16 Tipperary 1-15:INTERESTING TIMES by the Lee. A fairground with a bright Ferris wheel and screaming kids has opened for business beside Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but, inside, the entertainment had a more authentic feel.
A Cork team, almost fully convalesced from last year’s illness, saw off Tipp in a game which, for the final 35 minutes at least, had a championship feel to it. In doing so, they learned as much about themselves as they have in the rest of this unbeaten league campaign.
They move on to play Galway in the league final early next month.
Cork went into the break leading by four points and looking comfortable. For the first 10 minutes Aisake Ó hAilpín, playing on Pádraic Maher, won everything in the air, a domination so complete that every catch drew cheers from the crowd. A more judicious use of the spoils might have finished the game early.
Cork, either for the benefit of their puck-outs or because they had seen enough to know the damage a big man could do inside, then moved Ó hAilpín out to the 40 where his influence diminished, but not at the expense of Cork’s confidence.
“It was something we had looked at,” said Denis Walsh afterwards of the switch. “It would have depended on having the wind or not in the first half. As it turned out, we played better against the wind perhaps, but it was just something to look at really.”
The good news for Cork isn’t limited to the viability of single or twin towers however. Pa Horgan seems to delivering on the immense promise he has shown since breaking into the panel and yesterday once again he led the forwards confidently. His scores and the work of Tom Kenny in midfield were instrumental in pushing Cork ahead through a first half where elements of distinctive style were increasingly evident.
Cork don’t hand-pass as much as in days of yore, but they do so frequently and wisely and are a joy to watch when they are in full flow and opening the spaces.
Through the first half, Tipp looked disappointingly leaden and, not unlike Cork, in need of an influential and commanding centre forward. Having gone to the break looking jaded, they came out like spring lambs, except with a better attitude, and tucked away 1-5 without replay.
In a weekend all about resurrections, the man rolling back the rock was Paul Kelly who scored 1-3 in a short burst in that period, having been anonymous till then.
His goal, a low shot driven from the left after great work down the wing by Michael Cahill, put Tipp four points clear and seemed to raise big question marks over Cork’s league revival. There were 24 minutes left to play.
Cometh the hour – cometh the man, as they say however. Tadhg Óg Murphy made good headway down the right wing, found Paudie O’Sullivan whose shot was well saved by Brendan Cummins.
Pa Horgan killed the rebound on his stick, however, controlled it and dispatched to the net before the ball dropped. A fine score and one which reignited Cork. That moment and the move of Jerry O’Connor into midfield were the turning points of the afternoon.
Cork were away again. Horgan and Cathal Naughton causing all sorts of damage as they hauled Tipp down and then went for the jugular. In the end, they were good value for a one-point win and access the league final with a spotless record to their credit.
As for Denis Walsh, his policy has been to rotate players through this league. It has brought success, but has it brought him to enlightenment as regards his first 15?
“Not really. There are so many players putting their hand up it is very difficult. I have a reasonable idea of what we want but so many players are in contention. Guys came in today and did the business,” he said.
“We felt this game would be a step up in intensity and sharpness. That is how it turned out. You respond or you don’t. Have to have courage and commitment. Tipp turned on the gas after half-time and we were struggling big time.”
CORK: M Coleman; S O’Neill, E Cadogan, B Murphy; J Gardiner (0-1, free), R Curran, S Og Ó hAilpín; T Kenny (0-2), L McLoughlin (0-1), T Óg Murphy, J O’Connor (0-2), C Naughton (0-3), P O’Sullivan, A Ó hAilpín, P Horgan (1-7, five frees). Subs: K Murphy for T Óg Murphy (52 mins), M O’Sullivan for McLoughlin (52 mins).
TIPPERARY: B Cummins; P Stapleton, P Maher, P Curran; D Fanning, C O’Mahoney, M Cahill; B Maher, S McGrath (0-1); N McGrath (0-3), L Corbett G Ryan (0-2), E Kelly (0-5, all frees), T Hammersley, P Kelly (1-3). Subs: J O’Brien for Hammersley (45 mins), J Brennan for B Maher (53 mins),D Egan (0-1) for D Young for Fanning (60 mins), H Maloney for G Ryan (60 mins).
Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath).
