Sport

Setanta heroic in late forays for Cork

Cork 4-15 Tipperary 4-11 Two goals from second-half substitute Setanta Ó hAilpín steered Cork to victory over Tipperary in this…

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Mon Mar 31 2003 - 01:00

Cork 4-15 Tipperary 4-11 Two goals from second-half substitute Setanta Ó hAilpín steered Cork to victory over Tipperary in this Allianz National Hurling League tie in Semple Stadium on Saturday

Played in splendid weather, this was a game that Cork needed to win and they showed great heart and determination as they faced the unbeaten Tipp on their home turf.

After a nip-and-tuck first half,Cork, playing against a light breeze, led by the slenderest of margins, 2-8 to 2-7.

Tipp got off to a flyer with a fourth-minute goal from a long-range Tommy Dunne free. But Cork fought back and an Alan Brown goal in the 25th minute followed by a Joe Deane goal in the 29th edged them in front.

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However, Tipperary All Star Eoin Kelly goaled for his side with three minutes to go to the interval to reduce the deficit.

After the resumption, two goals in as many minutes restored the initiative to Tipperary - Eoin Kelly getting both in the 11th and 12th minutes.

But Cork fought back again and showed tremendous heart and guts when reduced to 14 men, corner back Mark Prendergast receiving his marching orders after picking up two yellow cards.

Setanta Ó hAilpín certainly made an impact when he came on - he netted in the 28th minute and again five minutes later to steer Cork back in front.

Sharpshooter Joe Deane bagged two points and Ben O'Connor another to send Cork clear and give them the spoils.

Apart from Ó hAilpín, who made a big impact, Joe Deane, Niall McCarthy, Ronan Curran, Mikey O'Connell and Alan Brown were prominent for Cork.

For Tipperary, Eoin Kelly, who notched 3-5, Tommy Dunne, Conor Gleeson and Philip Maher were best.

CORK: D Cusack; W Sherlock, P Mulcahy, M Prendergast; J Gardiner (0-1), R Curran, T Kenny; A Cummins, M O'Connell (0-2); N Ronan, N McCarthy (0-2), J O'Connor (0-1); E Fitzgerald, J Deane (1-7), A Brown (1-1). Subs: D Barrett for Cummins, S Ó hAilpín (2-0), for Ronan. B O'Connor (0-1), for J O'Connor, S McGrath for Fitzgerald.

TIPPERARY: B Cummins; J Devane, P Maher, B Dunne; R Flannery, A Butler, B Horgan; T Dunne (1-2), C Morrissey; B O'Meara (0-1), C Gleeson (0-1), M O'Leary (0-1); E Kelly (3-5), G O'Grady, L Corbett (0-1). Subs: D Kennedy for Butler; J Cottrell for Cummins. J Carroll for Morrissey, L Cahill for O'Leary .

Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath).