Tipperary U20s furious after late decision costs them a place in the Munster final

Dalata Hotels Munster U20 Football Championship - Phase 2 - Round 3

Tipperary 0-14

Cork 1-11

By John O’Shea 

Tipperary’s quest for a first Dalata Hotels Munster Under 20 football final appearance since 2021 came unstuck at Supervalu Páirc Ui Chaoimh when a controversial late point, six minutes into added time, denied them outright victory. 

The draw was enough for the home side to secure a place in the provincial decider, due to their superior score difference, in this phase 2, round 3 game, which was effectively a semi-final game for both counties.

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This was a bitterly disappointing result for the Premier side who went into the game knowing that a win would advance them to a Munster final. 

In the end, they were denied outright victory due to some very questionable refereeing decisions, especially the awarding of the free that led to the equalising point in the 66th minute. 

Poor shot choices and a slight vulnerability at times were also contributing factors in this game, which was played before a small attendance at the Leeside venue.

Cork played with the aid of the wind, which was blowing towards the Blackrock end, for the opening half, but it was the visitors who set the pace of the game, going three points up in the process, before Cork opened their account after 12 minutes with an equalising goal. 

Tipperary had gone into a two-point advantage as the game entered added time at the end of the opening half, but Cork kicked three before the break, the first after Tipperary failed to use the numerical advantage in an effort to clear their lines and coughed up possession.

 The second came from a two-point free, from outside the arc, after the awarding of a free out to the Premier was overturned. Cork led at the break by the minimum, 1.4 to 0.6, with only their goal coming from open play.

After the restart, and with the now weakening wind an advantage, Tipperary continued to dictate proceedings. They got the opening two points of the second half, but the home side gradually got into the game, going two up after 42 minutes. 

However, Tipperary showed their character, and a Joe Higgins two-pointer with six minutes of normal play remaining eased them back in front by the minimum.

Tipperary will rue some missed chances in added time. With a fisted point there for the taking, they had a chance to double that advantage, but chose to go for a major, which came to nothing. 

They were then reduced to fourteen players when Killian Butler was dismissed on a second yellow card in the 64th minute, but battled bravely, until the awarding of that late controversial tap over free in the 66th minute. 

Tipperary had valid grounds to be furious with this late decision as a look back on footage of the incident shows clearly that the Cork forward had not been challenged until after he had dispatched the fisted attempt for the equaliser. 

Cork now play Kerry in the Munster final on the 28th. April at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Cork won the toss and elected to defend the City end for the opening half, with the aid of a strongish wind. Tipperary won possession from the throw-in and retained possession until Daithí Hogan got the scoreboard moving inside two minutes with a white flag. By the fifth minute, the home side had chalked up three wides, due to pressure from the hard-tackling Tipperary defenders. 

Billy Tierney made it 0.3 to 0.0 when he converted a two-point free from around 46-meters, before a piercing run from Joe Higgins through the centre of the Cork defence was eventually turned over.

Cork were back on level terms on 13 minutes when Dylan O’Neill drilled a low shot to the corner of the net, having been set up by half-back Seán O’Leary. Tipperary were back in front when Charlie King split the posts after a slow build-up, but a Dylan O’Neill converted free tied the game with ten minutes remaining until the half-time break.

Ben Carey then fired over after JP Mbokha Tansia had kept the ball in play from a Billy Tierney free, before Paddy O’Keeffe put two between the sides on 26 minutes. As the game headed towards thirty minutes. 

Aaron O’Sullivan took advantage to pull one back when Tipperary coughed up possession in defence, when they had numerical advantage, before an injury to Cork’s Dylan O’Neill caused a short delay. 

Four minutes into added time a free awarded to Tipperary was somehow overturned and Bryan Hayes slotted over a 2 pointer to go one up at the break, much against the run of play. Half time score, Tipperary 0.6, Cork 1.4

Tipperary had the advantage of a now weakening wind after the restart, and two Ben Carey frees inside four minutes had restored their advantage before a Darragh Clifford white flag tied the game for the fourth time. 

Bryan Hayes eased Cork back in front from a placed ball, but Daithí Hogan replied from a free after the referee had moved the ball forward for indiscipline by the Cork defence.

Cork had introduced Dara Sheehy to their attack during the half-time brea,k and the Bantry Blues clubman, who was returning from injury, had a big impact on the game. He slotted over two points in as many minutes, the second a fisted effort and was also fouled for a free which Bryan Hayes converted. 

Around the three quarter mark the momentum had shifted towards the home side, but Tipperary fought back with two pointed frees from Daithí Hogan and a big 2 pointer fro Joe Higgins, which tied the game with six minutes remaining. Daithí Hogan eased Tipp in front with his fifth point of the evening.

Tipperary had a chance to double that advantage in added time when a fisted point looked on but chose to work for a green flag, which came to nothing. 

Killian Butler was ten dismissed on a second yellow, before the home side were awarded that late controversial free, which gave Bryan Hayes the chance to tap over the equaliser to advance his side to the Munster final.

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Scorers: Tipperary: D Hogan (0-5, 0-4f); B Carey (0-3, 0-2f); J Higgins (0-2, tp), B Tierney (0-2, tp free); C King, P O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

Cork: D O’Neill (1-1, 0-1f); B Hayes (0-4, tp free, 0-2f); A O’Sullivan, D Sheedy 0-2 each; D Clifford, C Gillespie 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Robbie McGrath (Galtee Rovers); Emmet Bonner (Galtee Rovers), Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore Castleiney), Billy Tierney (Clonmel Commercials); Killian Butler (Moyle Rovers), Charlie King (Ballina), Jamie O’Keeffe (Clonmel Commercials); Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials), Darragh O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials); Thomas Charles (Clonmel Commercials), Ben Carey (Ballylooby Castlegrace), Dylan Cotter (Thurles Gaels); Daithí Hogan (St. Patrick’s), Paddy O’Keeffe (Moyle Rovers), JP Mbokha Tansia (Ballina). 

Subs used: Liam Freaney (Kilsheelan Kilcash) for Paddy O’Keeffe (42), Sam Hall (Golden Kilfeakle) for Dylan Cotter (53).

Cork: Billy Curtin (Valley Rovers); Niall O’Shea (Urhan), Colin Molloy (Nemo Rangers), Colm Clifford (Éire Óg); Trevor Kiely (Mallow), Gearóid Daly (Mallow), Seán O’Leary (Kilmurray); Darragh Clifford (Éire Óg), Colm Gillespie (Aghabullogue); Dylan Harrington (Clonakilty), Danny Miskella (Ballincollig), Aaron O’Sullivan (Aghabullogue); Bryan Hayes (Nemo Rangers), Darragh Gough (Clonakilty), Dylan O’Neill (Carbery Rangers).

Subs used: Micheál Maguire (Castlehaven) for Dylan O’Neill (31, inj), Dara Sheedy (Bantry Blues) for Darragh Gough (HT), Ben O’Connell (Ballincollig) for Trevor Kiely (TS 44-55), Luke Shorten (Tadhg MacCartaigh)  for Dylan Harrington (49), Ben O’Connell (Ballincollig) for Aaron O’Sullivan (60).

Referee: Jonathan Hayes (Limerick)