Tipperary minors finish season on disappointing note with another loss, this time away to Cork

Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship - Round 4

Tipperary 1-12

Cork 2-17

Tipperary’s minor hurlers fell to their fourth successive defeat in the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship on Friday evening, with Cork the victors on this occasion in Pairc Ui Rinn, bringing the curtain down on the Premier youngsters' involvement in this year’s competition.

READ NEXT: Former All-Ireland winning Tipperary hurler to front new GAA radio show

Coming into this game, Tipperary were already consigned to elimination after the first three losses, due to the makeup of the fixtures and other results, but the hope was still there that James Woodlock’s charges could finish their year’s hurling on a positive note.

However, like all games they have played this term, the team just didn’t click at any stage and mistakes on the ball, coupled with taking the wrong option in the shooting zone meant that a more clinical and accurate Cork side would canter to victory to secure their place in a Munster final while also finishing the round robin with four wins from four.

For Tipperary and James Woodlock, it was a dejecting end to an overall disappointing season with this panel populated with some fine hurlers along with a few winners from last year’s Munster and All-Ireland winning panel but they just didn’t find their top gear all season long.

You could point to patches of every game where they excelled and could have snatched results - particularly in the first three rounds - but they seemed to be missing that clinical edge that was present in the group of 2024.

Regardless of the disappointment, this team has ability in it and if you consider that they lost the first three games by one, two, and two points respectively in tight run contests, it could have been different. At the very least, they competed in every game and that is the one positive to be taken.

Here though, they looked like a team who knew they were playing for pride only and against the best team in the province up to this game, they did start well and trailed by 0-4 to 0-3 after ten minutes, responding well to going three down early as points from Euan Murray and Chris Dunne provided early life for the Premier.

Cork, through the expert shooting of Craig O’Sullivan would stretch out their lead in the next six minutes though with five points on the trot as the aforementioned Na Piarsaigh player fired over four of those including two classy efforts from play to put Cork up 0-9 to 0-3 after 16 minutes.

Tipp though battled away and didn’t become fazed by the early margin and they went on to hit four of the next five points up to the 24th minutes with Murray again, Senan Mackey, Conall Morrison, and a Dunne 65 reducing the gap somewhat. 

However, they came in a flurry either side of a Cork goal in the 20th minute as a sideline cut from deep wasn’t dealt with and as it floated across the square, corner forward Sam Ring got his hurley up to guide it to the net past Paddy McCormack in the Tipperary goal.

That had Cork ahead 1-9 to 0-7 and the young Rebels finished the half strongly with scores from Eoghan O’Shea, Ruairc Donovan, and Seán Coughlan sending the home side into the break with their tails up; Tipperary in trouble with the second half to come.

A response was needed for Tipperary to bring this game back into contention and it came within two minutes of the restart. 

Far from a thing of beauty, it was effective for Tipp nonetheless as some loose play from both sides in the Cork full-back line led to Tommy O’Meara producing a fine impression of his clubman Mark O’Leary from the 2001 All-Ireland final; showing persistence to dribble the ball towards goal and flick to the back of the net from a inches out.

That had Tipp back in contention at 1-12 to 1-8 but despite the players best efforts, it felt all too difficult at times for Woodlock’s team to find the scoring burst they needed and it led to a fairly even spread of scores between the teams with Philip O’Dwyer and Harry Lawlor scores responded to by Cork by the three quarter stage as the Rebels maintained their four points lead.

In the end, it wasn’t exactly a clinical edge from Cork that ended the contest, but rather a self-destructive two minutes from Tipp between the 49th and 51 minutes. 

Firstly, Conor Collins was shown a second yellow card in the and to compound that disappointing dismissal, a mistake from McCormack in the Tipp goal led to Cork finding their second goal through Sam Ring which effectively put the result beyond doubt with just under ten minutes to play to put Cork ahead 2-15 to 1-10.

Tipperary made some changes in the final quarter with Jack Cahill and Harry Lawlor both finding scores late on, but they were merely consolations as Tipperary bowed out of this year’s fare, with Cork advancing to the provincial final in the coming weeks.

Scorers: Tipperary: Chris Dunne (0-3, 0-1f, 0-1 65), Euan Murray 0-3, Tommy O’Meara 1-0, Harry Lawlor 0-2, Philip O’Dwyer, Senan Mackey, Conall Morrison Jack Cahill all 0-1 each.

Cork: Craig O’Sullivan (0-10, 0-4f), Seán Coughlan, Sam Ring 1-1 each, Eoghan O’Shea 0-3, Cormac Deane, Ruairc Donovan 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Paddy McCormack (Moneygall); Fred Perry (Moyle Rovers), Kevin Fitzpatrick (Newport), Conor Collins (Galtee Rovers); Dylan Hennessy (Mullinahone), Senan Mackey (Knockavilla Kickhams), Danny Barry (Killenaule); Shane Cooney (Clerihan), Conor Kennedy (Clonoulty Rossmore); Conall Morrison (Moyle Rovers), Euan Murray (Durlas Óg), Tommy O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Zach O’Keeffe (Holycross Ballycahill), Chris Dunne (Gortnahoe Glengoole), Kieran Rossiter (Durlas Óg).

Subs used: Philip O’Dwyer (Upperchurch Drombane) for Cooney (18); Patrick Hackett (Toomevara) for Kennedy (42); Harry Lawlor for Barry (42); Jack Cahill (Ballingarry) for O’Keeffe (47); Jack McGonigle (Rockwell Rovers) for Hennessy (56).

Cork: Tom C Walsh (Aghada); Darragh Heavin (Russell Rovers), Tom O’Flynn (Sarsfields), Cian Lawton (Midleton); Michael T Brosnan (Glen Rovers), Bobby Carroll (Dromina), Colm Garde (Lisgoold); Tom A Walsh (Carrigtwohill), Jack Counihan (Watergrasshill); Ruairc Donovan (Fermoy), Cormac Deane (Killeagh), Craig O’Sullivan (Na Piarsaigh); Seán Coughlan (Passage), Eoghan O’Shea (Ballinhassig), Sam Ring (Carrigtwohill).

Subs used: Michael Quill (Blackrock) for Heavin (27, inj); Callum Coffey (Na Piarsaigh) for Tom A Walsh (43); Ryan Dineen (Erin’s Own) for Counihan (54); Senan Carroll (Midleton) for Donovan (56); Charlie Hanratty (Carrigaline) for Deane (56).

Referee: Eoghan O’Leary (Clare)