Dunne goes to town for Tipp minors who down for to book All-Ireland final date

Tipperary’s minor hurlers defeated Cork in Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final

Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Tipperary 5-18

Cork 2-19

Chris Dunne bagged 3-5 as Tipperary staged a three-goal final-quarter comeback to overwhelm Cork and reach their third All-Ireland minor hurling final in five years.

The final scoreline was deceptive as the Munster champions trailed by four after 46 minutes before outgunning the Rebels by 3-8 to 0-5 down the stretch in front of 2,505 fans at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Dunne’s 3-5 featured 3-1 from play and two sideline cuts, while Éanna Tucker (1-4), Josh Moroney (1-1), and Conall Morrisson (0-4) all chipped in to book their spot in the final.

Against a strong wind, Tipp started brightly with Morrisson’s beautiful flick up and point pushing them two clear. Once Cork got going, they racked up 1-3 without reply, with Bobby Power blasting to the net.

Morrisson gave the first glimpse of his high fielding abilities before Marley Walsh repelled his stinging shot.

A good block by Daniel Groome was rewarded with a fine piece of skill by Chris Dunne to swing over a sideline cut. Liam O’Regan launched a monster point to restore Cork’s lead of four.

Morrisson’s work rate came to the fore by blocking consecutive Cork clearances for Conor Kennedy and Shane Ryan points.

Callum Coffey claimed a superb catch to point and then got another run on goal, which was only ended by Conor Collins’ recovering to hook his attempt.

Their four-point lead would flip as Tipp blitzed Cork for 2-2 in the space of three minutes.

It began with KJ Dunne racing onto a long puck-out, and though his shot was saved by Walsh, Tucker was in the right place to tap in the rebound.

Tucker then picked off the Cork puck-out and fed Chris Dunne, whose bouncer was saved by Walsh. The Gortnahoe-Glengoole forward followed in to rob the keeper’s attempted pass and rolled the sliotar home to spark the vocal Tipp crowd to life again.

With a matter of seconds, Morrisson had added the next two points, featuring another high catch, for 2-7 to 1-6.

Although rocked by those concessions, Cork would land the final three points from play of the half via Ryan Cagney, Power, and Seán Riordan to leave them 2-8 to 1-9 behind at half-time.

Chris Dunne slotted an even better sideline cut on the resumption, from close to the 21, before Zach O’Keeffe robbed the puck-out to score.

Chris Dunne’s next free, a close-range goal effort, was saved on the line by full-back Finn Cahill and Cork countered for a Sam McCarthy point. That proved a turning point as they soon made it 1-4 without reply with Power firing a rocket into the far top corner. McCarthy made it 2-14 to 2-10 at the three-quarter mark.

Tipp substitute Moroney had one goal chance snuffed out, but when he got the next after good work by Morrisson and KJ Dunne, he stitched it in the corner of the net to bring them back within one.

Goal-hungry Tipp found the lead in the 52nd minute. Chris Dunne charged down the right and somehow magicked up a bullet finish from the tightest of angles; 4-10 to 2-15.

A Power free levelled. When Chris Dunne missed a corresponding effort at the other end, he more than compensated by robbing a Cork defender and rifling his hat-trick goal to the far corner for 5-10 to 2-16.

Moroney lashed over when eyeing goal and Tipp would fire the last six points in a row, with three stoppage-time flags in quick succession from Tucker.

Scorers: Tipperary: Chris Dunne (3-5, 0-2f, 0-2 sl-cuts); Éanna Tucker 1-4; Josh Moroney 1-1; Conall Morrisson 0-4; Shane Ryan, Conor Kennedy, Zach O’Keeffe, KJ Dunne 0-1 each.

Cork: Bobby Power 2-8 (0-7f); Sam McCarthy 0-3; Seán Riordan, Ryan Cagney 0-2 each; Stephen McHugh, Cormac Murphy, Callum Coffey, Liam O’Regan 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Eoin Connolly (Carrick Swan); Colm Ryan (Newport), Daniel Groome (Borris-Ileigh), Conor Collins (Galtee Rovers, captain); Travis McLoughlin (Cahir), James Finn (Golden-Kilfeacle), Oisín Kennedy (Newport); Shane Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), Hugo Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Conor Kennedy (Clonoulty-Rossmore), Conall Morrisson (Moyle Rovers), Éanna Tucker (Nenagh Éire Óg); Zach O’Keeffe (Holycross-Ballycahill), Chris Dunne (Gortnahoe-Glengoole), KJ Dunne (Toomevara).

Subs used: Josh Moroney (Ballina) for O’Keeffe (42), Ciarán Gantley (Cappawhite) for Healy (60), Seán Burke (JK Brackens) for S Ryan (60+1), Rian McGrath (Kiladangan) for C Dunne (60+5).

Cork: Marley Walsh (Youghal); Jack Batterberry (Castletownroche), Finn Cahill (Midleton), Nathan Coffey (Na Piarsaigh); Eoin Considine (Sarsfields, captain), Dave Nolan (Erin’s Own), Liam O’Regan (St Finbarr’s); Alfie Hennessey (Midleton), Stephen McHugh (Newtownshandrum); Cormac Murphy (Ballinora), Seán Riordan (Kilworth), Ryan Cagney (Mallow); Callum Coffey (Na Piarsaigh), Sam McCarthy (Castlelyons), Bobby Power (Ballincollig).

Subs used: Tadhg McCarthy for Murphy (39), Cathal Barry (Bride Rovers) for S McCarthy (56), Conor Ronayne (Dungourney) for Cagney (60+1).

Referee: Niall Malone (Clare)