oneills.com Munster U20 Hurling Championship: Impressive win in Tipperary

at****eills.com Munster U20 Hurling Championship

Tipperary 3-20 Cork 0-18

By Stephen Barry at FBD Semple Stadium

Senan Butler’s hat-trick ended the Cork U20s’ winning streak and put Tipperary in pole position to take the direct route to the Munster final.

The reigning All-Ireland champions came in with nine wins since Ben O’Connor took over last year, but they were on the receiving end of a major statement of intent in this eleven-point loss.

For the third game in a row, all six of Tipp’s forwards scored and both midfielders have also registered for their final pair. Brendan Cummins will be equally pleased with the back-to-back clean sheets they have kept, with Eoin Horgan producing a fine save to maintain the lead.

Cork, who were already assured of at least a semi-final place, rewarded goalscorer Barry Walsh with a start. Tipp introduced Chris O’Donnell, Mason Cawley and Paddy McCormack after serving his one-match suspension.

The visitors found acres of space for William Buckley’s opening point, but they were denied such luxury for the rest of the half. McCormack tied the score twice with early points, one from a touchline.

Between the seventh and the seventeenth^e Minutes, Tipp kicked on. They defeated Cork 1-6 to 0-2 in that period as they pushed the Rebels’ defense to breaking point.

Darragh McCarthy hit three frees, two of which were whistled back after Tipp threatened to score. He also scored three straight points, including two for Sam O’Farrell, and assisted on both first-half goals.

The first was fortuitous when his shot hit the post and the pacey Butler won a ball he had no right to before finding the net. 1-9 to 0-5 for the hosts.

Cork kept in touch with the runs of Buckley, James Dwyer and Jack Leahy, but their forwards missed more than their fair share of chances. At halftime the score was 8-3.

Tipp ended the half with their second goal. Oisín O’Donoghue intercepted a poor Cork sideline and an accurate running move went through O’Farrell and McCarthy before Butler raced home. 2-10 to 0-7 at half time.

Tipp added the first two points of the second half from O’Donoghue and McCarthy before Cork staged a brief rally. Diarmuid Healy hit a pair either side of a Barry Walsh goal chance, well saved by Horgan.

Paudie O’Sullivan denied McCormack and Conor Martin at the other end, but Butler had his hat-trick, slamming home the final rebound inside the 40.^e minute.

When O’Donoghue added a point the lead was 11, 3-13 to 0-11, and they held on until the finish as Cork took the final three points.

Scorers for Tipperary: Senan Butler 3-1; Darragh McCarthy 0-6 (6f); Oisín O’Donoghue, Paddy McCormack (1 s/l) 0-3 each; Sam O’Farrell, Conor Martin 0-2 each; Eoin Horgan (f), Adam Daly, Cathal English 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: Jack Leahy 0-6 (5f); James Dwyer, William Buckley each 0-3; Diarmuid Healy, Adam O’Sullivan 0-2 each; Barry Walsh and Timmy Wilk each 0-1.

Tipperary: Eoin Horgan; Podge O’Dwyer, Aaron O’Halloran, Chris O’Donnell; Jack Collins, Ben Currivan, Mason Cawley; Sam O’Farrell, Adam Daly; Cathal English, Conor Martin, Oisín O’Donoghue; Darragh McCarthy, Paddy McCormack, Senan Butler.

Subs: Jack O’Callaghan for Cawley (41), Sam Rowan for Butler (53), Ciarán Foley for O’Farrell (56), Eoin Craddock for O’Donoghue (60), Dylan Fogarty for English (60+1).

Cork: Paudie O’Sullivan; Darragh O’Sullivan, Denis Cashman, Kevin Lyons; James Dwyer, Óran O’Regan, Cillian Tobin; Mikey Finn, Ben Walsh; David Cremin, William Buckley, Diarmuid Healy; Tadhg O’Connell, Barry Walsh, Jack Leahy.

Subs: Adam O’Sullivan for O’Connell (ht), Timmy Wilk for Ben Walsh (ht), James O’Brien for O’Regan (42), Peter O’Shea for Tobin (50), Eoin O’Leary for Cremin (56).

Referee: Niall Malone (Clare).