Impressive Tipp rolls past Cork

A hat-trick from Senan Butler ended Cork’s winning streak and put the Premier in pole position to take the direct route to the Munster Under 20 Hurling final.

GAA: oneills.com Munster U20 Hurling Championship Round 4

Tipperary 3-20

Cork 0-18

Report: Stephen Barry at FBD Semple Stadium

CONTEST DIGEST

Player of the match: Senan Butler (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Senan Butler 3-1; Darragh McCarthy 0-6 frees; Oisín O’Donoghue, Paddy McCormack (1 s-cut) 0-3 each; Sam O’Farrell, Conor Martin 0-2 each; Eoin Horgan (free), Adam Daly, Cathal English 0-1 each.

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

It was always going to take something special to disrupt Cork Under 20s’ All-Ireland title defense but Tipperary found it on Friday evening via Senan Butler’s goal bonus.

It was the second hat-trick at FBD Semple Stadium in the space of 24 hours, both scored by speedy goal scorers in yellow helmets. On a happier note for Tipp, following Clare corner forward Liam Murphy’s heroics in Thursday’s small game, it came from a home game.

The Kilsheelan-Kilcash clubman’s heroics ended Cork’s winning streak and put the Premier in pole position to take the direct route to the Munster final.

The reigning champions came in with nine wins since Ben O’Connor took over as manager last year, but they were on the receiving end of a major statement of intent in this eleven-point loss. The Rebels have fourteen days to recover for a semi-final.

For the third game in a row, all six of Tipp’s strikers scored and both midfielders have also registered for their last two appearances. Manager Brendan Cummins will be equally pleased with the back-to-back clean sheets they have earned, with Eoin Horgan pulling off a fine save to rob Cork of momentum.

There were plenty of examples of the work-rate that put so much pressure on their much-vaunted opponents. Butler and Conor Martin hunt back to produce turnovers inside their own 45. Ben Currivan and Adam Daly trouble Jack Leahy with a wide on the stroke of half-time, causing a roar from the touchline as loud as any goal. Darragh McCarthy’s big hit sent a Cork sub soaring over the touchline. Podge O’Dwyer chases dangerman Leahy for a late hook.

Paddy McCormack, back from suspension, was one of three substitutes alongside Chris O’Donnell and Mason Cawley. The Borris-Ileigh goalkeeper was quick out of the blocks with three points in the first quarter, including a silky touchline effort.

The visitors had found plenty of space for William Buckley’s opening shots (one pointed, one wide), but once their duels had been settled Tipp allowed no such luxury thereafter. Between the seventh and seventeenth minutes they went ahead and defeated Cork 1-7 to 0-2 as they took the Rebels defense to breaking point. McCarthy threw three frees, two of which were called back after Tipp threatened to score. Firstly, McCarthy was denied by Paudie O’Sullivan, and Butler couldn’t connect on the rebound. The Toomevara star scored three more points in a row ahead of Sam O’Farrell (2) and Martin.

He would also assist on both goals in the first half. The first was fortuitous when his shot hit the post and the ever-alert Butler pocketed a ball that he could not have won before finding the net. 1-9 to 0-5 for the hosts.

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

Tipp continued to hunt for targets. Sam O’Farrell had a shot blocked by Kevin Lyons. Darragh McCarthy cleverly doubled after a puck-out, but his contact was too pure and too long to send Senan Butler into space.

They got their reward before half time with a 1-1 score. Adam Daly survived a foul and landed a point during a fall. Then Oisín O’Donoghue intercepted a poor Cork touchline, and a precise running move went through O’Farrell and McCarthy for Butler to fire home. They headed 2-10 to 0-7 ahead.

There was no interruption from the throw-in as an O’Donoghue point was followed by a free McCarthy. Then came the meeting in Cork. Diarmuid Healy hit a pair either side of a Barry Walsh goal opportunity. That was well saved by Horgan and cleared brilliantly by Jack Collins before Walsh got a second try.

Smart play from Butler and McCarthy set up Paddy McCormack at the other end, but O’Sullivan saved, and the visitors followed with another brace from Buckley and a free Leahy.

Just as the deficit was closing, Tipp and Senan Butler found their third goal in the 40th minute. It came from a moment of wizardry from McCormack to knock down a puck-out on his hurley and release Conor Martin into space. The Cappawhite centre-forward forced a diving save from O’Sullivan, but Butler was perfectly placed to volley home. When Oisin O’Donoghue added a point it was a double score match, 3-13 to 0-11.

Tipp maintained that advantage until the finish when Eoin Horgan excelled in firing the sliotar away from a dangerous Walsh pass across goal. Cathal English was the sixth striker to find the target and the gap was 13 as Butler took his tally to 3-1.

Cork got points from the bench of Adam O’Sullivan (0-2) and Timmy Wilk, but the deficit grew to fourteen with three in a row via cutters from McCarthy and Horgan and a tap-over from O’Donoghue. With the game long put to bed, Cork took the final three points in stoppage time, including a free Leahy from close range that was tipped in by Horgan.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Eoin Horgan (Knockavilla – Donaskeigh Kickhams); Podge O’Dwyer (Killenaule), Aaron O’Halloran (Carrick Swan), Chris O’Donnell (Ballylooby/Castlegrace); Jack Collins (Ballina), Ben Currivan (Golden Kilfeacle, captain), Mason Cawley (Nenagh Éire Óg); Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg), Adam Daly (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams); Cathal English (Father Sheehy’s), Conor Martin (Cappawhite), Oisín O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara), Paddy McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), Senan Butler (Kilsheelan/Kilcash).

Subs: Jack O’Callaghan (Portroe) for Cawley (41); Sam Rowan (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone) for Butler (53); Ciarán Foley (Borrisokane) for O’Farrell (56); Eoin Craddock (Holycross-Ballycahill) for O’Donoghue (60); Dylan Fogarty (Boherlahan-Dualla) for English (60+1).

Cork: Paudie O’Sullivan; Darragh O’Sullivan (captain), Denis Cashman, Kevin Lyons; James Dwyer, Órán 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).