Tipp denied Munster Final place by controversial Cork equaliser

GAA: Dalata Hotel Group Munster Under 20 Football Championship Phase 2 Round 3

Cork 1-11

Tipperary 0-14

Report: Stephen Barry at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Joe Higgins (Tipperary)

SCORERS - Cork: Dylan O’Neill 1-1 (0-1 free); Bryan Hayes 0-4 (1x2pt free, 2 frees); Aaron O’Sullivan, Dara Sheedy 0-2 each; Darragh Clifford, Colm Gillespie 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Daithí Hogan 0-5 (4 frees); Ben Carey 0-3 (2 frees); Billy Tierney (2pt free), Joe Higgins (2pt) 0-2 each; Charlie King, Paddy O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

Tipperary were denied a Munster Under 20 final appearance by a highly controversial 66th minute free that earned Cork a late draw to progress to the decider against Kerry.

The Premier County appeared destined for a first final since 2021 as a four-point surge pushed them ahead for the fifth time with 58 minutes on the clock.

Five added minutes were announced. Still, Tipp looked more likely to find the clincher. Darragh O’Connor and Daithí Hogan turned down tap-over points to create a goal chance for Liam Freaney, who couldn’t get a shot off.

Billy Tierney shut down the next Rebel attack and Killian Butler won a free near the 21 by the sideline. Tipp could’ve gone for a long-range two-point attempt but their decision to keep possession was poorly executed as Cork pressed Hogan’s kick. The hosts won the 50-50 ball back across the arc and Butler was sent off on a second yellow for his foul in the aftermath.

Cork rushed downfield where Micheál Maguire, after striking his handpassed shot wide, was awarded a charitable free by referee Jonathan Hayes with the outstanding Joe Higgins deemed to have collided with Maguire as he came across for an attempted block. Brian Hayes tapped over with the final kick to level for a seventh time as Tipp were left somewhere between furious and devastated.

The sides finished equal on three points apiece in the Phase 2 standings but the Rebels’ superior score difference (-1 against -7) made all the difference. It will be a fourth Old Firm final in a row and ninth in ten years when they meet Kerry.

Tipp began into a stiff wind blowing from the City End. Like the Kerry defeat at New Inn, the wind would die before the change of ends. Adapting to the conditions, they retained the ball through a two-minute spell of patient possession play from the throw-in, capped off by Hogan jinking onto his left for an opening point.

Cork enjoyed early superiority on kick-outs but missed their first four shots at the posts. The latter attempt dropped short, and Tipp applied a heavy punishment as Killian Butler was fouled outside the arc and Billy Tierney, back after missing the win over Clare, nailed the two-point free.

Cork finally opened the scoring in the thirteenth minute from their sixth attempt into the Blackrock End. It was a big one, though, as Seán O’Leary wrestled control of a Tipp kick-out and his direct supply found Dylan O’Neill, who worked onto his right boot to ripple the bottom corner.

Tipp didn’t allow them to push on. Captain Charlie King finished off another patient move, which O’Neill cancelled out with a free. JP Mboka Tansia won a high ball to tee up a Ben Carey point and Paddy O’Keeffe sidestepped past two defenders for a stylish outside-of-the-boot score.

Tipp looked set to lead into the break despite an Aaron O’Sullivan response, but the first refereeing controversy saw Tierney pinged for taking too long over a solo & go. The free was reversed and spotted outside the arc despite the original foul being awarded and taken by Tierney inside the arc. Hayes swung it over for their first lead, 1-4 to 0-6, at half-time.

Cork had major impact off the bench via surprise substitute Dara Sheedy, who was neither named in the programme nor in the team announcement 24 hours earlier, and Micheál Maguire, who replaced the injured O’Neill.

Daithi Hogan won two frees for Ben Carey to push Tipp back ahead but Darragh Clifford kicked a leveller and Sheedy won a tap-over free for Hayes, which saw Butler booked for the first time.

Hogan replied with a free from the thirteen-yard line when Cork didn’t hand the ball back before Sheedy notched consecutive points. After another Hogan free, Sheedy supplied Colm Gillespie for a point and O’Sullivan made it 1-10 to 0-10.

Tipp rallied through a third Hogan free before Joe Higgins landed a clutch two-pointer via the crossbar to level before midfielder was then fouled under a clever O’Connor Garryowen for Hogan’s lead score.

But Hayes’ 66th-minute free left Tipp gutted as their supporters entered the field at full-time to applaud them off.

TEAMS – Cork: Billy Curtin (6); Niall O’Shea (6), Colin Molloy (Capt 7), Colm Clifford (7); Trevor Kiely (6), Gearóid Daly (7), Aaron O’Sullivan (7); Darragh Clifford (8), Colm Gillespie (7); Dylan Harrington (6), Danny Miskella (6), Seán O’Leary (7); Bryan Hayes (7), Darragh Gough (5), Dylan O’Neill (7).

Subs: Micheál Maguire (7) for O’Neill (30+2-FT HIA); Dara Sheedy (7) for Gough (HT); Ben O’Connell (6) for Kiely (44-55 Blood); Luke Shorten (6) for Harrington (50), Ben O’Connell for O’Sullivan (60).

Tipperary: Robbie McGrath (Galtee Rovers 6); Emmet Bonner (Galtee Rovers 7), Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore/Castleiney 7), Billy Tierney (Clonmel Commercials 7); Killian Butler (Moyle Rovers 8), Charlie King (Ballina, Capt 8), Jamie O’Keeffe (Clonmel Commercials 7); Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials 8), Darragh O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials 8); Dylan Cotter (Thurles Gaels 6), Thomas Charles (Clonmel Commercials 6), JP Mbokha Tansia (Ballina 7); Daithí Hogan (St Patrick’s 7), Paddy O’Keeffe (Moyle Rovers 6), Ben Carey (Ballylooby/Castlegrace 7).

Subs: Liam Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash 6) for P O’Keeffe (42); Sam Hall (Golden Kilfeacle 6) for Cotter (53).

Referee: Jonathan Hayes (Limerick).