Advertisement
Cork's Tomas Clancy and Tipperary's Donagh Leahy. INPHO/James Crombie
Champions

Cork claim third successive Munster U21 football title

The interval has been reached in tonight’s clash between Cork and Tipperary.

Cork 1-17
Tipperary 0-9

JOHN Cleary’s Cork ran riot in the final quarter to claim a 24th Cadbury Munster U21 football championship crown in Thurles this evening.

The Rebels were 0-10 to 0-8 clear when Mark Sugrue bagged the only goal of the game in the 47th minute.

And Cork, who won the second half by 1-13 to 0-4, piled on the misery for Tipp in the closing stages.

Cleary’s side finished with nine different scorers – including five of the six players who started in the forward positions.

And their reward is an All-Ireland semi-final showdown against the Ulster champions on Saturday week, April 20th, in O’Connor Park in Tullamore.

Sugrue was the leading scorer for Cork with 1-1 but four players – Alan Cadogan, Dan McEoin, Brian Hurley and Luke Connolly – all scored three points each.

Tipp, in contrast, struggled for scores and managed just four points from play during the hour, as the Premier County’s bid for a second Munster U21 crown in four seasons fell well short.

But at half-time, David Power’s side led by 0-5 to 0-4 – having come from two points down with three unanswered points before half-time.

And the hosts, playing with the breeze, spurned the best goal chance of the first half, as 1775 spectators looked on.

Bill Maher’s superb ball found Shane Leahy in a great position in the seventh minute but the corner forward, who scored two second half points, blazed wide.

Cork were more clinical with the goal chance that came their way as Hurley and Connolly set up Sugrue for his decisive strike.

And McEoin could have added more icing to a sweet-tasting Cork cake late on – but he screwed a shot wide from close range.

The sides were level twice in the early exchanges of the second half before Cork opened up with a run of five unanswered points from the 35th to 39th minutes.

Leahy kicked Tipp’s first point from play in the second half and he added another to bring Power’s young guns to within two.

But that was the cue for Cork to turn on the heat as they outscored Tipp by 1-7 to 0-1 for the remainder of the game.

Ultimately, it may be a year too soon for Tipp to make another breakthrough in the U21 grade – as nine players who started in the 2011 All-Ireland minor final lined out from the start last night.

Scorers for Cork: Mark Sugrue 1-1, Alan Cadogan, Luke Connolly, Dan McEoin (0-1f), Brian Hurley (0-2f) 0-3 each, Tom Clancy, Jamie Wall, Kevin Hallissey, Tom Hegarty 0-1 each.
Scorers for Tipperary: Liam McGrath 0-5 (0-5f), Shane Leahy 0-2, Jason Lonergan, Steven O’Brien 0-1 each.

CORK: David Hanrahan (Douglas); Conor Dorman (Bishopstown), Damien Cahalane (Castlehaven), Alan Cronin (Nemo Rangers); TJ Brosnan (Newmarket), Tom Clancy (Clonakilty), Jamie Wall (Kilbrittain); Sean Kiely (Ballincollig), Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s); Alan Cadogan (Douglas), Mark Sugrue (Bandon), John O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers); Dan McEoin (Ilen Rovers), Brian Hurley (Castlehaven), Luke Connolly (Nemo Rangers).

TIPPERARY: Gearoid Slattery (Cashel King Cormacs); Niall O’Sullivan (Moycarkey/Borris), Darragh Kearney (Clonmel Óg), Conor O’Sullivan (Galtee Rovers); Niall O’Meara (Kilruane McDonaghs), Seamus Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials), Paddy Dalton (Arravale Rovers); Steven O’Brien (Ballina), Dylan Fitzell (Cashel King Cormacs); Bill Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Ian Fahey (Clonmel Commercials), Donagh Leahy (Arravale Rovers); Liam McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Michael Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials), Shane Leahy (Arravale Rovers).

Referee: Richard Moloney (Limerick)

9 things to know about tonight’s provincial U21 football finals

Your Voice
Readers Comments
2
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.