Cork make late returns count

MUNSTER MHC QUALIFIERS - Cork 0-19 Tipperary 0-18: TWO POINTS inside the final two minutes in a pulsating Munster minor hurling…

MUNSTER MHC QUALIFIERS - Cork 0-19 Tipperary 0-18:TWO POINTS inside the final two minutes in a pulsating Munster minor hurling final saw Cork grab victory just when it seemed the sides might have to meet again.

Cork led 0-10 to 0-9 at the interval. Points inside two minutes by Kieran Morris and Paddy Murphy had Tipperary off to a good start before Ciarán Sheehan had the first of his four points for Cork, who squandered the best goal chance of the game late on.

The sides were level three times in the second half before Tipperary edged in front with a point by Morris and, when Sheehan had them two in front, it seemed they might pull away.

But Cork battled furiously in the final 10 minutes. It was level at 14, 15 and 16 points before a point by Sheehan had Cork in front again.

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The game's outstanding player, Tipperary captain Noel McGrath, tied it up at 0-17 each from a 65.

Mark Collins had a 59th minute point for Cork followed by another from Séamus O'Farrell and, in a dramatic finale, Tipperary tried for a goal but the effort went over.

CORK:D McCarthy; C Smith, D Rodgers, E Moynihan; A Walsh, P O'Shea (0-3, two frees, one 65), W Egan; S O'Farrell (0-1), D Roche; M Collins (0-1), C Sheehan (0-4), S O'Brien (0-5, two frees), J O'Dwyer, P Honohan (0-2), P Haughney (0-3). Subs: J Coughlan for O'Dwyer (40 mins), B Collins for Smith (55).

TIPPERARY:B McCormack; L Butler, K O'Gorman, C Haugh; J Barry, A Ryan, N McGrath (0-6, four frees, one 65, one sideline); R Gleeson, J Gallagher; K Murphy, T Butler (0-1), P Murphy (0-2); J O'Neill (0-2), B O'Meara (0-1), K Morris (0-4, three frees). Subs: M Sheedy (0-2) for O'Meara (49 mins).

Referee:M O'Connor (Limerick).