Tipperary had to withstand a strong Cork fightback to reach their third Munster Minor Football final in a row with a deserved three point victory in this semi-final at Semple Stadium, Thurles last night.

However they were left hanging on deep in injury time with only the post denying Cork’s Michael Hurley from bringing the game to extra time, after trailing by seven points at one stage.

Tipperary made the brighter start but it was Cork who punished the home sides early wastefulness with wing back Sean White opening the scoring. However it proved to be the rebels only point of the half.

Tipperary dominated possession, with Colin O’Riordan to the fore at midfield, but eight first half wides prevented them from making it count on the scoreboard. Alan Tynan assumed the free-taking duties, converting three and it took Tipp until the final minute of the half to score from play through Paul Maher with Tynan following suit to give Tipp a four-point lead at the break.

The gap stretched to seven by the 40th minute with points from Liam Casey, and two more from Tynan before Cork finally found their rhythm with points from Michael Cahalane and Aidan Moynihan closing the gap but a second Maher point and a seventh from the excellent Tynan gave Tipp the cushion they needed to hold on.

Tipperary: J Brady; D Owens, J Feehan, W Connors; K Fahey, R Mulcahy, L Boland; L Casey (0-1), C O’Riordan; P Shanahan, J Keane, C Lowry; A Tynan (0-7, 5f), T Kirwan, P Maher (0-2). Subs: S Quirke (0-1) for Shanahan (47); M Connolly for Boland (56); M Russell for Casey (58).

Cork: A Casey; M McSweeney, K Flahive, D Quinn; S White (0-1), S Cronin, K O’Neill; P Kelleher, K O’Connor; J Bushe (0-1), R Harkin, K Cremin; R O’Sullivan, M Cahalane (0-4, 2f), M Hurley. Subs: P O’Neill for Kelleher (ht); A Moynihan (0-2) for Cremin (ht); R Cahalane for O’Sullivan (37); D O’Driscoll for Harkin (41); C O’Driscoll for O’Neill (52).

Referee: S Joy (Kerry)