All-Ireland MHC Final/Tipperary 3-14 Cork 2-11:Once Tipperary reeled in Cork's early lead, they never looked even remotely under threat of relinquishing their All-Ireland title. The Premier County are on the way back but team trainer Tommy Dunne immediately preached caution to those expecting immediate results at senior level.
"There is potential for the future but the future is never guaranteed, and I think our lads are mature enough to know that," he said. "Success brings it own problems as well. There is huge pressure on them now. That's something they will be able to deal with. I hope people are realistic and don't put pressure on them too early."
Every time Cork attempted to reduce a six-point gap created by Michael Heffernan's goal early in the second half, Tipperary replied immediately with a score.
The winners' third goal in injury time capped off a comprehensive victory and scotched any arguments they had been fortunate to beat the same opponents in the Munster final, when Cork were reduced to 14 men.
The leaks began much earlier. With Cork trailing by three points, 1-9 to 1-6, nearing the interval, their manager, Dónal Ó Cróinín, withdrew the full back Alywin Kearney, who was already on a tick and a yellow card as he struggled to contain the excellent Patrick Maher.
The change seemed to make sense, but it ultimately it backfired as Tipperary's next two goals came from traffic down the middle.
The contest had started so well for Cork, Ryan Clifford (whose six points yesterday made him the championship's leading scorer with 5-31 in six games) and Michael O'Mahony contributing five points in response to a solitary point from Tipp captain Brendan Maher.
But as Tipp settled into a rhythm the game changed radically, and they notched up five points without reply. Clifford and Séamus Hennessy swapped frees before the initial hammer blow descended; Seán Carey struck the first Tipperary goal from Michael Heffernan's neat lay-off.
Hennessy and Heffernan pointed either side of this to leave Cork five points adrift.
A Robert White goal kept their hopes alive but those hopes were soon further dented as Heffernan grabbed the second goal, holding off two defenders to put Tipp back in the comfort zone.
And so it went. Clifford took responsibility in a disjointed Cork revival that was consistently repelled by a quickfire reply down the other end or some solid defending. Cork began to chase goals but the physically imposing blue-and-gold defence held firm, a stick or a body intervening every time.Pádraig Gould brought it back to six points but 60 seconds later the contest was over when Carey sprinted clear before booting past the hapless Darren McCarthy for his second goal.
Luke O'Farrell put some gloss on the final scoreline with a late goal but really there was only one team in this low-key final.
"They showed great character to come back after a poor start," said Tipperary manager Declan Ryan, whose odds on becoming the next senior manager have just dramatically shortened.
"We knew the Rebels would have some plan . . . but we were delighted with the way our players knuckled down and worked hard."
"You need to be taking your chances and we didn't take them at the start," said Ó Cróinín.
"I knew coming in here that this was a very serious Tipperary team . . . Noel McGrath, Maher, Hennessy - these fellas will be playing senior hurling in about two or three years' time. We gave it everything we had today."
TIPPERARY: J Logue; K O'Gorman, P Maher, S O'Brien; J Barry, J Coughlan, M Cahill; B Maher (0-3), N McGrath (0-1); S Hennessy (0-4, 0-3 frees), C Lorigan, S Carey (2-0); J O'Neill (0-2), P Maher (0-1), M Heffernan (1-2). Subs: P Murphy (0-1) for P Maher (31 mins), J Gallagher for K O'Gorman (51 mins), D O'Brien for C Lorigan (58 mins), D O'Connor N McGrath (61 mins).
CORK: D McCarthy; C Hurley, A Kearney, K Murphy; L McLoughlin, J Herlihy, C O'Donovan; S Farrell, D O'Sullivan; P Gould (0-2), M Bowles, M O'Mahony (0-3); L O'Farrell (1-0), R White (1-0), R Clifford (0-6, 0-3 frees). Subs: S McDonnell for S Farrell (24 mins), G O'Connor for A Kearney (31 mins), D Stack for M Bowles (half-time), C McCarthy for D Stack (51 mins).
Referee: J Owens (Wexford).
