Tipperary minor footballers fall agonisingly short of Munster final after late extra time loss

Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football semi-final

Tipperary 0-20

Cork 2-17

After extra time

By Michael Dundon

Tipperary’s heroic effort in this Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship semi-final thriller came up just short in extra time at Semple Stadium on Monday evening as a fancied Cork scraped through to face Kerry in the provincial final.

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Though defeat was their lot, this bunch of Tipperary teenagers did the county proud, and while deeply disappointed in its immediate aftermath, they have the consolation of a place in the All-Ireland tier two series and the opportunity to extend their wonderful campaign further.

It took an 80th-minute goal from Cork sub Joe Miskella, which stemmed from a turnover in the Cork half of the field, to decide this encounter just when it seemed that a penalty shoot-out was looming. 

Cork won the game but Tipp lost nothing in terms of their progress in the football world as they matched their rivals all the way and with a bit of luck could have  got through to the final.

For the second week in a row, Tipp had to play extra time, and just as they had shown previously against Clare, their spirit and refusal to capitulate saw them come from five points down with 12 minutes to go to send the game to extra time. 

They were slow out of the blocks as Cork went three points clear in a poor opening quarter, but once Ned O'Meara opened Tipp’s account with a two-pointer free in the 18th minute, they had much the better of things. 

O’Meara (0-3, including another two-point free), Sean Burke, Sean Griffin, and Killian Fitzgerald were all on target, helping Tipp to a half-time lead of 0-8 to 0-7.

It was a great recovery by Tipp in a half, in which both sides made errors, and while Tipp started the second half well with points from Killian Smith and Sean Griffin, Cork began to get a grip and were leading 0-12 to 0-10 at the start of the last quarter. 

A quality goal by Donagh Flynn in the 48th minute, as he jinked his way through the Tipp rearguard, put his side in a commanding position, 1-12 to 0-10, and it looked as though Tipp were finished.

The character in this Tipp outfit came to the fore as they upped the intensity of their game. The impressive Sean Griffin pointed, Ned O’Meara landed another two-point free, and then a point free to leave just a point in it with five minutes plus to go. Tipp goalie James O’Brien made a great save to deny Cork a goal, but they had a point from Daniel McCarthy for a 2 point lead going into injury time.

Undaunted, Tipp battled on and their courage was rewarded when James Murphy pointed in the 61st minute, followed three minutes later by a Ned O'Meara pointed free to tie the game, 0-16 to 1-13.

The first half of extra time brought no change, Sean Griffin and James Murphy’s two-pointer negating 3 Cork points. In the second half of extra time, they shared two points, Ned O’Meara’s point free being cancelled by a similar effort from Cork’s Daniel McCarthy. 

In the 80th minute. Tipp lost possession when mounting an attack, and with so many players gone forward, Cork availed of the space to race through for a Joe Miskella goal that decided the tie.

It was heartbreaking for the Tipp lads after such a huge effort, but this display, along with that of the U20s a week previously, augurs well for the future of Tipp football. 

Next up for these lads is an All-Ireland tier two outing and another opportunity to pit themselves against the counties that did not reach provincial finals. On this showing, Tipp will not be out of their depth.

Sean Griffin had a towering game at midfield for Tipperary, scoring four points, and getting through an enormous amount of work, Jack Kearney, Daniel Charles, Sean Burke, Jack McGonigle and goalie James O’Brien delighted Tipp fans with the quality of their play but all round one had to take one’s hat off to the courage of all that wore the jersey.

Scorers: Tipperary: Ned O’Meara (0-10, 3tp frees, 0-4f), Sean Griffin 0-4, J Murphy (0-3, 1tp), Sean Burke, Killian Smith, Killian Fitzgerald all 0-1 each.

Cork: Ben Corkery Delaney (0-4, 1tp), D McCarthy (0-4, 0-2f), Donagh Flynn, Joe Miskella 1-0 each, Eoin Maguire 0-3, Cathal McCarthy (0-2, 1tp), Tom Whooley 0-1f, Niall O’Callaghan, Paddy Murphy, Sean O’Sullivan both 0-1 each.

Tipperary: James O’Brien (Moyle Rovers); Cormac McInerney (Cashel King Cormacs), Daniel Charles (Clonmel Commercials), Conor Hurley (Moyle Rovers); Darragh Bresnan (Arravale Rovers), Niall Delaney (JK Brackens), Jack Kearney (Ballyporeen); Sean Griffin (Upperchurch Drombane ), Aaron McAndrew (Moyle Rovers); Sean Burke (JK Brackens), Killian Smith (Clonmel Commercials), Killian Fitzgerald (Lorrha); Dylan McCormack (Clonmel Óg), Ned O’Meara (Mullinahone), Dara Maher (Clonmel Commercials).

Subs used: Jack McGonigle for McAndrew (20); Charlie Hall (Golden Kilfeacle)for Delaney (41);  Cillian Morrissey (Moyle Rovers) for McCormack (49); Reuben Grace (Galtee Rovers) for Fitzgerald (52); James Murphy (Ardfinnan) for Maher (58); McCormack for Bresnan (75); Fitzgerald for Smith (77); Rory O’Reilly (Clonmel Óg) for McGonigle (79).

Cork: Rory Twohig (Kilmeen); Ben Coffey (Clonakilty), Aaron Keane (Kinsale), Matthew Kiernan (Carrigaline); Jerry O’Leary (Ballinascarthy), Cathal McCarthy (St Colum’s), Brian Cronin (Ballincollig); Samuel Kelleher Leavy (Macroom), Ronan Hayes (Carbery Rangers); Tom Whooley (Clonakilty), Donagh Flynn (Argideen Rangers), Niall O'Callaghan (Castlehaven); Paddy Murphy (Donoughmore), Ben Corkery Delaney (Carrigaline), Eoin Maguire (Castlehaven).

Subs used: Sean O’Sullivan (Aghabullogue) for Murphy (8, inj); Eoin Looney (Lyre) for O’Leary (43); Daniel McCarthy (Castlehaven) for Maguire (50); Jack Hanrahan (Mitchelstown) for O’Callaghan (53); Joe Miskella (Ballincollig) for Whooley (55); Sam Long (Newcestown) for O’Sullivan (ET); Whooley for Flynn (71); Eamon Ger O’Sullivan (Clyda Rangers) for Kelleher Leavy (73).

Referee: Evan Horan (Kerry)

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