CORK...2-17 TIPPERARY...1-20: Of course it wouldn't be true to say that all Cork-Tipp matches are classics but the ancient rivalry between the counties sometimes finds unexpectedly agreeable outlets.

Yesterday's Allianz League fixture had nothing riding on it - any remote threat to Tipperary joining the hosts in the top tier of the concluding stages having been eliminated by results elsewhere long before the final whistle blew in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

But despite the selection of largely shadow teams and an at times insipid pattern of play, this fixture featured some excellent score taking, some good general play and an eagerly-contested finale for the 6,988 who attended.

It's not likely that such considerations were top of the respective managements' priority list but there was some food for thought for both Donal O'Grady and Ken Hogan to digest as the countdown to summer quickens.

A close finish didn't look the most likely denouement in the early stages. Tipp were all fluid movement and quality striking that propelled them to a convincing early advantage - the leading scoring cameos courtesy of Benny Dunne and Paddy O'Brien with three points each.

Before half-time, however, Cork bought their way out of these difficulties with familiar and enduring currency: a couple of goals against the run of play.

"We had a good start and got six or seven great points," said Tipperary manager Ken Hogan afterwards. "But that can be a vulnerable lead if the opposition start looking for goals and, if the opportunities arise, there's no better team than Cork to take them.

"We went in on level terms despite playing well and when Cork took the lead towards the end, it looked like they'd take the points. But I thought the lads fought well in the second half."

That they did. Having weathered the loss of a carefully assembled six-point lead just before the break, Tipp came under more sustained pressure in the second half. The scoring was metronomic in its regularly swings backwards and forwards. But when Cork made a scoring break in the last 10 minutes to go two in front and stay there until only a minute of normal time remained, the home side looked to have timed their run nicely.

But a 20-metre free was awarded against Wayne Sherlock, who protested his innocence vehemently, for a foul on Eoin Kelly. After the demonstrations against this perceived miscarriage of justice had subsided, Kelly himself added to Cork's sense of grievance by nailing the free to the back of the net, his strike only a menacing blur to the defenders on the line.

There was a diplomatic ending, however, when Jonathan O'Callaghan rounded off another high-yield day by equalising with a free for a foul on Joe Deane. Kelly had a line ball that would have won the match for Tipp but the cut rose and fell short.

"At the start we were very tentative," said Cork coach Donal O'Grady, "and Tipp went into a four or five-point lead before we pulled our game together.

"The two goals brought us back into it and we hurled well in the second half. But I think Tipperary got all their scores from frees after half-time. Some of them were debatable but it doesn't matter when they're given against you. You can't afford to give away 10 points in frees and hope to win."

Nonetheless in the couple of minutes before half-time Cork had managed to avoid the dictates of reaping what you sow when uncertainty in the Tipp defence let Kieran Murphy and Eamonn Collins in for cheap goals that left the interval scores level at 2-7 to 0-13.

The cast changed in the second half, with familiar characters being introduced. Tommy Dunne took the field at what seems likely to be his championship location, full forward, whereas, for Cork, Joe Deane came on and added some sustained menace to the attack, as well as two points.

Tipperary had reason to agonise a little over the continuing state of play at centre back. Declan Fanning did well in his trial at number six but Michael Byrne wouldn't be the biggest test in Europe and it was noticeable that Niall McCarthy upped the tempo when brought on in the final quarter.

John Carroll, who had appeared to be progressing nicely in the position before it was decided his presence was required on the other 40, struggled in the first half before dropping a little deeper after the break to better effect. Still Hogan and his selectors will hope they haven't managed to lose out in both positions by returning Carroll to the forwards.

Cork suffered a fright when Diarmuid O'Sullivan had to be helped off in the 49th minute but afterwards O'Grady was talking in terms of missed league matches rather anything more long-term.

"He twisted his ankle and will miss at least the first match on the resumption of the league."

CORK: M Coleman; W Sherlock, D O'Sullivan, M Prendergast; G Callinan, J Gardiner (0-2, one free), S Ó hAilpín; T Kenny, A Coughlan (0-1); J O'Callaghan (0-9, six frees), M Byrne (0-1), P Tierney (0-2); K Murphy (1-0), E Collins (1-0), B Lombard. Subs: C O'Connor for Callinan (24 mins); N McCarthy for Coughlan (47 mins); J Deane (0-2) for Lombard (48 mins); M O'Connell for O'Sullivan (49 mins).

TIPPERARY: J Cottrell; T Costello, J Devane, C Morrissey; E Corcoran, D Fanning, H Moloney; D Byrne, P Kelly (0-5, three frees); M O'Leary (0-1), J Carroll (0-1), B Dunne (0-3); P O'Brien (0-3), N Moloney (0-1), E Kelly (1-6, five from frees). Subs: S Maher for Byrne (52 mins); T Dunne for N Moloney (55 mins); T Scroope for O'Leary (59 mins).

Referee: S McMahon (Clare).