All-Ireland SHC Qualifiers Round Three/Tipperary 2-16 Cork 1-18:Tipperary hurling needed this. When the consequences of defeat are this heavy it comes down to enthusiasm for the fight. Cork must now rediscover primary form to deal with the Munster champions, Waterford, in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. Tipp's reward for this fine display is Wexford next weekend, probably in Croke Park. It will be their seventh championship game in as many weeks but they ain't complaining.
The last time Tipperary beat Cork in the championship was the 1991 Munster final replay.
Cork have now made three unfortunate visits to the home of hurling this summer. The first was a dour victory over Clare, when events prior to throw-in cost them three men, suspended, for the Waterford game, which they bravely lost by three points. Then there was Saturday night.
When they infuse rhythm to their play it is beautiful. Since the Waterford defeat and the return of the suspended trio, Cork have moved through the gears. Even Kilkenny folk who saw them accelerate past Dublin and Offaly drank deep and were silent.
On Saturday evening, in front of a modest 12,106 loyal souls, Cork were supposed to confirm this revival against a severely weakened Tipperary, devoid of a full back, a fearsome midfield pairing and several key forwards, especially the great Eoin Kelly.
That's what makes Tipp's win so commendable. And boy, did Babs Keating need it. The wolves had been gathering at the door. But Babs did not round on his critics afterwards; he just called on the natives to rally round.
"We know the lads. We know the commitment that's in that dressingroom and it was very hurtful for us. I was glad what Lar Corbett had in the paper this week - we have a united camp and have always had a united camp.
"But look, gentlemen, we have won nothing yet. We are trying to establish Tipperary hurling, play the type of Tipperary hurling our supporters . . . (he stalls before driving home the point). You don't fool Tipperary people. There is no room for fakes in Tipperary. There is too much knowledge coming into those stands from Tipperary people who have won plenty."
Cork exploded out of the blocks and until a well-taken Willie Ryan goal on 21 minutes the five-point handicap seemed an enticing wager.
Cork's legendary half-back line were dominant; it was the delivery of Messrs Gardiner, Curran and Ó hAilpín into the forward line that so impressed.
Diarmuid O'Sullivan cleaned out the returning Micheál Webster on the first high ball.
Five Cork forwards had scored after 15 minutes. As had the irrepressible Jerry O'Connor.
But wait, Cork are containable. Tipperary steadied themselves. Unlike in their early assaults, there was purpose to the ball Eamonn Corcoran dropped in for Ryan's first goal. Webster got in front of O'Sullivan to break possession for Larry Corbett, who deftly offloaded to Ryan. He stepped inside Donal Óg Cusack before blasting past the retreating Cian O'Connor.
Benny Dunne had a decent evening and soon swatted the second of his three points. But Cork ended a further passage of play with Neil Ronan grabbing the sliotar and striking a fine point. Corbett replied with a score from distance.
Dunne was denied a certain goal coming up to half-time by a hook from Seán Óg Ó hAilpín.
Everyone took a break. Tipp had 1-8 from play, Cork 0-10. Surely, the undercooked Tipperary would be exposed in the second stanza.
On 39 minutes Dunne grappled for possession under the old stand. Eventually he prevailed and sprayed a crossfield pass for Ryan. The corner forward devoured Shane Murphy before bouncing the ball into Donal Óg's goal. The hosts led, 2-9 to 0-13.
Kevin Hartnett replied with a lovely point before Tipperary cut loose. Ryan posted the first free his team had won inside the 45. Hugh Moloney exposed slack Cork defending. John Carroll barrelled into the action. Ryan slapped over a 65 after Donal Óg fouled a puck-out. On his debut, young Daragh Hickey landed a point from wide on the right - 2-13 to 0-14.
The Tipp train was rolling. Their half-back line, where man-of-the-match Corcoran was immense, was doing a solid impression of their Cork counterparts, who were coming under increasing pressure.
The Cork manager, Gerald McCarthy, reacted. Tom Kenny and Timmy McCarthy were tossed into the fray.
Patrick Cronin book-ended the 13-minute gap from Cork's previous score. Kieran Murphy of Sarsfields ensured every Cork forward had a point, before being promptly replaced by Cathal Naughton.
It was frantic now, the referee throwing the sliotar in three times in a minute. A great touch by the new Tipp goalkeeper Gerry Kennedy denied Joe Deane a goal but not a point. Cork were at least chipping into the lead.
Then Ronan deflected the ball to the net after a smart delivery from Deane. We had a one-point game.
Carroll and Dean swapped scores. One additional minute was announced. In the 72nd minute Cork were afforded time to take a sideline ball.
The line was crammed with players, mentors and stewards. Ben O'Connor scuffed his strike. Tipp rejoiced as their season took an upward trajectory.
Cork dropped hurleys at the dressingroom door before returning to the Semple turf for a vigorous warm-down in the rain. They cut an intimidating sight.
McCarthy was last in. He was asked if leadership had been an issue. "No, I wouldn't say so," he ventured. "I think maybe complacency more than leadership.
"While we'll be a little disappointed . . . the road is a harder road for us against Waterford . . . but there is still a road there and that's what we are happy about."
TIPPERARY: 1 G Kennedy; 2 E Buckley, 3 D Fanning, 4 A Byrne; 5 E Corcoran, 6 C O'Mahony, 7 S Maher; 8 H Moloney (0-2), 9 F Devaney; 21 D Hickey (0-1), 11 B Dunne (capt, 0-3), S Butler (0-2); 13 L Corbett (0-3), 28 M Webster, 15 W Ryan (2-3, two frees 65). Substitutes: 10 J Carroll (0-1) for F Devaney (45 mins), 19 D Egan (0-1) for M Webster (47 mins), 24 S McGrath for D Hickey (59 mins), 17 P Bourke for W Ryan (69 mins). Yellow cards: Devaney (24 mins), Maher (36 mins).
CORK: 1 D Óg Cusack; 2 S Murphy, 3 D O'Sullivan, 4 C O'Connor; 5 J Gardiner, 6 R Curran, 7 S Óg Ó hAilpín; 8 K Hartnett (0-2), 9 J O'Connor (0-3); 10 K Murphy (Erin's Own, capt, 0-2), 11 B O'Connor (0-1), 12 P Cronin (0-2); 13 N Ronan (1-2), 14 K Murphy (Sarsfields, 0-1), 15 J Deane (0-5, four frees). Substitutes: 17 B Murphy for C O'Connor (half-time), 21 T Kenny for K Murphy (Erin's Own), 22 T McCarthy for K Hartnett (both 49 mins), 23 C Naughton for K Murphy (Sarsfields, 55 mins). Yellow card: Gardiner (24 mins).
Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath).
