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Cork win Munster U20 football title with another high-scoring display

Cork 3-20 Tipperary 3-10

Courtesy of Mark Woods (The Echo). Pictures courtesy of George Hatchell

CORK swept to their second Munster U20 title by following up last week’s exciting win over Kerry with another impressive showing at Semple Stadium on Thursday.

And they did it without star forward Conor Corbett, who was injured during the first-half and didn’t make the second period.

But, the Clyda Rovers player was hardly missed as his replacement Sean McDonnell scored a wonder goal similar to Diarmaid Phelan’s super effort in the opening period.

McDonnell’s goal shoved Cork 2-15 to 2-3 in front after 37 minutes and well on their way.

Yet, the stand-out figure was vice-captain David Buckley, who tormented the Tipp defence all evening and was outstanding in his shooting, accumulating 10 in total.

Tipp produced a quick-fire 1-2 with captain Sean O’Connor netting for the second time only for Colin Walsh to crash home Cork’s third goal moments later.

Cork were nine clear 3-15 to 3-6, entering the closing quarter as Buckley continued his exemplary finishing and also created a ‘goal’ for Cahalane, but it was ruled out for a square infringement.

In the first-half Tipp stunned Cork with a couple of goals in three minutes after the visitors began confidently with three points in as many minutes.

But, then Tipp struck through captain Sean O’Connor after the towering Kevin Grogan won a ball in front of the Cork goal after six minutes.

And when Jamie Holloway’s low shot took a deflection en route for Tipp’s second goal, Cork found themselves 2-1 to 0-4 adrift by the 10th minute.

Grogan’s long-range free-taking helped the home cause as they led by 2-2 to 0-6 at the first water-break with Corbett requiring attention for a knee injury.

But, there was no denying the dominant side during the second quarter as Cork compiled 1-6 without response, taking full advantage of their superiority around the middle.

Buckley was unmarkable as Corbett found his groove too, but the goal came from a most unlikely source, full-back Phelan, who roamed forward to plant a goal-of-the-season contender in the 26th minute.

The Aghada player took a quick line ball to Dara Dorgan, who returned it immediately to Phelan, who, then went on a brilliant solo run and managed to keep his cool when the chance presented itself, firing a rocket deep into the net.

And with Buckley pointing a ‘mark’ and Jack Cahalane fisting over another, Cork jumped 1-13 to 2-3 in front at the break. Corbett, however, didn’t re-appear for the second-half.

This was the first meeting between the counties in a final since the age group was changed from U21 four years ago.

Cork easily triumphed by 1-20 to 0-8 in the first round of the new U20 competition in 2018 before losing to Kerry in the final.

Cork and Kerry have dominated, contesting the three finals with the Kingdom 2-1 ahead, but Cork have now levelled. In the past the rivals won 26 U21 titles apiece.

Now Cork take on the Leinster champions Offaly in the All-Ireland semi-final over the Bank Holiday weekend.

On the other side of the draw, new Connacht champions Roscommon, who defeated Mayo in the final on Wednesday, meet either Monaghan or Down.

The Ulster final is put back a week following the tragic death of Monaghan captain Brendan Og Duffy in a car accident last week.

Scorers for Cork: D Buckley 0-10, 1f, 1 ‘mark’, C Walsh 1-3, D Phelan and S McDonnell 1-0 each, D Dorgan 0-3, 2f, C Corbett 0-2, J Cahalane 0-1, M O’Neill 0-1f.

Scorers for Tipperary: S O’Connor 2-2, 2f, J Holloway 1-0, K Grogan 0-3, 2f, R Walsh and C Deeley 0-2 each, E Butler 0-1.

CORK: G Creedon (Kilshannig); C O’Donovan (Newcestown), D Phelan (Aghada), C McGoldrick (Eire Og); A Walsh-Murphy (Valley Rovers), T Walsh (Kanturk), D Cashman (Millstreet); B Hayes (St Finbarr’s), captain, E Cooke (Ballincollig); C Corbett (Clyda Rovers), J Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), N Hartnett (Douglas); D Dorgan (Ballincollig), C Walsh (Kanturk), D Buckley (Newcestown).

Subs: S McDonnell (Mallow) for Corbett injured half-time, N Lordan (Ballinora) for O’Donovan and C O’Ssullivan (Kilshannig) for Hayes, both 47, M O’Neill (Buttevant) for Dorgan 48, S O’Sullivan (Adrigole) for Cooke 57.

TIPPERARY: C Scully; S Daly, T Condon, B McKeown; E Butler, B O’Connor, L Kennedy; C Deeley, K Grogan; C Cadell, R Walsh, J Holloway; J Kiely, B Comerford, S O’Connor, captain.

Subs: J Durcan for McKeown 23, B Kehoe for B O’Connor half-time, C English for Holloway 37, M Lyons for Comerford 48, K Costello for Walsh 60

Referee: B Griffin (Kerry).

Cork minor footballers defeat Waterford to set up Kerry clash

Cork 5-28 Waterford 0-3

Courtesy of Mark Woods (The Echo)

CORK cruised to the semi-final of the Munster minor football championship with a facile victory over a weak Waterford side at Dungarvan’s Fraher Field on Wednesday evening.

It’s fair to say reigning champions Kerry will supply a much different challenge in next week’s semi-final, but at least Cork will have home advantage at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Despite the lopsided nature of the game and bearing in mind the quality of the opposition, Cork impressed in first of all winning primary possession and then using it sensibly.

Midfielders Rory O’Shaughnessy, joint captain with Hugh O’Connor, the lone survivor from last season, dictated matters around the centre and the forwards enjoyed a feast of ball their way.

The impressive O’Connor was joined by Ross Corkery, son of former Cork and Nemo Rangers great, Colin, hat-trick hero Jamie O’Driscoll, and Niall Kelly in the scoring stakes as Cork compiled a huge tally.

Cork could afford to start emptying their bench during the third quarter withdrawing both O’Shaughnessy and O’Connor.

Well before the interval even, Cork had secured their passage to the last-four, leading at the short whistle by a whopping 24 points, 2-18 to 0-0, a reflection of the one-sided nature of the tie.

Cork started the rout after just 15 seconds, when joint-captain Rory O’Shaughnessy won the throw-in before the ball was worked into O’Connor who duly pointed.

Yet, Cork had a narrow escape a couple of minutes later, when their defence was opened up by a fine pass from Adam Murray only for Liam Lynch to drag his shot wide of the far post.

Cork then surged nine points in front by the first water-break as Corkery landed his first from his left boot in the ninth minute and O’Connor’s impressive tally increased with a ‘mark.’

Towering midfielder Michael McSweeney brought up the ninth point, but the break did nothing to upset Cork’s rhythm as Waterford again continued to come under constant bombardment.

Kelly began another onslaught of scores and still Cork needed the intervention of goalkeeper Mikey O’Connell to get his body behind a well-struck Sam Pender shot and out for a ’45, which was confidently held again by O’Connell, who was fouled in the process.

Corkery, off his right on this occasion, claimed Cork’s 12th point before the pacey O’Driscoll earned a double reward for his endeavours.

He took a pass from O’Shaughnessy after 24 minutes and finished impressively past keeper Dara Kavanagh for the opening goal.

And a minute later, the Castlehaven forward pounced for his second goal for 2-13 to 0-0, though, Kavanagh got some level of revenge by denying O’Driscoll his hat-trick with a brave save approaching stoppage time.

O’Connor’s seventh point crashed over via the crossbar and Waterford’s hopeless situation worsened with the black-carding of centre-back Ryan Hennessy, facing the opening 10 minutes of the second half with 14 players.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Waterford managed to finally get on the scoreboard after 34 minutes with the first of Adam Murray’s pair of frees.

Cork, though, responded with 1-3, the goal coming from wing-back Darragh O’Brien, who finished with a scorching shot to the far corner of the net just before the second water break, 3-22 to 0-2.

Cork added further goals through O’Driscoll to complete his hat-trick and Niall Daly.

Scorers for Cork: J O’Driscoll 3-0, H O’Connor 0-9 (0-3 f, 0-2 ‘mark’), N Kelly 0-7, R Corkery 0-7 (0-1 f), D O’Brien and N Daly 1-0 each, M McSweeney 0-2, R O’Shaughnessy, O Corcoran, F Crowley 0-1 each.
Waterford: A Murphy 0-3 f.

CORK: M O’Connell (St Michael’s); D Twomey (Ballinascarthy), S O’Connell (Kilshannig), P O’Grady (Kilavullen); S Copps (Mallow); C Twomey (Carbery Rangers), D O’Brien (Glanworth); M McSweeney (Knocknagree); R O’Shaughnessy (St Michael’s); J O’Neill (Castlehaven), N Kelly (Newcestown), C Gillespie (Aghabullogue); R Corkery (Nemo Rangers), J O’Driscoll (Castlehaven), H O’Connor (Newmarket).

Subs: M Hunt (Macroom) for O’Grady half-time, D Crowley (Urhan) for O’Shaughnessy, O Cororan (St Mary’s) for O’Connor and N Daly (Ilen Rovers) for Gillespie, all 40, F Crowley (St Finbarr’s) for O’Neill 45, C Cusack (Nemo Rangers) for Corkery blood sub.

WATERFORD: D Kavanagh; B Dee-Carter, S Byrne, A Greene; C Ryan, R Hennessy, T Leane; S Flavin, O O’Dwyer; J Power, E O’Callaghan, E O Gradaigh; L Lynch, A Murray, S Pender.

Subs: C Sweeney for O Gradaigh half-time, A Jacob for Power and T Martin for Leane, 44, M Long for Flavin 50, B Stuart for Lynch 55.

Referee: N Quinn (Clare)

Cork U20 team to play Munster Final has been announced

Cork U20 Manager Keith Ricken has announced his team for Thursday’s Munster final against Tipperary

Gavin Creedon, Kilshannig
Colm O Donovan, Newcestown
Diarmaid Phelan, Agahad
Conor McGoldrick, Eire Óg
Adam Walsh-Murphy, Valley Rovers
Tommy Walsh, Kanturk
Darragh Cashman, Millstreet
Brian Hayes , St. Finbarrs
Evan Cooke, Ballincollig
Conor Corbett, Clyda Rovers
Jack Cahalane, Castlehaven
Niall Hartnett, Douglas
Dara Dorgan, Ballincollig
Colin Walsh, Kanturk
David Buckley , Newcestown
Cian O Leary, Douglas
Neil Lordan, Ballinora
Darragh Holland, Argideen Rangers
Luke Horgan, Nemo Rangers
Ciaran O Sullivan, Kilshannig
Eoghan Nash, Douglas
Sean O Sullivan, Adrigole
Michael O’ Neill, Buttevant
Sean McDonnell, Mallow

Cork beat Tipp in U20

Bord Gáis Energy Munster U-20 Hurling semi-final

CORK 3-20 TIPPERARY 2-17

By Shane Brophy at Semple Stadium

Cork inflicted another second half drubbing on Tipperary as they came from six-points down to win this Munster Under 20 Hurling semi-final at Semple Stadium last evening.

Cork began brightly with scores from Brian Hayes and Ciaran Joyce but Tipp quickly settled and after Dara Stakelum and Devon Ryan levelled, Max Hackett ran onto a Sean Hayes centre to drill to the net.

Devon Ryan starred in the first half and would score a further seven before half time. Kian O’Kelly saw an effort at goal whizz over the bar as Tipp were looking dangerous in every attack. Points from Sean Quirke, Daniel Hogan, and Jack Cahalane kept Cork in touch but were six adrift at half time, 1-13 to 0-10.

However, much like the senior final 48 hours earlier, Tipp were swamped after half time with Cork hitting the first four points before Daniel Hogan flicked home a 39th minute goal to put Cork in front. Tipp’s only third quarter point came from Devon Ryan but Ciaran Cotters goal just before the second water-break put Cork four in front.

They kicked on there after with the bench contributing 1-4 with Luke Horgan’s goal on 58 minutes killing the game off and Kyle Shelly’s goal in added time for Tipp a mere consolation.

Scorers for Cork: Robbie Cotter 1-2; Daniel Hogan 1-1; Brian Hayes, Padraig Power, Ben Cunningham 0-3 each; Luke Horgan 1-0; Sam Quirke, Darragh Flynn (2f), Jack Cahalane 0-2 each; Cathal Joyce, Conor O’Leary 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tipperary: Devon Ryan 0-9 (5 frees); Max Hackett 1-2; Kyle Shelly 1-0; John Campion 0-2; Dara Stakelum, Kian O’Kelly, Peter McGarry, Jack Leamy 0-1 each.

CORK: Cathal Wilson; Eoin Downey, Daire O’Leary, Cormac O’Brien; Ethan Twomey, Ciaran Joyce, Kevin Moynihan; Sam Quirke, Brian O’Sullivan; Darragh Flynn, Daniel Hogan, Brian Hayes; Robbie Cotter, Padraig Power, Jack Cahalane. Subs: Ben Cunningham for Flynn (42); Luke Horgan for Cahalane (42); Micheal Mullins for Hogan (46); Diarmuid Kearney for O’Sullivan (53); Conor O’Leary for Hayes (60).

TIPPERARY: Aaron Browne; Conor O’Dwyer, Keith Ryan, Fintan Purcell; Conor Whelan, Kevin Maher, Johnny Ryan; Max Hackett, John Campion; Dara Stakelum, Devon Ryan, Kian O’Kelly; Sean Hayes, Paddy Creedon, James Devaney. Subs: Peter McGarry for Campion (29 blood); Jack Leamy for Stakelum (44); Colm Fogarty for Devaney (50); Conor Hennessey for Whelan (52); Kyle Shelly for McGarry (55); Sean Phelan for Maher (60-60+3 blood); Tony Cahill for Creedon (60+1).

Referee: John O’Halloran (Limerick)