Matchless Tipp reclaim title

FROM THE ARCHIVE MONDAY, JULY 22nd, 1991:The 1989 Munster and All-Ireland winners Tipperary met defending champions Cork in the summer of 1991 in the provincial decider. After a enthralling draw in Cork, the sides resumed hostilities in Thurles. Here is Paddy
Downey's report of a famous replay at Semple Stadium.

WORDS LIKE these which appear in cold print on Monday morning cannot capture the wild delirium which surged in great waves round Semple Stadium, Thurles, yesterday in the final minutes of the replayed Munster hurling final.

In those minutes the great game swayed on a razor’s edge, but when referee Terence Murray blew the final whistle Cork, champions of 1990, were dethroned and the matchless men of Tipperary has regained the Munster title – their fourth victory in five years and third over Cork.

Even neutral spectators in the huge attendance (official all-ticket figure 55,000, but there must have been 60,000 tightly packed into the stadium) were dazed by the throbbing tension and the astonishing manner in which Tipperary fought back from the brink of defeat.

It was more than astonishing, if the right word could be found to describe what had seemed impossible coming up to the end of the third quarter.

Seldom if ever before has any team in any game faced such a test of character. And it was character, sheer indomitable spirit – plus other factors which we shall come to presently – that won the title for them.

Tipperary looked dead and buried when trailing by nine points in the 14th minute of the second half. Like the tall ships, Cork were sailing away with the Munster crown in the humid heat of Semple Stadium.

But the defending champions struck something resembling the Rock of Cashel. In a bewildering spell of 13 minutes, Tipperary scored 2-5 – to which Cork replied with only one point from a magnificent 50-yard sideline puck by Cathal Casey – and the home team were in front with eight minutes of normal time to go.

Tipperary held that lead for only one minute, for Cork’s midfield substitute Pat Buckley, who made a big impact when he entered the game 10 minutes before half-time, levelled the scores with a lovely point off the ground – and extra time was now looming.

Tipperary’s thrust at this time from John Leahy, Joe Hayes and Aidan Ryan around midfield could not be stopped, however, and when the end came after six minutes of added time (a second half of 41 minutes) the challengers were in front by four points.

Most of that extension was caused by the deplorable invasion of the pitch, twice, by exuberant Tipperary supporters who were overflowing in their hundreds inside the perimeter wall on the Killinan end of the ground.

There was nothing rowdy about these incursions, however – young people were unable to contain their joy when Pat Fox and Aidan Ryan scored crucial goals.

The standard of the hurling was not consistently as high as in the drawn game at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on July 7th. But it was good enough at least to please the most discerning critics, and in the last quarter, and added time, it was excellent.

The Munster final this year must at last stop in their tracks the protagonists of the open draw.

Surely they cannot be allowed to kill this incomparable institution of Irish sport.

Cork will wonder how they let the game slip away when they seemed to have it totally in control – as they had at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. They were ahead at half-time by four points – 2-8 to 1-7 – and they shut their opponents out through most of the third quarter .

Between them, the full forwards – John Fitzgibbon, Ger Fitzgerald and Kevin Hennessy – scored four goals and three points. The champions also took over at midfield when Buckley came on to partner Teddy McCarthy. But they could not copperfasten their advantage.

The answer to the question posed is simple: this Tipperary team possess extraordinary character and many great hurlers.

Leahy was outstanding. His switch from the attack to midfield was a master stroke. Aidan Ryan and Hayes were splendid substitutes.

The contributions of the corner forwards Michael Cleary and Pat Fox were vital: they scored 1-7 and 1-5 respectively.

Declan Ryan played his part in different positions and Cormac Bonnar was unstoppable late in the game.

In defence, Bobby Ryan and Conal Bonnar were sound when the big effort was needed. Colm Bonnar was very effective in that sector too when he moved from midfield, and Ken Hogan could not be blamed for any of Cork’s four goals. He made some fine saves.

Nicholas English was unable to line out because of injury, but on the day his absence was not a handicap. His replacement, Donie O’Connell, lined out at centre forward where he broke down several high balls, but not fruitfully, and Declan Ryan moved to the right wing while Cleary went into the left corner.

Cork selector and county board secretary Frank Murphy expressed his team’s anger at the pitch invasion during the second half of the final and said that his board “will be taking the matter up with the Munster Council”.

Murphy said that the Cork goalkeeper was struck twice by coins and was interfered with when pucking the ball out.

How They Lined Out

TIPPERARY: K Hogan; P Delaney, N Sheehy, M Ryan; J Madden, B Ryan, Conal Bonnar; D Carr (1-1), Colm Bonnar; D Ryan (0-2), D O’Connell, J Leahy (0-2); P Fox (1-5), Cormac Bonnar (0-1), M Cleary (1-7, 2fs). Subs: A Ryan (1-1) for O’Connell (half-time); J Hayes for Madden (40 mins).

CORK: G Cunningham; S O’Gorman, R Browne, D Walsh; C Casey (0-1, sideline), J Cashman (0-3, one 65, 1f), P Hartnett; B O’Sullivan, T McCarthy; T Mulcahy (0-1), M Foley, T O’Sullivan (0-6, 4f); G Fitzgerald (1-2), K Hennessy (1-0), J Fitzgibbon (2-1, goal from free). Subs: P Buckley (O-1) for B O’Sullivan (25 mins).

Referee: T Murray (Limerick).