McGrath inspires Tipperary

MUNSTER UNDER-21 HC SEMI-FINALS: Tipperary 2-17 Cork 0-21 (after extra time)

TIPPERARY CAME good in extra-time to reach the final after Séamus Hennessy rescued them with a goal from a free two minutes from the end of regulation time before a crowd of 3,598 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday evening.

Noel McGrath inspired them in the first half of additional time as the visitors outscored Cork 0-5 to 0-1 and that was enough to cushion them in the second period.

Hennessy’s dramatic equaliser came after Cork hit seven unanswered points to turn the tie around after Tipperary led by 1-8 to 0-7 at half-time, Michael Heffernan batting home an important goal just before the break following a penetrating run by centre-forward Patrick Maher.

Cork were grateful to goalkeeper Darren McCarthy for denying John O’Dwyer with a couple of spell-binding saves.

CORK:D McCarthy; S McDonnell, E Keane, C O'Sullivan; J Nagle, W Egan (capt, 0-2, one 65, one free), L McLoughlin; D Kearney (0-3), S O'Farrell; M Collins, D Roche, M Bowles (0-3); R White (0-1), L O'Farrell (0-2), R Clifford (0-9, eight from frees). Subs: P Gould for Collins (28 mins), C Lehane for White (58 mins), M O'Sullivan for Lehane (61 mins), S Corry for O'Farrell (66 mins), F Keane for Roche (68 mins), R O'Driscoll (0-1) for Gould (70 mins).

TIPPERARY:J Logue; K O'Gorman, J Coghlan, M Cahill; J Barry, P Maher, B Maher (0-1); S Hennessy (1-3, 1-0 from a free, one 65), A Ryan; D Maher, P Maher (0-1), P Murphy (0-1); N McGrath (0-6, four frees), J O'Dwyer (0-1), M Heffernan (1-2). Subs: T Butler for D Maher (28 mins), S Carey (0-2) for Ryan (43 mins), K Morris for O'Dwyer (50 mins), C Hough for Barry (56 mins), B O'Meara for Murphy (59 mins), J O'Neill for Morris (77 mins).

Referee:G Hoey (Clare)