O'Connor sets the tone for Cork IT

Gaelic Games McGrath Cup Semi-finals/Cork IT 1-10 Tipperary 0-5: An early goal from Eamonn O'Connor set Cork IT on their way to a decisive semi-final victory over a disappointing Tipperary in Clonmel yesterday.

The home side, who defeated Kerry in this competition the previous week, were missing top scorer Declan Browne to the current All Star trip to Hong Kong but their overall performance was considerably flat.

A first-minute point from Damien O'Brien put Tipperary in the lead but this was quickly surrendered as Cork IT's Daniel Goulding and Donnacha O'Connor both pointed after Eamonn O'Connor's goal.

Tipperary managed to close the gap through scores from Fergal O'Callaghan and Eamonn Hanrahan but Cork IT went in at half-time with a 1-6 to 0-3 lead after Niall Hennessy, Donnacha O'Connor (two) and Vincent Hurley scored points.

The students, inspired by solid performances from Robert Mageean and Michael Breen at the back, and midfielders Damien Breen and Eamonn O'Connor, stretched their lead after Tipperary's Paul Cahill had opened the second-half scoring.

With three unanswered points from Daniel Goulding (two) and Damian Breen, the Cork college led by 1-9 to 0-4 as the game went into the last quarter, by which time it was all over as a contest.

Tipperary had their fifth and final score when Aidan Fitzgerald pointed from a 53rd-minute free. Four minutes later Alan Morgan sealed victory for Cork IT with his only point of the game.

CORK IT: K Murphy; M Prout, M Vaughan, P Sheehan; A Sheehy, R Mageean, N Hennessy (0-1); D O'Brien (0-1), E O'Connor (1-0); V Hurley (0-1), A Morgan (0-1), D O'Connor (0-3, two frees); D Goulding (0-3, two frees), P O'Flynn, M Milner. Subs: M Greene for M Milner, R Honohan for V Hurley.

Tipperary: B Enright; D Byrne, N Curran, P King; P Morrissey, R Costigan, B Hahessy; E Hanrahan (0-1), K Mulryan, A Fitzgerald (0-1, free); L England, P Cahill (0-1); J Shanahan, F O'Callaghan (0-1), D O'Brien (0-1). Subs: P Foley for P O'Brien, M Webster for J Shanahan, S Collum for England, T Doyle for O'Callaghan.

Referee: Pat Sheehy (Kerry)