Munster MHC Final/Tipperary 0-18 Cork 1-11:Tipperary pulled away from 14-man Cork in the closing 10 minutes in Thurles yesterday for a deserved win after a closely fought contest.

It was an impressive performance by Tipperary who lost to Cork in last year's final before going on to win the All-Ireland.

Cork were level with the All-Ireland champions in the 48th minute when Cork defender Eoin McCarthy was red carded for a heavy tackle on Tipperary full forward Patrick Maher.

This was the turning point in the game as Tipperary, with midfielder Noel McGrath operating as an extra man to great effect, got well on top to pull steadily clear of their rivals though Cork were always in a position to rally.

In an uneventful first half, breeze-aided Tipperary made most of the running but at half-time they led by only one point, 0-8 to 0-7. Indeed, Cork were regretting some missed chances of points, which were to cost them dearly at the finish.

Tipperary were still ahead by 0-11 to 0-9 in the 13th minute of the second half, when an excellent Cork move was finished to the net by Donagh Stack.

Séamus Hennessy quickly levelled for Tipperary but then Cork had McCarthy sent to the line. Noel McGrath immediately pointed the home side into the lead and in the closing eight minutes they outscored Cork by five points to two for a deserved victory.

TIPPERARY: J Logue; K O Gorman, Pádraig Maher, S O Brien; D O Connor, J Coghlan, M Cahill; N McGrath (0-1), J Gallagher (0-2); S Hennessy (0-9), C Lorrigan, B Maher (0-3); M Heffernan, Patrick Maher, J O'Neill (0-2). Subs: S Carey for Lorrigan, J Barry for O'Connor, D O'Brien (0-1) for Heffernan.

CORK: D McCarthy; J Herlihy, A Kearney, E McCarthy; L McLoughlin, C O'Donovan, K Murphy; S McDonnell, D O'Sullivan; R White (0-1), M Bowles (0-1), P Goold (0-2); L O'Farrell (0-1), D Stack (1-1), R Clifford (0-4). Subs: M Sexton for McDonnell, C Sheehan (0-1) for Stack, R O Driscoll for White.

Referee: P Casey (Waterford).