Cork hold rivals Tipp as Cats overwhelm Galway

IF last Sunday’s drawn match is anything to go by, the Allianz National Hurling League semi-final between Tipperary and Cork on April 22 should be well worth seeing.

The Munster rivals finished level at 1-23 each after a pulsating Division One A contest at Semple Stadium. A dramatic 72nd minute equalizing point from Pat Horgan meant that Cork finished second in the table, just ahead of their Munster neighbours.

The top spot went to Kilkenny who demolished Galway by 3-26 to 0-10 at Nowlan Park. Their prize is a semi-final against the winners of the Division One B play-off between Clare and Limerick.

No doubt keen to atone for their defeat against Cork the previous week, Kilkenny were ruthless. But they were helped by a completely inept performance by Galway.

That’s definitely not something you could say about either Tipperary or Cork. This was hurling at its very best with precious little between the sides from start to finish.

The sides were level on 10 occasions. At times in the second half, it looked as though Tipperary might edge it but manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy has clearly instilled a never-say-die attitude into his young Cork team.

Having led 0-13 to 0-11 at half-time, Cork had to deal with a Tipperary surge which saw them go 1-17 to 0-16 ahead. A wonderfully struck Pa Bourke goal from a free was following by a 41st minute point from Noel McGrath.

In a game as tight as this, the crowd must have felt that they were decisive blows. Not so the Cork team who bounced back with a sensational strike which brought a goal for their and coming Cork star Conor Lehane in the 55th minute.

Back came Tipperary to move three points clear with a point from substitute Eoin Kelly with 11 minutes remaining. Again, Cork responded with the quicksilver Cathal Naughton causing the home defensive all sorts of problems.

He finished with 0-4 and had a part in a number of other scores. Yet, his efforts looked like counting for nothing when a huge late Shane Bourke point left Tipperary 1-23 to 1-22 ahead.

But there was one last twist as Horgan nailed a glorious equalizing point in the 72nd minute. No one could have any complaints and this truly was a match neither side deserved to lose.

Pa Bourke (1-8, 1-2 from frees) and Noel McGrath (0-5) were magnificent for Tipperary while Horgan (0-9, three from frees), Lehane (1-2) and Naughton (0-4) were the main contributors for Cork.

There were some tremendous battles, none better than the duel between the outstanding Padraic Maher and the gifted Cork youngester Lehane. One wonders will the two teams want to face one another again so soon in the League semi-final?

“You would probably prefer not to play them again, to be honest.” admitted Barry-Murphy. “In fairness, you would like a change but in order to get that we would have had to finish on top of the table and we didn’t quite do that today.

“Really though, it doesn’t matter. The important thing is that we are in the semi-final, that was the aim from the start of the league.”

So, of course, are Kilkenny who remain the outfit everyone has to beat if they are to claim the title. They simply strolled to their 3-26 to 0-10 victory over Galway. It’s hard to believe that only a few weeks back Galway got the better of Cork.

Unfortunately, there was little of the character or skill they showed that day on display at Nowlan Park. The signs were ominious from the moment Matthew Ruth, a replacement for the suspended Richie Power, banged in a goal in the fourth minute.

T.J. Reid and Eoin Larkin added two more as Kilkenny went in at half-time 3-12 to 0-6 ahead. Larkin (1-7) and Reid 1-6) contributed 2-13 between them as the match became an exihibition.

Even Kilkenny boss Brian Cody was a little bit embarrassed. He said: “It was a good win but Galway will be disappointed by their performance. It wasn’t a true reflection of their ability.”

No doubt Galway will find out more when they meet Dublin in a Division One A relegation play-off on April 15. Manager Anthony Cunningham was slightly lost for words, stating: “We have to ensure that everyone’s head is right for a big battle against Dublin.

“We never got out of the blocks at all today, it was a learning experience for a young team.”

Defending champions Dublin, for their part, went down to a disappointing 0-17 to 0-13 defeat to Waterford at Dungarvan. In the knowledge that they were already destined to be in a relegation play-off, Dublin fielded an understrength team.

Waterford took full advantage to record their second successive victory and avoid the drop. Credit must go to manager Michael Ryan who has had to fend off some recent criticism.

His team set up their victory by establishing a 0-12 to 0-4 interval lead. Then, just when Dublin looked like getting back into contention, they had wing-back Dean Curran controversially sent off for a second yellow card 20 minutes into the second half.

Dubs manager Anthony Daly was among those who felt it was extremely harsh. Either way, Waterford regained control against the 14 men to eventually finish five points clear.

Nineteen-year-old Gavin O’Brien made a big impact for the home team, finiahing with four points from play, while David Treacy (0-4, two from frees) was Dublin’s main contributor.

In Division One B, Clare maintained their 100 per cent record by beating Offaly 2-14 to 0-19. It took a last minute point from Aaron Cunningham to snatch victory but Clare had to play most of the game with 14 men following the sending off of Fergal Lynch in the eight minute.

Their opponents in the Division One B play-off Limerick made certain of second place with an emphatic 3-22 to 0-17 victory over Antrim in Casement Park. Two cracking first half goals from Shane Dowling set them on their way.

In the remaining Division One B game, Wexford accounted for Laois 4-18 to 0-15.

Mayo hammer Dubs

ALL-IRELAND champions Dublin were left wondering if they can make the National Football League Division One semi-finals after their 0-20 to 0-8 hammering by Mayo at McHale Park last Saturday evening.

It’s hard to know what to expect from Dublin just now. It seems that they are well capable of delivering at Croke Park but seem to be very vulnerable on the road.

That was the case against Down a few weeks back, and they once again fell well short of expectations in the defeat by Mayo. Their difficulty now is that they must win in Cork next Sunday if they are to make the semi-finals.

Mayo, who have moved ahead of Dublin on points difference into third spot, also have a chance of making the semi-finals. They have a tough away game against Kerry but at least they will be in a good frame of mind following this victory over the Dubs.

Dublin boss Pat Gilroy was far from a good mood following Saturday’s defeat. He said: “There was only one team in it, our application wasn’t anywhere near where it should have been. If we continue like that, we won’t be long in the championship either.

“We have to look at the reasons why it happened and we have to eliminate it. We are in a bad place now in terms of a group and there is a massive challenge ahead of us.”

Harsh words but undoubtedly needed after such a dismal effort. Credit, however, must go to Mayo for the way they outplayed Dublin in this refixed game.

They had, after all, lost to Down, Donegal and Cork in consecutive weeks. But they were right back to their best in front of a 12,000 crowd, with Conor Mortimer (0-8) Alan Dillon (0-4) and Michael Conroy (0-4) contributing 16 points between them.

It was all very satisfying for manager James Horan who said: “We played well. We might have caught the Dubs cold but we took full advantage and we’re delighted with the performance and the win.”

Crossmaglen win title

YOU don’t get a second chance against Crossmaglen Rangers. That’s what Westmeath’s Garrycastle found out as they went down to a comprehensive 2-19 to 1-7 defeat in the All-Ireland Club Senior Football Championship replay at Breffni Park on Saturday night.

Garrycastle had done well to manage an exciting draw in Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day but they were overwhelmed by their Ulster rivals in the replay. Crossmaglen’s strength in depth was demonstrated by the performance of 22-year-old Francis Hanratty.

He hasn’t been given a place in the starting line-up since the Ulster final, yet he had two goals to his name by the 18th minute. By that stage, Crossmaglen were 2-3 to 0-3 in front and well on their way to yet another title.

Hanratty’s efforts earned him the man of the Match award but this was a day when all of the Crossmaglen team was in full flow. Oisin McConville, who along with goalkeeper Paul Hearty was winning a record sixth All-Ireland club medal, was quite outstanding, scoring six points, four of them from play.

McConville paid credit to joint manager Tony McEntee and Gareth O’Neill, stating: “Gareth and Tony came in and turned this team around. We were a team on the wane.

“Not any more. Take myself and Paul Hearty out of it and it’s a young team, so there’s plenty of big days left.”

Crossmaglen led by 2-8 to 0-4 at the break before a Gary Dolan goal gave Garrycastle some brief hope shortly after the restart. But Crossmaglen, with Aaron and Stephen Kernan and Jamie Clarke making significant contributions, simply upped their game again to win pulling up.

Garrycastle manager Anthony Cunningham had no complaints, stating: “Our lads have had a great campaign and gave everything once again but Crossmaglen were that bit special today.”

It wasn’t a good weekend for Cunningham as on Sunday’s his Galway hurling side were demolished by Kilkenny in Division One A of the National League.

Leinster in driving seat

LEINSTER would appear to be in a better position than Munster going into this weekend’s Heineken Cup quarter-finals following last Saturday’s 18-9 Thomond Park success over their arch-rivals.

The RaboDirect Pro12 victory has left Leinster 10 points clear at the top of the table and virtually certain of a home semi-final. By contrast, Munster have dropped to third with the real possibility of missing out on a home semi-final.

In truth, they can have few complaints. Leinster were well worth their success in front of a packed Thomond Park and, as Munster forwards coach Anthony Foley admitted afterwards, they could have won by more.

In the event, there wasn’t a try in the game. Jonathan Sexton (4) and Fergus McFadden landed penalties for Leinster with substitute out-half Ian Madigan getting a drop goal.

Ronan O’Gara kicked three penalties for Munster. The game was played with great intensity but it was, overall, disappointing.