A general view of SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile
Dalata Hotel Group Munster Under 20 Football Championship Phase 2 Round 3
Cork 1-11 Tipperary 0-14
Kerry 3-23 Clare 0-11
By Stephen Barry
A last-gasp free got Cork out of jail with a draw against Tipperary to secure their place in the Dalata Hotel Group Munster Under 20 Football final against Kerry.
The Premier had looked like sealing a final return for the first time since 2021 as a four-point burst sent them into the lead by the 58th minute.
Five added minutes were announced as Liam Freaney was bottled up with a chance to dispatch a clinching goal.
Tipp then lost possession from a late free, Killian Butler was sent off for a second yellow, and Cork forced their way downfield where Micheál Maguire, after missing his shot, was awarded a free by Jonathan Hayes. Brian Hayes tapped over the leveller with the final kick at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Cork and Tipp finished level on three points apiece but the Rebels’ superior score difference (-1 against -7) saw them progress. It marks the fourth Old Firm final in a row and ninth in 10 years.
Tipp had started the brighter into the wind with a Daithí Hogan point followed by Billy Tierney’s two-point free.
Cork opened their account in the 13th minute from their sixth attempt. It was a big one, though, as Seán O’Leary wrestled control of a Tipp kick-out and his direct supply found Dylan O’Neill, who worked onto his right boot to ripple the bottom corner.
They weren’t allowed to push on. Tipp captain Charlie King had a score cancelled out by O’Neill’s free.
Ben Carey and Paddy O’Keeffe moved Tipp two ahead but Aaron O’Sullivan’s response was followed by a Brian Hayes two-point free after the ref penalised Tierney for taking too long before a solo and go. Their first lead saw Cork 1-4 to 0-6 ahead at half-time.
Two Carey frees nudged Tipp in front but Dara Sheedy’s surprise introduction, despite not being named in the programme, made a difference.
After Darragh Clifford’s point, the Bantry star won a free for Hayes and kicked a brace of his own.
Two Hogan frees kept Tipp in touch but the gap was out to three when Colm Gillespie and O’Sullivan added points for 1-10 to 0-10.
Hogan kicked a free, Joe Higgins landed a clutch two-pointer off the crossbar, and the midfielder was then fouled for Hogan’s lead score. But Hayes’ 66th-minute free made all the difference.
Cork’s final opponents Kerry maintained their 100% record with a 3-23 to 0-11 victory over Clare at Austin Stack Park.
First-half goals from Killian Dennehy Eddie Healy, and top-scorer Tomás Kennedy (1-4) had them 3-13 to 0-4 ahead by half-time.
Tomás Ó Sé’s side finished with 12 different scorers as they eye a Munster four in a row.
