Late double seals comeback as Cork take Munster League

Cork 3-14 Tipperary 1-19

Cork came with a late charge to overturn an eight-point deficit and win their first Munster Hurling League title since 2017 with late goals from Brian Hayes and Jack O'Connor.

Seán O’Donoghue lifted his first trophy as new Cork captain and Pat Ryan enjoyed his first title as manager, as well as getting game-time into the legs of more than 30 panellists ahead of the National League.

Liam Cahill was boosted by the return of John McGrath from an Achilles tendon rupture he suffered last April, John's brother Brian was awarded man of the match, and they led by 1-16 to 1-08 after 52 minutes.

A Patrick Horgan free and a batted Hayes goal halved that gap, although two Jason Forde frees strengthened Tipp’s hand. They still led by six with four minutes of normal time remaining.

But Cork hit 1-04 without reply, the first three scores from subs; a Conor Lehane point followed by 1-01 from Jack O’Connor, the goal after a move involving Shane Barrett and Lehane.

After Brian Roche levelled, Pauric Campion won a free that could’ve edged Tipp back ahead. However, his reaction after the whistle led Éamonn Stapleton to throw the ball in, and from that, Rob Downey won a free for Horgan to put Cork ahead for the first time in 45 minutes.

Forde levelled once more but Horgan hit the winner to the joy of most of the 4,727 fans at Páirc Uí Rinn.

O’Connor wasn’t even due to line out on Sunday. He came into the panel for Mark Keane, who was named at No6 in the match programme - his decision to return to Australia, signing for Adelaide Crows, not communicated to management until the printers were already at work.

It was error-ridden winter hurling from the off, although the intensity brought by both defences forced many of those