Cork–Tipperary hurling rivalry

1942: the first back door champions

When Tipperary and Cork faced each other on 12 July 1942 there was a unique feature to the contest. It was the first time in championship hurling that the All Ireland Champions (Cork) met provincial champions (Tipperary) in the following year's championship. The explanation was that Tipperary had to withdraw from the 1941 Munster Championship, because of the foot and mouth epidemic. Cork won the All Ireland title in September but when the Munster final was subsequently played, Tipperary beat the Leesiders in Limerick on October 26 by 5-4 to 2-5. The All Ireland champions, captained by Jack Lynch, were easy winners on a 4-15 to 4-1 scoreline.

1949-1961: the greatest era

Cork and Tipperary's modern rivalry reached its peak during twelve years of epochal meetings spanning three decades, the first of which took place on 29 May 1949 in front of a then record crowd of 34,702 for a Munster quarter-final. By this stage Tipperary had fallen on hard times, having been eclipsed by the great Limerick and Cork teams of the previous two decades, and had won just three of the previous twenty All-Ireland titles. Cork still had some survivors from the four-in-a-row era, while Tipperary had a relatively young and inexperienced team. For most of the match it looked as if youth would trump experience and with only a few minutes to spare they were ahead by 3-10 to 2-9. A solo effort from Jack Lynch, who by know was a TD, from his usual midfield berth resulted in a goal and brought his personal tally to 1-6. A point from Bernie Murphy levelled the scores at the death.

The replay four weeks later was a classic. John Doyle made his championship debut and began one of the longest and most distinguished of all inter-county careers. A Gerry O'Riordan goal gave Cork a 1-2 to 0-2 at the intervals, however, Cork could have been further ahead but for a disallowed goal. Mossy O'Riordan sent a shot past Tipp 'keeper Tony Reddin, however, the sliotar appeared to rebound off the stanchion supporting the net before being cleared. In spite of Cork protesting the referee waved the play on. After five minutes of injury time Cork still led by 1-5 to 0-5, however, Jimmy Kennedy scored the equalising goal and the game headed for extra-time. Both sides took different approaches as extra-time was about to be played. Tipperary retired to their dressing room where the players refreshed themselves with a creamery churn full of cold water. Cork on the other hand remained out on the field in what was one of the warmest days ever recorded in Ireland. Tipperary took to the field a much fresher team and an early goal from Mick Ryan gave them the lead and they held out to win by 2-8 to 1-9. Tipp's Tommy Doyle, who earlier in the year ad been coaxed out of retirement, gave an inspired display by holding Cork's top marksman Christy Ring scoreless for the two drawn games and the period of extra time. The defeat brought Cork's decade of success to an end, as Willie "Long Puck" Murphy, Alan Lotty and Jim Young hung up their hurleys for the final time after the game.

There was an inevitability about the meeting of Cork and Tipperary in the 1950 Munster final, a game which marked a low point in the history of crowd-troubled games. The official attendance at Fitzgerald Stadium was given as 39,000, however, up to 50,000 saw the game as gates were broken down, walls were scaled at the pitch invaded with supporters. There were supporters on the pitch at the throw-in, while a Cork fan tried to strike Tipp's Seán Kenny. Despite the madness that was swirling all around them, the Tipperary and Cork players managed to produce an absolutely classic game of hurling. A Paddy Kenny goal helped Tipperary into a 1-13 to 1-6 half-time lead. The start of the second half was delayed by yet another pitch invasion, and when it finally got under way, Christy Ring dragged his team back into the contest by slaloming through the Tipp defence in typical style and rifling the ball the back of the net. As the match drifted away from their team the Cork fans grew more and more frustrated, and when a Jimmy Kennedy point put Tipperary 2-17 to 2-9 ahead with just twn minutes remaining, hundreds invaded the pitch from behind Tony Reddin's goal and forced referee Liam O'Donoghue to call a halt to the match. The goalkeeper had oranges and overcoats thrown at him as he carried out his duties and on one occasion a supporter held him by the jersey as he went to clear the sliotar. Every Cork score was greeted by a pitch invasion, while pleas from Jack Lynch and Christy Ring failed to quell them. Tipperary eventually won an anarchical game by 2-17 to 3-11.

Cork and Tipperary faced each other in the 1951 Munster final. The authorities were taking no chances of a repeat of the anarchy of the previous year with thousands of spectators missed one of the greatest games of all time by being locked outside the gates at the Gaelic Grounds. At half-time Tipperary led by 0-9 to 1-4, however, the restart saw Cork up the ante. Christy Ring gave an absolute exhibition of scoring, collecting possession, beating tackles and setting up attacks. Tipperary, however, never faltered in the wake of Ring's roaming presence. Playing out the final stages of the match in his bare feet Ring converted two more frees, however, Tipperary held on to win by 2-11 to 2-9.

In 1952 Cork stood in the way of Tipperary claiming a fourth successive Munster crown and an almost certain record-equalling fourth successive All-Ireland title. Cork had seven newcomers to their team as well as fourth-choice goalkeeper Dave Creedon. Tipperary looked to be the better side, scoring a soft goal after just three minutes and leading by 2-5 to 0-5 at the interval after playing against a very strong wind. Tony Reddin rebuffed Cork for almost two certain Cork goals as Tipperary had a four-point lead as the game entered the final quarter. Mossy O'Riordan burst through the Tipp defence, was fouled but carried on to fire in a shot that Liam Dowling steered into the net. The goal was allowed to stand as protests by the Tipp defenders fell on deaf ears. Cork added four points in-a-row while a late Gerry Doyle effort for Tipp flew inches over the crossbar. A narrow 1-11 to 2-7 score line gave Cork the victory and thwarted Tipperary's attempt at four-in-a-row.

For the fourth time in five years, the Munster final produced a Cork-Tipperary clash in 1953. 43,000 supporters packed into the Gaelic Grounds, with locked-out Cork fans breaking a gate to get in. Tipperary had the wind in the first half and had a 1-8 to 1-4 interval lead. Pat Stakelum put Tipperary five points clear, but the Tipp selectors made a mistake when switching Jimmy Finn off Josie Hartnett. A rejuvenated Hartnett fired in a shot which was finished to the net by Liam Dowling. Christy Ring finished the game with 1-8 as Cork produced one of the most impressive Munster final performances to win by 3-10 to 1-11.

More attendance records tumbled in 1954 as Cork and Tipperary met in another Munster final in front of 52,499. Tipp had a six-point lead at the interval, having played with a strong wind. They still had the lead, albeit a one-point lead, as the match moved into injury time. Christy Ring, although swarmed by three players, sent in a speculative cross which goalkeeper Tony Reddin fumbled. Paddy Barry was on hand to finish to the net. A point followed by Ring as Cork triumphed by 2-8 to 1-8.

After a one-year hiatus from the fixture, Cork and Tipperary met in the 1956 Munster semi-final. Cork overturned Tipp's eleven-point half-time lead, with Cork's oldest player Christy Ring proving to be the difference. The game turned on a controversial disallowed goal. At 1-11 to 2-6 in arrears Tipperary engineered a goal for Paddy Kenny. The play was stopped and a free awarded instead. Tipp eventually lost the game by 1-11 to 2-7.

Cork held the upper hand once again when the sides met in 1957, however, Tipperary secured their first defeat of Cork in six years the following year.

For the first time in six years, Cork and Tipperary faced each other in the Munster final in 1960. Described as the toughest game of hurling ever played, Tipp's John and Jimmy Doyle were in the best form of the respective careers. Cork enjoyed most of the possession in the first-half, however, Tipperary led by a goal at the interval thanks to the accuracy of Jimmy Doyle. They stretched their lead to five points in the final quarter, however, a last-minute Cork goal left the result in doubt once again. Tipp eventually won a gruelling contest by 4-13 to 4-11.

1961 marked the end of a decade of frenzied Cork and Tipperary encounters, as the sides did battle in that year's Munster final. An official attendance of 62,175 was the biggest ever recorded at a Cork-Tipperary match, or at any Irish sporting event outside of Croke Park. The real attendance may have been as high as 70,000 as the gates were thrown open halfway through the preceding minor game. Cork's preparations were undermined by the large crowd. After togging off in the Railwya Hotel in Limerick city centre, they had intended to travel by cars to the venue. The volume of bodies on the Ennis Road meant that the players had to abandon their cars and physically jostle their way through the crowd to make the throw-in time. At half-time Tipp were out of sight by 3-3 to 0-1. The game ended on a sour note when Christy Ring and John Doyle became involved in a punch-up while Tom Moloughney was knocked to the ground, allegedly after being struck by Ring. Tipperary won the game by 3-6 to 0-7, however, Ring was wrongly named in some national newspapers as having hit both Doyle and Moloughney. The National Union of Journalists later issued an apology to him.

1984-1991: the rivalry reignites

One of the highlights of the centenary of the Gaelic Athletic Association was the Munster final between Cork and Tipperary on 15 July 1984. Tipp had failed to win a Munster title since 1971, while Cork had won eight in the intervening period as well as claiming three successive All-Ireland crowns between 1976 and 1978. The game was physical, honest and intense. While the Cork forwards looked dangerous, the Tipperary midfield duo of Ralph Callaghan and Philip Kennedy were on fire. With just six minutes remaining Tipperary looked to have taken a decisive advantage when they held a four-point lead of 3-14 to 2-13. John Fenton converted a free with four minutes remaining and it was at this stage that the decision to introduce the gifted Tony O'Sullivan. When a Pat Hartnett shot was parried by goalkeeper John Sheedy, O'Sullivan reacted instinctively to fire to the net and leave the sides level. As the tension became almost unbearable, Tipperary lost possession from an advantageous attacking position. O'Sullivan's point attempt was batted away by Sheedy and goal-poacher Seánie O'Leary was on hand to net. Fenton added a pointed free and Cork had won an amazing game by 4-15 to 3-14.

In 1987 Cork were the reigning provincial and All-Ireland champions and had ended any chances of a Tipperary hurling revival in both 1984 and 1985. Because of this Cork were installed as favourites to win a record-breaking six consecutive Munster title, however, Tipperary led by 0-11 to 0-7 at half-time. A second-half goal by Nicky English, which he controlled the sliotar with his foot having dropped his hurley and calmly sidefooted it into the net, put Tipp ahead by seven points. A string of points brought Cork back into the game, and three minutes from time a Keran Kingston goal gave them a two-point lead. Tipperary rallied and two pointed frees from Pat Fox levelled the game at 1-18 apiece.

In spite of surviving a scare in Thurles, Cork were still regarded as the favourites for the replay. The team scored five unanswered points in the first ten minutes, while a Nicky English goal was cancelled out by a Tomás Mulcahy effort. Cork had a n interval lead of 1-10 to 1-5. Tipperary were inspired after the restart and came back into contention with a succession of points. A Pat Fox point brought the two teams level, however, Cork regained the lead twice but Tipperary levelled twice. At the end of normal time both sides were again level and extra time was needed. The first period of extra-time saw Cork take a 1-21 to 1-20 lead, but Tipp edged forward with two more quick points. Michael Doyle, son of the legendary John Doyle, came on as a substitute and had the game of his life. He scored two extra-time goals to swing the momentum in Tipp's favour. Donie O'Connell bagged another goal to give Tipp an incredible 4-22 to 1-22 victory.

After the highs of 1987, the following year's installment of the Cork-Tipperary was a damp squib. Tipp led by 1-12 to 0-5 at half-time and eventually bested Cork by 2-19 to 1-13.

In 1990 Tipperary were reigning provincial and All-Ireland champions and were expected to build on this success by retaining their titles. Despite a strong early start which gave them a good lead Tipperary lost their way and Cork won well in the end. Mark Foley played the game of his life, scoring 2-7 from play, and helped Cork to an eight-point dethroning of the All-Ireland champions.

The 1991 Munster final between Cork and Tipperary, ranked among the all-time classics, was seen as a game to decide not only provincial honours but the destination of the All-Ireland title as well. Tipp looked like a defeated team in the early stages and fell 3-5 to 1-7 behind at the break courtesy of three goals shared by John Fitzgibbon and Ger FitzGerald. Young star John Leahy bagged the goal for Tipp, however, Fitzgibbon scored a fourth goal for Cork. The momentum moved towards Tipp after this, however, Nicky English had a perfectly legal equaliser ruled out. Pat Fox levelled the game at 2-16 to 4-10 and a replay was needed.

The replay was even more exciting than the draw with Cork taking a nine-point lead at half-time. At the end of the third quarter a Kevin Hennessy goal left the Rebels 3-13 to 1-10 in front. Star forward Nicky English was ruled out of the game through injury, however, the Tipp forwards proved an effective unit without him. Pat Fox produced a great goal to leave just three points between the sides. An overhead flick by Declan Carr subsequently levelled the sides as full-time approached. Tipp then went two points ahead while a Tomás Mulcahy shot on goal was cleared and resulted in Aidan Ryan scoring one of the all-time great Munster final goals for Tipp. John Fitzgibbon answered with a Cork goal, however, the momentum was with Tipperary who won by 4-19 to 4-15.

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Attendances