Tipperary 3-15
Cork 2-17

Jake Morris struck an injury-time goal as Tipperary snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in this evening’s thrilling Munster U20 hurling championship final against Cork in Thurles.

In what was a sensational decider at Semple Stadium, it was a bullet of a shot from the county senior in the dying moments which made the difference in the end as the Premier men avenged last year’s U21 final loss to Leesiders and gained their first provincial win since 2010 in the process.

Cork looked like having one hand on the trophy once Evan Sheehan buried in their second goal on 58 minutes, making it 2-16 to 2-14, but the hosts dug their absolute deepest in the added minutes and backed up a Darragh Woods point with Morris’s devastating 64th minute major.

The victors had made the best possible start to this rip-roaring final, hitting the net just three minutes in via Conor Bowe (1-6) finishing off a fine sweeping move low into the Rebels’ net.

Conor Bowe celebrates Tipperary's first goal 

However, Denis Ring’s men would hit the forefront seven minutes later when Sean Twomey lashed home a brilliantly taken goal and they’d open up a four-point margin with points from Ryan Walsh and the aforementioned Twomey.

A couple of Morris frees trimmed down the deficit for Tipp prior to Kian O’Kelly supplying them a sublime individual goal seven minutes before the break, as Morris added another to send the sides in all square at 2-7 to 1-10.

Brian Turnbull, Twomey and Craig Hanifin (free) restored a three-point advantage for the visitors early in the restart but there was simply no getting rid of this Tipperary outfit, as Andrew Ormond, Jerome Cahill and Morris responded with white flags to even it again with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Bryan O'Mara sailed over from long range to put the Premier County in front in the 47th minute before the deadly Bowe doubled the advantage two minutes later.

Hanifin (free) and Padraig Power blasted over at the other end to ensure the grandstand finish which looked to be swinging the way of the holders once Sheehan took a ball first time and netted low to leave his side on the cusp of victory.

Jake Morris with a match winning goal for Tipperary! pic.twitter.com/KIJonrcA7o

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 23, 2019

Woods hit back with a quick point for the blue and gold prior to Turnbull restoring a two-point advantage for Cork which was extinguished in an instant once Morris grabbed loose possession in the final seconds and lasered in from the right side to break Cork hearts.

Liam Cahill's charges now advance towards an All-Ireland semi-final date with Wexford, while Cork face Leinster champions Kilkenny in the other last four clash.

Tipperary - A Browne; C McCarthy; E Connolly, C Morgan; M Purcell, P Cadell, B O’Mara (0-1); C Connolly (0-1), J Cahill (0-1); G O’Connor (0-1), J Fogarty, J Morris (1-3, 0-2f); A Ormond (0-2), B Seymour (0-1), C Bowe (1-4). Subs: K O’Kelly (1-0) for J Fogarty, N Heffernan for M Purcell, J Ryan for B Seymour, D Woods (0-1) for K O’Kelly, R McCormack for A Ormond.

Cork - G Collins; C O’Callaghan, J Keating, E Roche (0-1); R Downey, S O’Leary Hayes, G Millerick; R Walsh (0-1), D Connery (0-2, 1f); T O’Connell (0-1), C Hanifin (0-4, 3f), S Twomey (1-2); B Turnbull (0-2), S O’Regan (0-3), L O’Shea. Subs: S Kennefick for L O’Shea, E Sheehan (1-0) for S O’Regan, P Power (0-1) for R Downey, B Murphy for C Hanifin.

Referee - T Walsh.

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