Tipperary 2-28
Cork 4-21

Tipperary staged a sensational late comeback at Pairc Ui Rinn to pip Cork for top spot in Division 1A.

The Premier will face neighbours Offaly in the quarter-finals after coming from 12 points down with 17 minutes remaining to win by the minimum, while Cork's opponents in the last eight will be Wexford. The venues for both ties will be decided by the toss of a coin.

With both sides assured of progress to the knockout stages beforehand, spectators were treated to an open contest which produced a plethora of scores. Eight points from Patrick Horgan and three from Seamus Harnedy helped the Rebels - who were seeking revenge for last year's All-Ireland semi-final defeat - to a 0-15 to 0-13 interval lead.

Tipp would have gone into the break ahead but for an excellent save from Anthony Nash to deny Brendan Maher.

The hosts upped the ante after the restart when two goals from Horgan and one each from Conor Lehane and substitute Paudie O'Sullivan gave them an seemingly unassailable 4-19 to 0-19 lead after 53 minutes.

But Tipp showed tremendous belief to reply with majors at the other end from wing back Kieran Bergin and the impressive Jason Forde to reduce the deficit to six points, 2-21 to 4-21.

As Cork wilted, Seamus Callanan - who posted 0-10 - and the excellent Noel McGrath hit a flurry of late points to complete a remarkable comeback. Eamon O'Shea's men will take particular encouragement from the fact that they outscored the Munster champions by 2-9 to 0-2 in the final 15 minutes.

Tipperary - D Egan; P Stapleton, C O'Mahony, C O'Brien; R Maher (0-1), Padraic Maher, K Bergin (1-0); S McGrath, T Stapleton (0-1); N McGrath (0-7), B Maher, J Forde (1-3); J O'Dwyer (0-1f), S Callanan (0-10, 4f), N O'Meara (0-3). Subs: Patrick Maher for B Maher, M Breen for S McGrath, S Bourke (0-1) for J O'Dwyer, J Woodlock for T Stapleton, C Kenny (0-1) for N O'Meara.

Cork - A Nash; S O'Neill, D Cahalane, S McDonnell; L McLoughlin, M Ellis, C Murphy (0-2); D Kearney (0-2), Aidan Walsh (0-1); R O'Shea (0-1), S Harnedy (0-5), C Lehane (1-1); A Cadogan (0-1), L O'Farrell, P Horgan (2-8, 0-6f). Subs: P O'Sullivan (1-0) for A Cadogan, C O'Sullivan for M Ellis, B Cooper for L O'Farrell, Andy Walsh for R O'Shea, S Moylan for D Kearney.

Referee - B Kelly.

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