Cork came from seven points behind to defeat Tyrone by 2-17 to 1-18 in a thrilling All-Ireland U20 Football Championship semi-final at Tullamore.
The Red Hands had to play the final 15 minutes with 14 men following the dismissal of midfielder Joe Oguz, and the Munster champions were able to capitalise in the battle for possession around the central third, pushing through for vital scores, including a brilliant individual goal from substitute Jack Murphy.
A terrific contest swung in favour of one side, then the other, with several intriguing personal duels and a clash in styles that made for an open, entertaining and high-scoring encounter that was in the balance right to the end.
Colm Barrett and Mark Cronin landed early scores, which were cancelled out by Tyrone's Tiarnan Quinn and Sean Og McAleer in a lively opening.
And in the eighth minute, the Munster champions crafted a goal. Peter O’Driscoll drove a long ball into the danger zone, which was fielded by Colm O’Callaghan and his offload sent Mark Cron in for a low finish past Lorcan Quinn.
But the Red Hands responded with a goal five minutes later. McAleer slipped a quickly taken free to James Garrity, and his assist sent Canavan in to slot a delightful side-footed effort past Josh O’Keefe.
With Joe Oguz winning aerial possession around the middle and Conal Grimes pressing along the flanks, the Ulster champions were very much back in business, and they tagged on four points, going in front with Canavan’s fisted effort, before another piercing run from wing back Grimes set up McAleer for his third.
Cork were constantly on the back foot throughout that second quarter, putting out fires, only for their opponents to ignite from somewhere else, and Quinn’s fourth sent them five clear.
Cork went 18 minutes without a score, prior to Colm Barrett’s stoppage time effort, and they trailed by 1-10 to 1-6 at the break.
Quinn’s magical left foot was in the mood, and he added two more to his tally in the opening minute of the second half, and McAleer pushed them seven clear.
But the Leesiders found a new gear, and O’Mahony slotted a couple of frees, with Cronin sending a delightful effort sailing between the posts.
And play swung back in the other direction, with Tyrone sub Ethan Jordan capping a lung-busting 85 metre run with a point, but Cork had some individual magic of their own to unleash, and it was a Rebel sub, Jack Murphy, who ghosted past three defenders to rifle home a wonderful solo goal in the 38thminute.
That score came moments after Tyrone midfielder Joe Oguz had been sent of on a second yellow card, but they got themselves back in front through substitute Michael Conroy going into the final ten minutes.
With the extra man, Cork were able to push up on Tyrone’s kick-outs and win the battle for possession around the middle, with fresh legs coming off the bench and contributing generously, subsFionn Herlihy and Eanna O’Hanlon hitting two points each.
O’Mahony continued to strike accurately, bringing his tally to seven, and they were still full of running right at the end as they held on two win by two.
Cork: J O’Keefe; M Mahoney, M Shanley, P Ring; C O’Donovan, S Meehan, P O’Driscoll; B Hartnett (0-01), D O’Connell; C Barrett (0-02), B Murphy, C O’Callaghan; M Cronin (1-2, 0-1f), C O’Mahony (0-07, 5f), D Gore.
Subs: E O’Hanlon (0-02) for O’Connell, J McCarthy for O’Donovan (33), J Murphy (1-00) for O’Callaghan (35), F Herlihy (0-02) for B Murphy (41), M Hodnett (0-01) for Mahoney (54), S Hickey for Meehan (BC 61)
Tyrone: L Quinn; A Clarke, C Quinn, P Mullan; C Grimes, A Fox, C Devlin; R Gormley, J Oguz; P Og McCartan (0-01), D Canavan (1-01), M McKearney; J Garrity (0-02), S Og McAleer (0-05, 2f), T Quinn (0-06, 2f).
Subs: C Goodwin for Fox (9), D McGuigan for Goodwin (BC 28), E Jordan (0-01) for McCartan (41), M Conroy (0-02, 1f) for Quinn (47), M Murnaghan for Devlin (57)
Referee: S Laverty (Antrim).
