Cork have eased to a first Munster Hurling Championship win after hitting 14-man Tipperary for four goals in a game overshadowed by the first minute sending off of Tipperary’s Darragh McCarthy.
McCarthy was Tipp’s hero seven days earlier when he landed the levelling free to draw with Limerick.
But as tempers flared even before throw-in in Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork defender Sean O’Donoghue was on the deck at one end and as referee Johnny Murphy consulted with his umpires McCarthy was shown red for striking his marker with the hurley.
The young man was distraught as he left the field and Cork capitalised with three goals over the next 17 minutes, from Tim O’Mahony, Patrick Horgan and Alan Connolly to lead by 3-6 to 0-3.
But for a long time they failed to make any further headway as Tipperary held their ground, prompted by Jason Forde’s 15 points as he took over freetaking duties from McCarthy.
By half-time Cork were 3-13 to 0-12 ahead and while Declan Dalton got a fourth goal there was a sense that they could have shown more.
Cork lost captain Robert Downey to injury for the second game in a row but Seamus Harnedy showed a good return to form with five points and Dalton chipped in with 1-6.
Tipperary’s game with Clare in Ennis next time out now takes on even bigger importance after Clare’s defeat to Waterford while Cork have reset after being caught by Clare last week.
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