Sean Hayes praised the character of his Cork team after they held off Tipperary's comeback to complete a four-in-a-row of Munster U21FC title wins.

The Rebels had to work hard for their victory after Tipp - who paraded several of their 2011 All-Ireland minor winners - regained parity early in the second half.

"This the second day that they have done it, they did it down in Tralee as well," the Cork manager pointed out in the Irish Examiner.

"They just hang in there, they're a fantastic bunch of guys that play lovely football and they just kept playing the way that they had, the way it should be played.

"Tipp got back level with us, which we didn't deserve, but at the end of the day it's all about who's ahead at the final whistle and we were by four points. Everything taken into consideration, I'm delighted."

The Rebels will now face Roscommon for a place in the All-Ireland final and Hayes is hoping the experience nearly half of his team gained from winning the Sigerson Cup earlier this year with UCC will stand to them.

"We had seven on the Sigerson and about eight or nine on the UCC freshers team which won the All-Ireland league," he added.

"There were fellas who had played Fitzgibbon, guys who play senior with their clubs, everywhere you look there's experience and class. When you consider that we were missing Cathal Vaughan, you see how good we are." Tweet

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