Tipperary stopped Cork's bid for a five-in-a-row of Munster U21 FC titles with a 1-15 to 3-8 final victory at Semple Stadium tonight.

In what was a repeat of the 2013 (Cork 1-17 Tipperary 0-9) and 2014 (Cork 1-18 Tipperary 3-8) finals, 2,137 turned out at the famous Thurles venue as the Premier County claimed their second ever provincial title at this level.

There were late changes in both sides, captain Colin O'Riordan was given the nod ahead of Paul Shanahan in the Tipperary XV while Sean O'Leary and Cillian McIntyre replaced Michael McSweeney and Dan O'Callaghan for Cork.

The home side were quick from the traps and raced into an early 0-5 to 0-1 lead inside the opening 15 minutes through scores from Jason Lonergan, Kevin O'Halloran (f), Paul Maher, Josh Keane and the instrumental Steven O'Brien. Wing forward Darragh Murphy opened the visitors account on 11 minutes, after a number of wasted opportunities.

Tipperary dominated possession in the opening half, but an injury time Peter Kelleher goal meant they only led by 0-8 to 1-4 at the interval. Maher, Keane and O'Halloran were on target again for Tipp while Cathal Vaughan (2) and Sean O'Donoghue added to the Rebels tally.

Picking up from where he left off before the break, full forward Kelleher struck for his second goal on 31 minutes to leave the holders two points in front. O'Halloran (2f) responded immediately for Tipperary and the sides were level before Vaughan (f) restored Cork's lead.

The in-form O'Halloran popped up again with another free before O'Brien picked out Ian Fahey who fired to the net on the three-quarter hour mark to swing the tie back in Tipperary's favour. O'Riordan then followed up with a brace of points to leave them ahead by 1-13 to 2-5, with less than 10 minutes remaining.

Sean Hayes' charges had the margin back to three points when substitute Cian Dorgan and Vaughan sent over on 53 and 55 minutes respectively but Tipperary were soon on top again when Lonergan and top scorer O'Halloran (f) found the range.

Dorgan got the Rebels third goal in injury-time before a long range Brian O'Driscoll free left one point it it, but Tommy Twomey's side held out for a memorable win and will now face champions Dublin on Saturday week for a place in the All-Ireland decider.

Tipperary - E Comerford; C O'Shaughnessy, J Feehan, K Fahey; R Mulcahy, L Boland, B Maher; S O'Brien 0-1, C O'Riordan 0-2; J Lonergan 0-2, I Fahey 1-0, L Casey; K O'Halloran 0-6, J Keane 0-2, P Maher 0-2. Subs - TJ Ryan for Keane, W Connors for Boland.

Cork - M Martin; J Davis, T O'Rourke, S Cronin; B O'Driscoll 0-1, S White, C Kiely; A O'Donovan, S O'Leary; S O'Donoghue 0-1, C McIntyre, D Murphy 0-1; C Vaughan 0-4, P Kelleher 2-0, C Horgan. Subs: K Davis for Horgan, C Dorgan 1-1 for McIntyre, D Quinn for O'Donovan, M Desmond for O'Donoghue, M McSweeney for Kiely, C Hyde for White.

Ref - S Joy (Kerry)

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