Rebels open Munster SHC title defence with four-point victory in Thurles
April 19, 2026
Cork's Darragh Fitzgibbon is closely watched by Robert Doyle of Tipperary ©INPHO/James Lawlor
Cork got their Munster senior hurling championship title defence underway with a 0-29 to 1-22 win against rivals Tipperary at Semple Stadium this afternoon.
Alan Connolly and William Buckley combined for 0-13 over the 70 minutes for the Rebels who reversed the result from last July’s All-Ireland SHC final meeting between these two sides.
Four points from Darragh Fitzgibbon would help Ben O’Connor’s side get out to a 0-5 to 0-3 lead after 10 minutes prior to Tipp responding with six unanswered scores, including three Jason Forde frees, to hit the front and eventually move up by three.
The Leesiders got it level again and Oisin O’Donoghue and Buckley would exchange points late in the half which left it at 0-13 apiece when the sides went in.
The rebels take the points in Round 1 in the @MunsterGAA SHC 🏆@TipperaryGAA 1-22@OfficialCorkGAA 0-29
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 19, 2026
Watch the highlights here 👉🎥 #TIPvCOR pic.twitter.com/y4ILFMc1mR
They’d be level three more times in the third quarter before the visitors sailed over unanswered points from Tim O’Mahony (free), Barry Walsh, Connolly (two frees) and Buckley to take control.
The flow of leaked scores didn’t stop for the All-Ireland champions there either, as Connolly (2, 1 free) and O’Mahony put eight points between the sides before Darragh McCarthy’s free stopped the rot for Tipp.
Liam Cahill’s charges reduced their arrears to five in the closing stages and, after Cork responded with a Shane Barrett point, Alan Tynan would fire in the game’s only goal with a minute remaining in normal time.
Alan Walsh steadied the Rebels ship after that, with Buckley’s free cancelling out one from McCarthy deep in injury-time as the holders bounced back from their league final defeat to Limerick by picking up two early points in the Mick Mackey Cup race.
Tweet'Lucky enough to come out with a win at the end of it' - Cork boss Ben O'Connor was pleased to start his Championship reign with victory over Tipperary #SundayGame #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/epG6AW0GXU
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) April 19, 2026
