DID ANYONE SEE yesterday’s outcome in Croke Park coming?
The build-up was dominated by talk of a close contest and how this would be a game settled by one moment of genius or one mistake. I don’t think anyone expected a match that was done and dusted a good bit before the final whistle.
Instead it was all too easy for Tipperary as Cork never turned up. All the Tipperary players stood up and played brilliantly whereas Cork’s players didn’t perform to standard. We didn’t get the nail-biter that had been predicted and it was a runaway win for Tipperary.
The knives were out for Tipperary back in June when they lost to Limerick but they’ve recovered brilliantly. Their work rate was phenomenal yesterday and their team work was exceptional.
A big problem for Cork was how they set up for opposition puckouts. The Cork management wanted to crowd out the Tipperary half-forward line at the start as Bill Cooper came out the field and that left Mark Ellis drop slightly back.
Tipperary spotted that and then just pucked the ball to where the space was. They left Seamus Callanan inside one on one and while Shane O’Neill did well in the first-half with the amount of ball that was delivered his way, it was a case of him keeping his finger in the dam.
The pressure was eventually going to tell when a forward of Callanan’s calibre is supplied with so much possession. It was unbelievable that the Cork management kept that strategy. With the amount of ball that Tipperary delivered in, they were always going to get scores. 2-17 from play was an impressive tally.
They had a physical edge as well. The intensity of their tackling was far superior to Cork’s and their teamwork was brilliant. Cork were under huge pressure early on and the struggle they endured in getting scores didn’t help. They were snatching at chances but there was no excuses for some of their wides. They were a killer for Cork.
Callanan’s goals were absolutely brilliant. They were two rockets, really great strikes and it was impressive to get that much power hitting a ball from open play. The first one was unstoppable and his finish was superb. John O’Dwyer also made a massive contribution with the vital points he scored and the key times he got them.
Tipperary’s midfield deserve great credit. James Woodlock got on to a world of ball and ran at the heart of the Cork defence. Shane McGrath is a player who thrives on confidence and when things go right for him, he can turn the game in Tipperary’s favour. If you get on top of him, the game can go away from him but yesterday he was one of the dominant figures. He also struck over a few great points.
Who played well for Cork? Christopher Joyce did well holding Lar Corbett but he was wasted at corner back. He’s quick and physical, and has a great engine. Using him in the half-back line would have helped Cork to drive forward.
Stephen McDonnell and Mark Ellis battled strongly in defence and I thought you had to give credit to Conor Lehane. He scored four points and was the one Cork forward to enjoy a good day.
The two corner backs for Tipperary had exceptional games. Cathal Barrett is only 21 but he did an outstanding job on Patrick Horgan and kept him quiet. Horgan is Cork’s main forward and one of the top attackers in the country. To shut him down to that extent was a major achievement by Barrett.
Elsewhere in the defence Padraic Maher was on top against Seamus Harnedy, a player Cork really need to be influencing the game. To be fair Cork did try to change things up in the second-half with that match-up but the game was over. Maher had the run of the pitch from the start and I couldn’t believe Cork kept pucking the ball down long on top of him for so long.
Coming into yesterday’s game, Cork looked in a really good situation. They were a puck of a ball away from winning last year’s All-Ireland title and you imagined they had massive hunger playing against Tipperary in Croke Park.
We felt they would certainly be competitive but they were completely flat. Cork hurling got a huge boost in 2013 but they found out yesterday that your performances don’t always travel in an upward curve. It’s a big setback for this team.
It’s a massive win for Tipperary as they’re back in the final. If I was Eamon O’Shea though, I think he might have preferred the kind of test Kilkenny got in their semi-final when they were put to the pin of their collar.
Tipperary people are going to be asking themselves today where exactly they stand. It’s similar to the situation that Kerry were in after the Munster football final and happens when you win a game comfortably.
We’re back with a traditional final pairing now. Tipperary and Kilkenny have been the two teams that have showed the best form this summer and deserve to be in the final. I said before hand that the winners of this weekend’s match would be favourites for the final and Tipperary have convinced me they can finish the deal.
