Munster SF final replay Cork v Tipperary: Replays have a habit of going against the underdog. They seem to perform the same sort of function as looking down half-way across does for a tightrope walker. But regardless of what happens in Cork tomorrow, this has been an impressive championship for Tipperary.
Rarely has a team so comprehensively written off defied predictions so thoroughly. There was little in the matches against Clare to suggest that Tipp's challenge this year was going to be radically different to other, recent campaigns, when the peak of achievement was running Kerry close(ish) two years ago.
The combined forward threat of Peter Lambert, Brendan Cummins and the exceptional Declan Browne looked good on paper, but it hadn't managed to sustain pressure on Clare so there was little to suggest that it would fare much better on Cork's revamped rearguard.
One intercounty mentor who had faced Cork in a challenge said this week that he had reckoned Cork's backs to be the best in the country. Until last Sunday. That revision may be premature, and Larry Tompkins' selection indicates he feels his defence had a bad day at the office rather than revealed fatal flaws.
If the travails of his strongest unit must have come as an unpleasant surprise to Tompkins, some of the other difficulties were more predictable. Centrefield has been a problem all season and it was unduly dismissive to reason on the basis that Tipperary's pairing wouldn't be capable of emulating Darragh Ó Sé's dominance for Kerry in the two semi-final matches.
Kevin Mulryan played particularly well for Tipp and devoured plenty of possession to establish a decent supply for his in-form forwards. On the 40, Brendan Cummins showed why his dual virtuosity makes him the latest in a long line of talents that hurling has robbed from football in the county.
Whereas he didn't get on the score sheet, his initiative on the ball created good chances and helped expose Cork at the back.
Up front, the reliance on Colin Corkery was again vividly demonstrated and, but for the fireworks from Browne, the focus would surely have been on how the captain has revived his career so spectacularly at this stage and is playing with a constant menace, consistently utilising his size and skills to the point where he's a live contender for footballer of the year.
Brendan Jer O'Sullivan maintained his scoring input in unusual fashion with two goals, one a bit on the fortunate side. But otherwise Cork didn't look too threatening.
The suspicion has to be that Cork will improve. Whether Tipp can match that is debatable. That's not to suggest that there was anything freakish about last week's achievement, but that Tom McGlinchey's side don't have the top-flight experience of sustaining their best form in situations like this.
