HOW DO you read the league form of these teams? Cork courted disaster with the county’s acrid dispute apparently smoking away the team’s Division One status. Two priceless victories after the resolution prevented relegation but getting contemptuously smacked around Nowlan Park by Kilkenny was a harrowing experience.
Tipperary made no bones about not prioritising the defence of their league title and experimented away, putting in lukewarm performances and reaching the final almost by accident before making an unexpectedly fiery stand against Kilkenny.
On the face of it the holders should be certainties. The history of the fixture suggests caution. It’s only two years since Tipperary sprang an extraordinary surprise in Thurles and 12 months since the apparently impregnable fortress of Páirc Uí Chaoimh fell. After 77 meetings in championship just two victories separate the counties, Cork 36-34 ahead.
Cork field a conservative selection – the middle eight are exactly as started the All-Ireland final of five years ago – with a couple of crucial exceptions. Eoin Cadogan steps into the capacious shoes of Diarmuid O’Sullivan at full back and although he may prefer the tactical certainties of marking a big full forward like Micheál Webster, the learning curve is fairly challenging.
At the other end of the field Aisake Ó hAilpín is the surprise choice at full forward. Back only a matter of months from his AFL career the latest of the brothers to step up to senior intercounty has impressed as a ball winner in challenge matches.
It can be argued that brother Setanta surprised a lot of people with his adaptation in 2003 but he had spent a year in Waterford IT, where his game developed in leaps and bounds. Aisake, for all his size and athleticism, hasn’t served that sort of apprenticeship.
Tipperary’s newcomer in attack has a more proven pedigree. Noel McGrath graduates swiftly from a stellar minor career and earlier this month put in a stunning performance in the most demanding of testing grounds, a national final against Kilkenny.
He may be still finding his way in terms of optimal positioning but he looks well ready to step up to senior championship.
Tipperary’s gambles come in the form of returning players. Conor O’Mahony is back after illness and if he plays at centre back rather than on the wing where selected, will have his work cut out against Niall McCarthy, who is in good form. In attack Eoin Kelly hasn’t lined out for the county since last August’s All-Ireland semi-final. Assuming his technical mastery is undimmed, it’s still asking a lot of his match fitness and sharpness to expect one of those head-shakingly brilliant displays that he can deliver.
The defending champions have all the advantages of preparation. The league final was just about the best warm-up a team could have for championship: tough, at times lawless but suffocatingly competitive and testing. They have also set out a more menacing half forward line rather than one simply designed to try and compete for possession.
Cork have much to prove to themselves and their supporters after the traumatic events of the latest dispute with the county board. They will be driven and they will believe that a famous victory is within their reach. To the neutral eye, however, it’s hard to share that optimism.
CORK: D Cusack; S O’Neill, E Cadogan, C O’Sullivan; J Gardiner (capt), R Curran, S Ó hAilpín; J O’Connor, T Kenny; B O’Connor, N McCarthy, T McCarthy; K Murphy (Sarsfields), A Ó hAilpín, P Horgan.
TIPPERARY: B Cummins; P Stapleton, P Curran, C O’Brien; D Fanning, P Maher, C O’Mahony; J Woodlock, S McGrath; L Corbett, S Callanan, J O’Brien; N McGrath, M Webster, E Kelly.
Referee: Barry Kelly (Westmeath).
In the last episode: This is the fifth successive year the old rivals have met. Tipperary won last year unexpectedly and historically, their first championship victory by the Lee since 1923.
You bet: Tipperary are 4/9 to win with Cork at 21/10 with the draw at 11/1. On the handicap Cork (+3) are available at 11/10, Tipp (-3) at 5/6 (Boylesports).
On your marks: The selection of Aisake Ó hAilpín is an intriguing move by Denis Walsh but also a gamble, as he has played little hurling and is primarily there as a target man. Dealing with a good full back in the heat of the championship in Thurles will be a steep task to ask of the 23-year-old.
Gaining ground: The counties played a qualifier here two summers ago with Tipperary getting a shock win. Although Munster secretary Pat Fitzgerald reckoned this week that up to 45,000 would attend, the word on the ground in Tipp isn’t as optimistic. It’s all of 27 years since the counties last met in the first round and the attendance then was less than 30,000.
Just the ticket: Stand tickets are €30 and terrace tickets €20.
Crystal gazing: Tipperary have had by far the superior preparation and that will ultimately count.
