Cork hurlers delivered overdue silverware, now for real test in the Munster Championship
Cork's Eoin Downey knocks the sliotar from Tipperary's Jason Forde. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
After the bitter disappointment of last year's All-Ireland final loss, and five league final defeats since they last won the secondary competition in 1998, Cork made no mistake on home turf on Sunday afternoon.
Their first-half showing against Tipp was superb. That the tally of wides was nine to two at the break, on top of the 13-point margin, told the tale of Cork's supremacy in every sector.
Once Alan Connolly skipped through to rifle in the opening goal, on the back of three points in a row by Cork, it was clear to the crowd of 43,243 that there was only going to be one winner. The bookies' odds beforehand were justified.
Darragh Fitzgibbon, electric in the opening period, and Ethan Twomey, in his best game yet at this level, added more goals and the Páirc was rocking. Defensively Cork were excellent in the second quarter, conceding just 0-5, which was built as much on the tackling in the middle third as the brilliant corner-back displays by Niall O'Leary and Seán O'Donoghue.
Basically, the first half couldn't have gone better.
However, that meant the second half was a tepid enough affair. Tipp tightened up considerably in their full-back line, with Ronan Maher offering better protection. Against the breeze, and having dropped their tempo working the sliotar out, there were fewer opportunities to pick off points.
The biggest cheers were for the introduction of some big guns in the second half, Seamie Harnedy, Mark Coleman and Deccie Dalton especially, but they never really fired.
It was quite the luxury for Cork to have, cruising to the league title on their own patch, Robert Downey, powerful throughout, going on to lift the trophy in the Páirc in front of his own, the same as Dermot MacCurtain did in 1980.
There was no All-Ireland in the wake of that league victory, one of only two seasons in the 12-year period from 1975 to 1986 that Cork didn't secure the Munster crown either.
Pat Ryan and his selectors might well be pleased that Cork didn't run riot in the second half because it showed where Clare will look to outmuscle his side in the critical provincial championship opener at Cusack Park on Easter Sunday. Yes, Cork raised six green flags in the league but championship is a different animal.
We'll all reserve judgement until then.
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