Cork v Tipperary: Different Tipp animal will land in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh this Sunday 

Here we go again. Three weeks after Cork and Tipperary met for League honours at a sold-out SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, it’s time for round two. 

There isn’t national silverware on the line but this feels more important. Because it is. Tipp have already shaken off that defeat with their draw against Limerick. Cork have been grounded by Clare’s resurrection to tie in Ennis.

Four teams are one point closer to escaping the Munster bearpit but only three, at most, lest we forget Waterford’s claims, will do so. The goalposts have shifted since that league final, too. Cork are set to be without suspended vice-captain Shane Barrett.

Captain Robert Downey seemed doubtful but is expected to start.

Tipp have reshuffled their attack. John McGrath scored two goals in blue and gold for the first time since 2017 on his first Championship start since the 2023 opener.  Noel McGrath returned from injury off the bench and not only mesmerised with his silky skills but forced the turnover for the late goal and the equalising free.

Still, there is a sizeable gap to be made up and Cork retain plenty of advantages.

They took Tipp for four goals in the Championship last year and had a fifth uncharitably disallowed. They have racked up 11 in their last three Championship meetings with the men in blue and gold. 

That form held with three in the space of 13 minutes to annex the league title before half-time.

Their blend of pace and directness has been Tipp’s kryptonite. They are vulnerable to runners from deep. 

The match-ups facilitate that.

SOME DOSE

Half of Alan Connolly’s eight Championship goals have come from weaving through Premier defenders across just two encounters. He prescribed the same dose in the League final.

Darragh Fitzgibbon netted against them in 2022, ‘23, and the ‘25 League final. 

Declan Dalton and Robbie O’Flynn ran through them in ‘23. Current midfield pairing Tim O’Mahony and Ethan Twomey have both registered goals in this fixture.

Barrett’s absence will be felt in that regard. His runs assisted two green flags in last year’s blowout and would’ve given Bryan O’Mara plenty to worry about. 

The Holycross half-back put in his best display yet for Tipp last weekend. Back-up options don’t come much stronger than Dalton, though.

Tipp’s first aim will be to avoid those costly defensive turnovers. 

They got caught running out with the sliotar for two goals in the league final and two more in last year’s championship meeting.

They’re not the only ones who need to beware. There could well be an early goal here. 

Jake Morris netted after 38 seconds in 2022. 

Mark Kehoe took less than half that time to score inside 16 seconds last year. Dalton’s opener arrived in the fifth minute in ‘23.

Tipp have their best athlete, Michael Breen, bedded in as their chief full-back line man-marker. He will take Brian Hayes. 

Eoghan Connolly emerged as a lethal long-range weapon on frees but could come under pressure again from his namesake. Rookie Robert Doyle will pit his resolve against the endless experience of Patrick Horgan.

It could be a similar situation on the wing where recent debutant Joe Caesar, who was called ashore in their half-time reconfiguration during the league final, could face Séamus Harnedy.

DEEP

The biggest tactical headache is how to manage Fitzgibbon at centre-forward. Ronan Maher’s instinct and instruction is to drop off. 

Can Craig Morgan filter back without the Charleville man doing too much damage during the handover?

Morris will hope to pose the same conundrum for Downey at the other end. 

If Cork want Niall O’Leary to tag him, as he has done with success, they would have to restructure their defensive game plan.

Whether Tipp masked their true intentions during the League final by installing Morris on the inside, he will be placed on the 40, where he caused Limerick plenty of hassle with his work range and distance shooting.

Darragh McCarthy’s Championship debut lived up to expectations but Seán O’Donoghue will aim to outmuscle him again.

No different to Cork, Tipp have voted to add more experience since the League final.

That day, Jason Forde emerged with credit on Eoin Downey but it could be John McGrath setting the test on the edge of the square. 

Cahill turned to Noel McGrath and Séamus Kennedy early off the bench as well as the athleticism of Conor Bowe and Conor Stakelum. Surprisingly, Gearóid O’Connor did not feature.

Tipp’s immediate target for improvement will be their puck-out strategy. Cahill’s message is to trust their hurling to work the sliotar out of defence and fight for every crumb up front. Facing the other way, they need to make life harder for Patrick Collins than they have done in recent years.

Given the structure of county allocations, Tipp will come with more support than the League final. 

Cork will be favourites again but it won’t be so easy this time.