Tommy Walsh and Wayne Sherlock on why Cork defence will be critical against Tipperary

Cork’s Wayne Sherlock and Kilkenny’s Tommy Walsh believe the Rebel defence will be crucial to their chances of overcoming Tipperary in Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling final.

Defence is the best form of attack. That famous saying can be applied to any other sport but fits neatly when describing the Cork defence this past year.

Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes and Patrick Horgan rightly attract plenty of headlines for their dazzling inter-play and scoring feats. The recent All-Ireland semi-final victory over Dublin best exemplified that trio’s abilities as the Cork full-forward line combined for 5-11 of their side’s 7-26 winning total.

Yet, at the opposite end of the Croke Park pitch, Seán O’Donoghue, Eoin Downey and Niall O’Leary proved equally effective. Cork’s full-back line has had its hands full against some of the most potent forward lines in the country this year including Clare, Tipperary, Dublin and most notably, Limerick.

Former Kilkenny inter-county star and current NewsTalk Off the Ball GAA pundit Tommy Walsh was suitably impressed and believes Cork’s defence will play as equally important a role as their county’s forwards against Tipperary.

“A lot of long balls went down on top of Cork’s full-back line against Dublin,” Walsh noted.

“It was a kind of old school type of ball coming in on top of a back line. There are no better guys than Seán, Eoin, Robert or Niall to win those types of ball though.

You have to be mobile in the modern game because forwards are moving around so much. 

"There was a time a corner-forward played as corner-forward and stayed there for the day unless he was actually switched. Now they’re corner-forwards one minute, then they’re half-forwards another minute.

“So, as defenders, you have to be able to move seamlessly. Cork’s defence are together a long time now. They seem to be able to work out forwards that bit better by playing together as a unit for the last three or four years. It certainly looks like that out on the field anyway.” 

Cork selector Wayne Sherlock admits the entire Cork team, including their defence, will have to produce a complete performance if a resurgent Tipperary are to be overcome.

“We will have to be at our best,” Sherlock commented.

“So, there is going to be a lot of pressure on both teams. Look, maybe people didn’t expect Tipperary to get to an All-Ireland final at the start of the year, I don't know, but we’ll be under pressure, they’ll be under pressure.

GOOD BATTLES

“We are both from hurling counties, and look, I’m looking forward to the battle, because we have had two good battles so far this year. They had a fella sent off the last day, but look, it’s going to be man-on-man. Whichever team wants it the most will probably win.

“Whatever about picking a starting 15, picking the 26-man matchday panel will probably be the hardest thing for Pat and the rest of us.

You have 38 players who are training every night the same way and some will be told they’re not on the panel for All-Ireland final weekend.

“We will all travel together, go out to battle together. Every fella on the Cork panel has a part to play and I think we've been very lucky with fellas’ attitude this year.”