Cork v Tipp: All-Ireland final showdown hinges on goal power
Brian Hayes of Cork celebrates scoring his side's 4th goal, in the 32nd minute, during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final match between Cork and Dublin at Croke Park in Dublin. Picture: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Many anticipated a Cork return to this stage of the All-Ireland SHC. Few would have expected their opponents to be Tipperary, though.
It will be a first All-Ireland final meeting for the two, with both sides having every chance of coming away with the Liam MacCarthy Cup. But Tipperary’s turnaround from last year has been remarkable.
All year, Liam Cahill’s side have been showing what they’re capable of, performing much closer to the expectation that the Tipp faithful demand. There were a few blips that caused some initial concern, though. Both came in the first two rounds of the Munster championship.
They’ve still not beaten Limerick in a championship game since 2019, but that opening draw with the Treaty men was a big result – one that ultimately proved crucial in securing their spot in the All-Ireland series.
Cork, fresh off a Division 1A league title and unlucky not to defeat Clare, were flying. Tipperary, meanwhile, endured a nightmare start in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
A straight red card for Darragh McCarthy, one of many Tipp hurlers to make their senior debuts this year, left them in trouble. Cork took full advantage, storming to a 15-point victory.
It may have reflected the numerical disparity and performances on the day, but it was not a reflection of the difference between the two teams.
They proved that two weeks later with an astonishing win over Clare at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg. With McCarthy suspended, Jason Forde was handed the free-taking duties. He finished with seven points from placed balls and one from play, but it was John McGrath’s 2-3 and Andrew Ormond’s 2-1 that really caught the eye.
A composed win over Waterford followed, securing progression. From there, Tipp dismissed Laois and Galway with minimal fuss, booking a place in the semi-final.
Against Kilkenny, they struck four more goals – one each from Forde, McGrath, McCarthy, and substitute Oisín O’Donoghue.
Even with McCarthy receiving his second red card of the campaign, Tipp still had enough to see it through, O’Donoghue’s late goal sealing a statement win.
Cork might be the more prolific goal-scoring outfit this year, but Tipp aren’t far behind. Their forwards are sharp, mobile, and clinical when space opens up – and they’ve carved up quality opposition en route to the final.
Clare managed eight, though three of those came in a dead rubber against Limerick.
Since the All-Ireland series kicked off with the preliminary-quarter finals, Tipp have netted a total of eight goals – four of those coming against Kilkenny in that semi-final.
Cork and Dublin have seven each, with the latter having played three games to the Rebels’ one. But it goes to show what Tipperary have in store. They will be targeting goals this Sunday. As Dublin proved in the semi-final, Cork aren’t totally impenetrable.
But the difference will come down to who grabs more majors. On that front, Cork will be fancied. They have to be.
Cork have scored 35 goals this season between league and championship. That’s an average of 2.7 per game. Sure, the six against Clare in the league and seven against Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final inflate that. But in each of those 13 games Cork played, they’ve scored at least one in each.
Tipp have 24 in 14. That’s 1.7 per game. Respectable, but not as relentless.
If this is to be Cork’s year – if they are finally to end the drought – goals will almost certainly be the difference.
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