All-Ireland hurling final analysis: Cork couldn't cope with Tipp sweeper but where was the hunger?

For Cork to lose to Tipp couldn't be viewed as a complete surprise, despite their tag of overwhelming favourites beforehand.

After all, the Liam MacCarthy Cup hasn't been collected since 2005 and this is the county's third final loss since 2021. With Cork hurling, there are no longer any guarantees.

This wasn't wasn't a case of just losing on the big stage again. They were utterly dismantled, which was a seismic shock. You were at least confident they'd turn up and perform.

Leesiders left Jones Road on Sunday utterly numb. How could you explain such a meltdown?

Now Tipp came to Croker with serious momentum, focused on a sixth championship victory on the bounce, and confident they knew enough about Cork's style to shut them down. Liam Cahill had done the same in 2018 with the Tipp U21s.

SCARRED

They were dismantled in the Munster and league final meetings this spring but that clearly didn't affect them at all. Cork, in stark contrast, had to be carrying the scars from previous disappointments.

Cork were stuck to the ground at times, utterly failed to bring the same aggression and fury Tipp offered up from the early stages. Where was the intensity that rocked Limerick in the Munster final? Where was the drive and power that saw them go from provincial elimination in May 2024 to consecutive All-Irelands?

So many Rebels failed to come close to their best form. Or weren't allowed to by a ravenous Tipp.

Shane Barrett and Diarmuid Healy shared 1-7 from play in the first half, Barrett scoring one of Cork's pitiful haul of two second-half points as well. Seán O'Donoghue had another fine game, getting the better of Jason Forde.

Beyond that, the rest ranged from awful to very average. Certainly not All-Ireland winning.

Somehow, Cork hurled as badly as they had in 2021 and way below last July.

Cork were tactically disappointing it has to be said. They did poorly against the sweeper in the first half, going in 1-16 to 0-13 up flattered them.

Cork did hit the crossbar and force goal chances in the second half that weren't on while Eoin Downey should have been taken off before his red card. But they couldn't make possession stick past Tipp's seventh defender.

It was confounding that Cork didn't run the ball through the lines more by utilising the pace Tim O'Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon and Mark Coleman. 

Another crushing, soul-destroying loss was the consequence.