Tipperary v Cork: Three key battles to decide Munster hurling opener in Thurles

Ronan Maher v Brian Hayes:

Hayes was the Hurler of the Year in waiting before last year's All-Ireland final. 

Maher, who operated at centre-back and in the full-back line last summer depending on requirements, was given the most important marking job at Croke Park and put the shackles on the Barrs man.

Hayes managed two points from play and collected his first All-Star after but was never allowed to dominate by the Tipp captain, who was Man of the Match. Now Maher had protection in sweeper Bryan O'Meara but foiled him in the air.

Hayes got a goal off the bench against Tipp in the 2023 draw but in the last three championship meetings and the league final didn't raise a green flag. 

He had a handful of assists though, often collecting ball coming out from the D and reversing the play. Tipp will hope Maher, who was rested for the bulk of the league, can limit that threat.

The Cork fans thrive off goals from Hayes and Alan Connolly, Maher and co must neuter that source of energy again.

Jake Morris v Eoin Downey:

Even in recent meetings when the Premier struggled, Morris always delivered against Cork. 

A regular goalscorer against the Rebels, he excelled in 2025 as a playmaker in the half-forward line.

Rob Downey is Cork's usual centre-back but might not start there on Sunday, while Seán O'Donoghue marked Morris in the Munster Championship game this time last year.

Eoin Downey was in the number six slot in the league final, blotting out Aidan O'Connor, and if Morris starts centre-forward could be asked to do a similar job. 

In the All-Ireland, the movement of Tipp's half-forward line, including the excellent Andrew Ormond, who actually started at 11, left Cork's rearguard badly exposed. John McGrath with 2-2 and Darragh McCarthy, to the tune of 1-13, tormented Cork last summer as well.

Óisín O'Donoghue v Darragh Fitzgibbon:

Liam Cahill got his main match-ups absolutely spot on in Croker. Maher did the business on Hayes, Robert Doyle locked down Alan Connolly and Willie Connors dogged it out with Declan Dalton.

While Shane Barrett and Diarmuid Healy, who is on the bench due to injury this weekend, shared 1-7, the key to slowing down Cork was rookie Sam O'Farrell's excellence in his deployment on Fitzgibbon. 

O'Farrell was in the half-forward line for the majority of the campaign but slotted in at midfield seamlessly. The youngster is named on the bench this weekend with last year's impact sub Óisín O'Donoghue getting the nod instead, albeit at wing-back.

He has operated in defence before with the Tipp U20s and could be asked to use his pace to stick with Fitzgibbon. Or O'Donoghue could go on debutant Barry Walsh.

Bryan O'Meara will wear the number seven geansaí on Sunday but might drop off as sweeper with Connors going into that slot instead of midfield. 

Lots of ifs, buts and mabyes, but Tipp have kept the heads down very effectively the last month, revealing nothing. 

Fitzgibbon has struck goals in the last two Old Firm collisions in Thurles and has been at the heart of Cork's most impressive displays in recent seasons. Quieten him and you're a long way to beating Cork.