What we learned from Cork hurlers' victory over Tipp with Limerick looming
TIGHT SQUEEZE: Darragh Fitzgibbon of Cork in action against Sam O'Farrell, left, and Eoghan Connolly of Tipperary at FBD Semple Stadium. Picture: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
Cork’s four-point victory over Tipperary on Sunday felt a bigger win than the scoreboard reflected as Cork completely bossed the All-Ireland champions for much of the second half.
Tipperary will be perplexed by their performance as they went from 21:39 on the clock until 64:01 with just one score from play through Oisin O’Donoghue.
They were chipping away with frees but when Tipp teams are on song they pick off scores left, right and centre. They went in level at half time but went 29 minutes into the second half before sub Sam O’Farrell got that first point from play in that period.
They ended up getting a few quick scores to briefly get within range but will accept that they weren’t at the races on Sunday.
Perhaps the real story behind Tipp’s forward fade out was the performance of the Cork defence.
A lot of pundits were keen to point out the lack of new blood being introduced into a rearguard who have lost a number of All-Ireland finals. The Cork backs cleaned up against Tipp, with Liam Cahill’s side unable to figure out a way past or around the Downeys, and when they did Sean O’Donoghue, Ciáran Joyce and Niall O’Leary were powerhouses.
William Buckley surprised no one with the way he took to championship hurling like a duck to the Lough. He buzzed all over the Thurles pitch, clipping over six great points, with five from play.
The scores were well spread out too, which was a clear sign of how he stayed involved for the entire game.
Points after 11:00, 27:04, 36:35, 51:36, 58:51 and the clincher from a free on 74:33. He was a deserving Man of the Match.
It wasn’t just his scores either.
There was a wonderful piece of stick control by the left sideline in the lead up to an Alan Connolly point, while in the 54th minute he chased down Robert Doyle, forcing the Tipp corner-back to catch the ball three times. He also had his hand in other scores, like an assist for a Barry Walsh score in the 48th minute.
The Killeagh youngster must be commended for the way he recovered from a rough start, where his first two possessions were turned over, resulting in scores for Jake Morris and Oisin O’Donoghue.
He stuck at it and thundered into the game with two settling points in the 29th and 36th minutes.
Another standout moment arrived in the 70th minute when Newmarket’s Hugh O’Connor hoovered up a ball in midfield and drilled a perfect ball into fellow debutant Alan Walsh 20 yards from the Tipp goal. The Kanturk man caught the ball, swivelled in one motion and clipped it over the bar for a fine score.
It must have been incredibly satisfying for Ben O’Connor to see his two newcomers combining in such a manner, as it would have been far easier to have sent on the likes of Seamus Harnedy and Robbie O’Flynn before the inexperienced duo.
It shows the faith the Cork manager has in youth.
There was not much in terms of negatives but Cork’s free-taking can certainly be considered one as six strikes at goal from placed balls were struck wide. Seven were scored, but a 7/13 ratio won’t do.
Tim O’Mahony missed three in the first half, but to his credit, he did step up to hit a monster from long-range in the second half.
Mark Coleman was wide with two and Alan Connolly sliced another off target in the second half.
Cork effectively won the game by outscoring Tipperary by 0-10 to 0-3 in the first 20 minutes of the second half.
There had been little sign of this level of dominance in the opening half. If anything Cork seemed to hurl with an element of fear initially, guilty of deploying tactics with last year’s All-Ireland final in mind rather than what was in front of them.
Eventually the shackles were lifted. Boosted by the likes of Buckley and Walsh, who were not involved last July, they kicked on for a victory that could go a long way in ensuring they qualify from Munster.
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