Diarmuid Sheehan: Cork won’t want any draws in weekend’s final two Munster SHC fixtures

The pulses were racing for the first 35 minutes and the chest was out for the second half, as Cork blew Tipperary away to put themselves on the cusp of what many felt just two weeks ago was an impossible goal – to be one of the three escaping the Munster bear-pit for a tilt at the Liam MacCarthy.

Semple Stadium was rocking last Sunday afternoon with a sea of red and white drowning out the blue and gold as the Rebels, both young and old, flocked to the home of hurling for what would prove to be the biggest mismatch of the year so far. Cork annihilating the home side in a fashion not seen in many years (over a century as it happens!).

The Lessiders came into the tie full of the joys of life after their heroic win over Limerick eight days previous, but those not blinkered by that display would have felt there was going to be a kick in Tipp, as they season also hung in the balance with this game.

And those that had fancied that a Tipperary backlash was on the cards, well they would have been stroking their chins at the break as this one had just three points between the sides at the short whistle, and that gap only came with the final puck of the half as Alan Connolly did what he does best, nearly burst the net after cutting in from the right.

Cork looked up for the fight from the off as the game swapped lead at an ever increasing pace – level a host of times as the sun beat down on the players and fans, plenty of burned scalps behind the goals, but no one seemed to care.

Cork were losing the battle of the puck-outs as Tipp players rose higher over and over again, that said, Cork were going point-for-point with their hosts, the Rebels were, however, guilty of a host of poor wides during the first half. Something that looked like it may impact on their chances late on.

The lead at the half-time break was likely a little harsh on Tipperary, but the advantage was slight, nothing to be worried about for Liam Cahill’s men as they emerged for the second half festivities.

But Cahill and his charges couldn’t have imagined the horrors that the second half would bring as Cork just ran riot against a side that prides itself as being one the national hurling strongholds – a county with a pedigree that bows to no one.

Cork were in scintillating form after the turn with almost everything they did turning golden. Alan Connolly, Patrick Horgan and Brian Hayes led a magnificent front line with Shane Barrett putting in another magnificent shift behind.

Darragh Fitzgibbon was superb in the middle and at the back it was hard to find fault with either of the Downey brothers and of course Niall O’Leary – superb all of them.

While many of the starters played out of their skins the impact from the bench was significant with Luke Meade and Shane Kingston excelling after their introductions on 32 and 45 minutes respectively.

Cork have for many years struggled at the back and with the bench, but now their seems to be cover in both areas and the side is reaping the rewards.

From a Cork point of view, the permutations are less complicated now that they were heading into last weekend – Cork now just want Limerick to beat Waterford, that will do it – there are other results that Cork could ask for.

What Cork need:

• Clare win and Limerick win – that sees Cork through in third.
• Another possibility for Cork is both Clare and Waterford win which puts Cork through and Limerick out.
• If Clare and Tipperary draw and Limerick win then Cork also escape as is the case if Clare and Tipperary draw and Waterford win.
• Cork can also make it through to the Munster Final if Tipperary win with Limerick and Waterford playing out a draw.
• The other way Cork play in the provincial decider is if Tipperary and Waterford both win – then Waterford would likely play Cork in the decider.

In short, Cork will take what they can get from next weekend, but the safest bet is no draws in the other two games (particularly not in Limerick v Waterford) should see the men in red through to what would be seen as a significant knockout game.

Pat Ryan will be delighted with the way his side have managed to change their own situation – now all the Sars man would really want is for his side to get their destiny back into their own hands.

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