Young Cork Rebels seize the day

Tipperary 1-26 Cork 2-27: Collectively, Cork couldn’t have asked for more. How rare it is for any county to have everyone to a man contributing to a success. And yet this was typical of a Cork victory, won with panache in a game for the ages. Achieved with a smattering of youth, as premature as it is there may be more than a parallel or two drawn with 1999.

Some will argue this affair lacked bite and intensity; that much of what transpired wouldn’t be permitted in the business end of the All-Ireland championship. But if this is to be the last Munster opening knockout game, then it will be remembered fondly for its quality as much as its entertainment. And try telling the scoreboard operator that this wasn’t manic. In the first 20 minutes, they had reason to change the score on 19 occasions.

All week it seemed neutrals and Cork sympathisers were hoping more than anticipating a performance from the men in red. At times, it felt critiques and criticisms of their showings in recent years were pep talks in disguise. To keep Tipperary honest seemed the height of expectation outside the camp. What they provided perhaps even surprised their diehards, so stunning it was in conviction.