Liam Sheedy: Tipp's challenge is to strip it all back down to a match with Cork

Cork present almost a unique challenge to the psychologists, but Tipp's job is different this year too. 

OUT THE GAP: Brian Hayes of Cork takes on Tipperary's Ronan Maher, left, and Willie Connors during the All-Ireland final. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

The All-Ireland champions begin their defence of the crown at home as outsiders. That’s unusual and suggests plenty are devaluing that 35 minutes of champagne hurling Liam Cahill’s charges delivered last July.

A tepid league final drew a line under a spring that brought Liam and Ben O’Connor nearly everything they wanted out of it. We have to accept that teams were fine-tuning in the league and it’s hard to draw too much from patterns or form-lines. So last year’s battles are probably our best guide for clues as to what will unfold at 4pm in Thurles on Sunday.