Tipperary can close Cork’s last route to All-Ireland redemption

THE choice of Fitzgerald Stadium as the venue for this evening’s Guinness All-Ireland SHC qualifier game between Cork and Tipperary has diverted attention from the attractiveness of the fixture.

Apart from the fact that both were beaten by Waterford by a point, it is also the first meeting of the sides since the Munster Final of 2000 which Cork won.

Cork have endured the most criticism since their loss to Justin McCarthy's side in the provincial decider. Though their management have claimed that several crucial refereeing decisions went against them, a combination of poor shooting, poor defending for Paul Flynn's goal, and bad luck were the key factors in their downfall.