Rewriting history books

THE history books show that Tipperary last beat Cork at home in the Munster hurling championship as far back as the semi-final of 1922, which was played a year later.

However, between then and 1976, when the old Athletic Grounds was re-named Páirc Uí Chaoimh, the counties met only twice there. Much more relevant in the context of tomorrow’s glamour clash is the fact that Tipperary have failed to defeat their old rivals in six away meetings between 1979 and 2005.

Their best result was a draw in 1991; on that occasion Nicky English was denied what appeared to be a winning point by an umpiring decision. In championship hurling, Tipp’s victory in the replay in Thurles was their last over the Rebels, but they also bettered them 12 months ago in the qualifiers in Semple Stadium.