Focused Cork fire out signal of intent

ALL week leading into this match, the big question was which – if either – of these teams would be going all out for the win.

A win for Tipp would have opened up the possibility of the teams meeting again in the final, just weeks ahead of their opening-round Munster championship match on May 30, while a win for Cork (or a draw), then a loss for them next week against Galway and a win for Tipp over Offaly, could still have resulted in the same scenario.

Complicated, yes, but the question was legitimate – would we get a real match or would it just be shadow-boxing?