Pre-season score-quake but Tipp go extra mile

The Waterford Crystal Tournament is meant to be an early-season warm-up competition, an opportunity for teams to shake loose the winter cobwebs.

Given the competitive nature of this semi-final in Templemore yesterday, Tipperary establishing their superiority only after extra-time, one wonders if anyone has informed the players because this was one hell of a battle.

Tipperary lined out with a very strong side, nine of the starting 15 from last year’s All-Ireland final loss to Kilkenny, while Cork, though they did feature Sean Óg Ó hAilpin in his first game for Cork since his superb performance against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat of 2010, had a largely experimental team.