Time for shadow boxing nearly over

Cork manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s final summation “A draw leaves everybody reasonably happy going home,” was a fair judgment call of the hectic league encounter between his side and Tipperary in Semple Stadium on Sunday.

Tipperary can be reasonably happy they’re making some progress up front in the absence of the retired Lar Corbett; Cork can be reasonably happy their new team is showing signs of coming together as the summer approaches.

It should be noted, however, that while this was a cracking game, had the 10,000 crowd enthralled ’til the end, it wasn’t yet close enough to what will be required for the championship.