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.

“It was championship pace for most of it,” said Tipp manager Declan Ryan afterwards, “Fantastic game for spectators and augurs well for the summer.”

Championship pace yes, but championship fervour, championship intensity, championship hitting – no. For long periods it was like watching a training-session of keep-ball, fantastic skill-sets being displayed by both sides, testimony to the coaching not just by Tommy Dunne (Tipperary) and Ger Cunningham (Cork) but by every coach at every level at which these players have played from the day they started.

Will players have the luxury of that kind of time and space in which to operate come summer, however? Will they hell.

There is still a lot of work to be done before the championship and it would be remiss of both Jimmy Barry-Murphy and Declan Ryan and their respective management teams if they were to overlook the problems they both still have; we can take it for granted they won’t.

What will concern Declan is the lack of goals recently.

Yes they’ve become something of a point-scoring machine, averaging 24 a game since their poor showing in the opening round loss to Kilkenny, but one goal against Cork (and that from a 20m free), none against either Dublin or Waterford, then two against Galway — that’s not going to win Tipperary back the All-Ireland title they lost last September.

Shane Bourke is maturing into a fine player at this level, Noel McGrath is majestic, John O’Brien responding well to the pressure from the youngsters, but it was obvious from Sunday last that Tipperary need a ‘Bonner’ Maher to go down the throat of a defence and create the goal-openings, and they need a Lar Corbett or a fit Eoin Kelly, to finish off those chances.

On the Cork side, Stephen McDonnell is confirming early impressions — this man is a hurling full-back in the mould of his elegant namesake Pat McDonnell, from the Cork team of the 70’s.

Eoin Cadogan is revelling in the space offered at centre-back, which suggests that two vital positions have been filled. Seán Óg too is enjoying his time back in the fold, powerful and suffocating as ever and hasn’t lost a step in the year he was out.

Midfield is very encouraging. Tom and Jerry — Kenny and O’Connor — formed a formidable partnership for all the good years of the mid-noughties for Cork but Lorcán McLoughlin and Darren Sweetnam have gelled really well in a very short time, complemented each other perfectly in the last two big league games against Kilkenny and Tipperary.

Up front for the Rebels, again very positive signs, Conor Lehane confirming all early impressions, Jamie Coughlan growing in stature by the game, Pa Cronin a powerful ball-winning workhorse, Cathal Naughton, Paudie O’Sullivan and Patrick Horgan all blossoming under the free-wheeling style encouraged by Jimmy and his coaching staff.

And of course there’s depth there, with Niall and Cian McCarthy, Luke O’Farrell, all ready and able.

So much progress then so far this year, by Cork especially, but then again they had further to come. But let no-one be fooled.

As Declan Ryan pointed out, “These games are great preparation for championship and that’s not far away. They’re much better than training.”

That’s all they are — preparation for bigger battles. Spring classic it was, and let’s all enjoy it for that, but summer is when the real action begins.