Poverty of Cork's display the real tale of Semple Stadium clash

The timeless charm in a charmless time wasn’t burning as brightly as usual yesterday in a sodden Munster hurling quarter-final in Thurles.

Tipperary had nine points to spare over Cork on 70 minutes, showing that while underdogs may lie in wait in the long grass, there’s always grass that’s longer where the favourites can hide. Or something.

Pardon the confusion. We all arrived in Thurles yesterday for fire and brimstone and saw a dull glow instead: Cork’s tactical experimentation doused by Tipperary’s crispness.