Michael Ryan saw signs as ‘fresher legs’ catch overworked Tipperary

Michael Ryan saw the signs.

He saw Cork’s improvement through the springtime fog of inconsistency, and he saw his players burdened by an intense workload throughout the league and in the rounds of club fixtures since losing to Galway.

He was concerned to the point of cancelling a ‘work session’ for the squad less than a fortnight prior to yesterday’s championship opener. And still, despite that precaution, a Cork side littered with new faces showed up fresher and more energised.