Scoring difference wasn't on Cork's minds against Tipperary says Shane Barrett

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: Shane Barrett of Cork in action against Tipperary. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile

Shane Barrett said score difference wasn’t on Cork’s minds as they piled on the points against Tipperary on Sunday.

Cork’s score difference jumped from minus three points to plus 15 on the back of the victory in Thurles and is one shy of Limerick’s and 15 better than Clare as all three currently sit on four points.

Score difference will only come into play if Cork finish on the same number of points as two other teams but that would require a combination of Tipperary beating Clare and Waterford drawing with Limerick, which would seal a Munster final for Cork.

However, improving their differential wasn’t an aim, insisted Barrett.

“Not really, to be honest. The main thing was getting the win and giving ourselves a chance. It’s still outside of our control but we have probably put ourselves in the best scenario winning the last two after losing the first two games. Hopefully, we’ll get a bit of luck now.”

Meanwhile, the venue for this year’s Munster senior hurling final, as well as its participants, will be confirmed this Sunday evening with Thurles the most likely venue.

In February, the council signed off on a rota of venues for finals involving Clare and/or Waterford. The first will take place in FBD Semple Stadium, followed by SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh and TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Between the four counties remaining in the championship, there is a three in four chance the June 9 final will be staged in Thurles. There is a slim chance of a Cork-Limerick showdown and that would take place in Limerick as per their home-away agreement – their last final in 2014 was in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

As part of their agreement with the Leinster Council whose SHC decider is scheduled for Saturday June 8 this year, the 2025 Munster final will be played on a Saturday evening.

If either or both Clare and Waterford are involved, it will be staged at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Tipperary also owe Cork a home Munster final following the last one between the counties in Thurles in 2006.

Again, as per a rota, the third placed team in Munster will face the Joe McDonagh Cup champions, Laois or Offaly, in Portlaoise or Tullamore in an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final on June 15 or 16. Leinster’s third placed team face the runners-up again at the home of the second-tier county.

Meanwhile, Sunday’s Munster SHC Round 5 game between Clare and Tipperary will be televised live on the RTÉ News channel and streamed on its Player from the 4pm throw-in in Semple Stadium.

Elsewhere, Roscommon’s Dr Hyde Park has emerged as a strong contender to host the Dublin-Mayo All-Ireland SFC Group 2 Round 3 game on June 15 or 16.

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