Eight hurling championship observations: How Brian Hayes has weaponised Cork's puckout

Kilkenny not realising they were only two points down rather than three late in their All-Ireland semi-final against Tipperary will likely prove a valuable lesson for others. 

Brian Hayes has had a transformative effect on Cork. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

We once thought J. Jonah Jameson was harsh, ranting about overturned cars and bent railway tracks every time Spider-Man saved the city from certain doom. Then we heard Pat Ryan last weekend.

Alan Connolly’s 3-2 tally, an assist for another goal and man of the match award made him the Rebels' hero on Saturday, but Ryan wasn’t fully content.