Tipperary v Cork player ratings: John McGrath enjoys probably his greatest half in a Tipp jersey
GREATEST HALF: John McGrath of Tipperary celebrates scoring his side's first goal. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
Mixed up his puck-outs nicely and got 22 of his 29 away overall.
Couldn't have done much about the Cork goal and enjoyed a thunderous second-half performance, scoring a point from play - a rare achievement for a goalkeeper in an All-Ireland decider - and saving a penalty.
Enjoyed the freedom of Croke Park for one score late in the first-half. His principal task was to pick up Alan Connolly and he held the goal poacher supreme to just a point from play. Excellent overall in just his eighth Championship game
Wore number three but started on the wing and picked up Diarmuid Healy, who had a strong first-half.
Offered plenty going forward, scoring his 14th point of the campaign, taking a shot that went just wide and feeding John McGrath for Tipp's third goal.
Exceptional in the second-half as Tipp turned the screw. When he won a 47th minute free and punched the air, it summed up both his and the team's attitude.
Held Patrick Horgan to a point from play and picked up his third All-Ireland winner's medal at the end of a season in which he started every game.
Had his hands full on Shane Barrett, Cork's best performer overall. Barrett streaked past Morgan for a 10th minute point, an early indicator of what was to come.
Ended up as Tipp's sweeper for a spell in the second-half, replacing Bryan O'Mara there. Eventually replaced with 15 minutes to go.
Got the job of marking Brian Hayes, the pre-match Hurler of the Year favourite. The Tipp captain fouled Hayes for a free that was converted and a late penalty that wasn't.
Hayes scored just a point from play overall and faded out of the game as Maher helped power Tipp on to a famous win.
Handed the task of sweeping between the two defensive lines for Tipperary. The number seven helped lock down a mean defence and just got there moments too late to stop Shane Barrett getting his shot away for the Cork goal.
Wore number eight but dropped to wing-back to accommodate Bryan O'Mara operating as a sweeper. Picked up Declan Dalton who was the first Cork player substituted. Shot a silly wide late in the first-half when Tipp were taking on water but was brilliant in the second-half.
Played his part in a landmark with a Trojan performance in the middle. Chased down Tim O'Mahony, pinche a point and got through plenty of work before being replaced late on.
Won a free in the 43rd minute, which was converted, and begged the crowd to raise the decibel levels even further. A player who loves the big occasion and helped himself to two points. Only came on as a sub in the 2019 final win but was a key performer this time.
Struck back-to-back points at the start of the second-half which got Tipperary going and indicated their appetite for destruction. Drew a foul off Mark Coleman which led to a point and stepped up impressively on the big occasion.
On just his eighth Championship appearance, the Nenagh man oozed quality, like his sumptuous pass over the tap for Eoghan Connolly's goal chance.
Nominally Tipp's number 12 but lined out at midfield next to Conor Stakelum. Set up Jake Morris for the opening point and two more in the third quarter as Tipp got on top.
What a performance from the Toomevara phenom. 1-13 on All-Ireland final day speaks for itself but it was the nerveless display that really stood out.
He was jeered for his elaborate, and perhaps laboured, free-taking routine but wasn't rattled and only drilled a single wide all day.
Nailed the penalty superbly when it would have been easy to take the point.
Picked a fine time to score his 21st and 22nd Championship goals. Aside from the 2-2 he stuck away, McGrath also won the penalty that Darragh McCarthy converted, hauled to the ground by Eoin Downey who was sent off on a second yellow card.
The second-half, when he scored 2-1, was probably his greatest 35 minutes in a Tipp shirt.
Had Sean O'Donoghue for company in a head-to-head that lasted the duration. Wasn't on the frees despite a strong semi-final display against Kilkenny but still escaped his man for two points. Drew an important free off O'Donoghue that led to a first-half point too.
Seamus Kennedy was the first man in, for Bryan O'Mara. Spread it around well when he gained possession . Alan Tynan brought even more power and purpose to the Tipp attack when introduced
Noel McGrath. What a day for the veteran attacker who picked up his fourth All-Ireland medal. Scored the last point and held his arms aloft in celebration. Possibly his last act for Tipp .
Darragh Stakelum got the last five minutes. Registered a wide. Oisin O'Donoghue wasn't on long enough to grab a fourth goal of the Championship.
Found it difficult to get puckouts away due to Tipp going with a sweeper.
Three goals got past him and while he can’t be blamed for them all, he will be disappointed with the first one after he got his hurley to the sliotar going over the bar but failed to control it and couldn’t stop John McGrath’s finish.
Picked up Darragh McCarthy from the off.
Put in one great block on his run at goal early in the second half but like the rest or the full-back line he found it difficult to contain the young talent whose precocious free-taking and penalty strike was a Tipp joy to behold.
Received a yellow card late in the first half.
And got a second yellow midway through the second half when he fouled John McGrath again, this time for the 55th minute penalty which McCarthy finished with such finesse.
Was the last man standing alongside Patrick Collins when John McGrath scored his second goal but was helpless to prevent a sensational finish in the 60th minute - that put Tipp 3-22 to 1-17 up.
Worked hard all through while shadowing Jason Forde.
Another who worked tirelessly while marking Jake Morris. The Tipp forward finished with two points. The numerical disadvantage didn’t help Cork’s situation in the second half.
Conceded a pair of points to Andrew Ormond. The Cork captain did provide leadership but a yellow card in the third quarter put him under pressure. Like the rest of the backline, he was struggling when they went down to 14 men.
Was involved in Cork’s green flag with one of his usual runs out of defence. That score set them up for a hefty 1-16 to 0-13 interval lead, only for Tipp to come with an all-guns blazing second half.
Wasn’t able to navigate his usual running surges from deep in midfield due to a crowded house. And was forced to make wrong choices then under pressure. The fifth Cork player replaced with regulation almost up.
Nailed a pair of points in the first half. Hawkeye ruled out another effort on the home stretch. Just as it was for his midfield colleague O’Mahony, he couldn’t get going in the second half.
Scored Cork’s first point after a mere 12 seconds, and scored two more in the first half. Set up Niall O’Leary for his white flag and was fouled for a Horgan converted free. After Eoin Downey’s sending off he was replaced by defender Damien Cahalane.
A mere two second-half white flags for the Rebels tells the real story of the Cork forward line.
Great first-half scoring 1-3. His goal in stoppage - the only real chance that came Cork’s way in the first half — was finished to the far bottom corner with his usual confident touch.
A tonic score and what should have been a blow to Tipperary, who minutes earlier had a goal ruled out for a square ball.
Had a quiet game by his high standards. Didn’t score from play.
Involved in an altercation in the tunnel at half time with an official for which he received a yellow card from Liam Gordon when he returned to the field of play. Made way for Séamus Harnedy in the 43rd minute.
Scored four points - all in the first half - three from placed balls. Was the third substitution management made with Conor Lehane replacing him 12 minutes from time. In his 18th season, the wait goes on for that elusive medal.
Did score a first-half point but couldn’t replicate the heroics he displayed in the semi-final against Dublin when he grabbed a hat-trick of goals. Was the fourth Cork forward to be replaced in the 62nd minute.
Has been involved in so many goals and set so many up this season. But couldn’t get on enough ball this time mainly due to the supremacy of Tipp captain Ronan Maher.
Fought to the bitter end but could only muster one point from play. Was fouled for a penalty at the death which Rhys Shelly saved from Conor Lehane.
Séamus Harnedy was the first Cork sub and scored a point and hit the crossbar with another thundering shot . Damien Cahalane was introduced when Eoin Downey was sent off and while he gave away an immediate free, did well .
Conor Lehane had a penalty brilliantly saved by Rhys Shelly . Shane Kingston and Tommy O’Connell .
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