Cork and Tipperary face off on Sunday for a place in the All-Ireland final with Kilkenny, but who will come out on top? Two JOEs argue on behalf of both teams.
Joe Harrington says… We witnessed a game of epic proportions between Kilkenny and Limerick in the All-Ireland semi final last Sunday. The Cats came through by just two points after a closely fought game and I’m expecting something similar this weekend as two Munster heavyweights go head-to-head at Croke Park.
Cork and Tipperary have one of the greatest rivalries in hurling, they’ve met 82 times in the Championship with both teams currently on 37 wins, it’s that tight between the sides.
The last time they met in the white-hot heat of Championship was in the Munster semi-final in 2012, Tipp won that day by just a point so again, barely anything between the sides. If you couldn’t tell, I’m giving you reasons for my attachment to the fence ahead of this game, it’s hard to get off with two closely matched sides but if I had to choose a team, it would be the Rebels.
I’ve written here before about how impressed I’ve been with Cork since that shaky performance in the draw with Waterford during the opening round of the Munster Champions. The three games after that showed a progression in terms of game plan and understanding between the different lines of Jimmy Barry Murphy’s team. The attack has become more fluid, the dove-tailing midfield partnership of Daniel Kearney and Aidan Walsh has been a revelation and the defensive unit has looked more solid by the game.
It’s been five weeks since Cork last played and speaking ahead of the game, JBM has looked at that as a positive. He says they’ve had more time together as a group to refine game plans and systems plus it has allowed Patrick Cronin to recover from his fractured fibula. Cronin has been chosen to start on Sunday but if he has any setback, Paudie O’Sullivan is a more than able replacement.
The aforementioned midfield is an area where Cork can get the upper-hand on Sunday – Aidan Walsh and Daniel Kearney v James Woodlock and Shane McGrath. Walsh might be grabbing all the headlines with his all-action, ball-winning displays but Kearney is doing a wonderful job cleaning up in front of the half back line, using the ball efficiently, working like a dog and chipping in with a few points. The balance they have isn’t quite the same with Woodlock and McGrath, they’re two fine hurlers but the tandem effort of the Cork boys should see a big advantage to the men in red.
Two players I’m very excited to see on Sunday are Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher and Bill Cooper. They are both dogged, hard-working ball winners who will be vital around the middle third and at puck-outs. We all know what Maher brings to the table but Cooper, who has been on the fringes of the set-up for a while, has now established himself as a key member of the side. He was the outstanding player against Limerick in the Munster Final by breaking ball and winning possession so he needs to reach a similar level of performance against Tipp to bring the other forwards into the game.
I spoke about understanding between the lines in the Cork team and the obvious example is the full back line of Stephen McDonnell and Shane O’Neill. The two players are usually together as the last line of defence and the more they play together, they better they get as a unit and on Sunday they’ll face the most in-form forward in the country in Seamus Callanan.
The Tipperary full forward has scored 5-34 in four games. Frightening form. If they keep him quite, that will go a long way to securing the win.
Like I said earlier, I believe this game is going to be so close. Both sides are pretty similar given that they both possess an excellent collection of forwards but defensively they can be caught out. I think Cork have slightly better forwards and midfielders so I’m backing them to go on and set up a clash with Kilkenny for Liam McCarthy on September 7.
Alan Loughnane says… This is going to be one hell of a game and it is very hard to pick a winner between these two. Cork have been impressive so far this year and they have a stronger squad than they had this time last year. But Tipperary have used the qualifiers wonderfully well and come into the game with real momentum with good wins over Dublin and Galway.
Tipperary have been written off at various times over the last two years having suffered a resounding loss to Kilkenny in Nowlan Park last summer and losing to Limerick in their opening game for the last two seasons.
Tipperary’s star has been on the rise since they weathered a goal fest against Galway in Semple Stadium. That win was huge for the Premier County because it gave them much needed confidence, something that had been lacking since Eamon O’Shea took charge of this group of players.
They leaked goals against Galway, mostly due to Jonathan Glynn at full-forward on Padraic Maher and, although he is named at number three, I expect Maher to play out in the half back line. The most likely scenario is that he will pick up Seamus Harnedy who has the ability to cause the Tipp defence serious problems if left unchecked.
Brendan Maher will also play an important role in defence; he could pick up livewire Conor Lehane or else he might play as listed and hold his position at number six and not let the industrious Bill Cooper shift him from the central channel. Either way, if the two Mahers can stifle their markers, it puts Tipp on the front foot right from the off.
The importance of Lehane and Harnedy, in terms of securing possession for Cork, is huge. Take them out of the game and Cork will struggle under their own puck-outs.
Midfield is the area where I think Tipp might struggle with the athleticism and work rate of the Cork duo Walsh and Kearney. Walsh is a massive presence in the middle of the field and his pace and strength combined with Kearney’s doggedness may overwhelm the rejuvenated Shane McGrath and James Woodlock.
Up front, Tipp have a clear advantage with so many top class forwards at their disposal. Lar Corbett was on fire against Dublin and Seamus Callanan is near unmarkable at the moment. Whoever picks up these two is likely to have a busy day at the office.
At centre forward, Tipp’s Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher is arguably their most important forward because he provides some much needed steel in an attack light on clear ball winners. He will be marking one of Cork’s less experienced and possibly one of the weaker links in the Cork team, Mark Ellis. The Cork centre-back could be in an exhausting game trying to keep tabs on the tenacious Maher. Bonner chases down every ball and every lost cause and he is a nightmare for defenders
After all this, I still haven’t even mentioned John O’ Dwyer and Noel McGrath, who has a lot to prove this weekend after an indifferent campaign so far. Tipp possess the type of forwards that give opposition managers nightmares.
