
Nicky English: Against improving Tipperary, Cork will need to stop zoning out
After everything had started so predictably last week, it didn't take long for a whole pile of assumptions and opinions to go up in smoke.
Cork
, hot favourites for the All-Ireland, were lucky not to get beaten in Ennis, having been 12 up at half-time.
Maybe it's a good thing for them that any suggestion of invincibility has been so quickly subjected to a reality check. It gives Ryan a chance to reset and refocus the team but opponents will, equally, see some vulnerability there.
Cork seem unable to avoid 15-minute periods where for whatever reason, they're totally under the cosh. It happened against Limerick last year as well. Typically, they stop winning ball up front and also start conceding goals.
Even when defenders have possession, like Ciarán Joyce had last weekend, it's coughed up, and the next thing, it's in the net. Before the match in Ennis
I noted that Cork had the same defence
that conceded three goals to Clare in last year's All-Ireland.
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There's no doubting that Clare's forwards are nimble and skilful but once again, you'd have to question some of the defending.
In last year's All-Ireland semi-final against Limerick, Cork won a thriller by just one point. Yet, Aaron Gillane got a couple of great goal chances but he either slipped or stumbled at the key moment, and the chance was lost. It was nothing to do with the quality of the defending.
Cork for me have two main concerns. When Tipperary outscored them in the second half of the league final, nobody really took any notice. Ryan said it was the worst half of hurling his team had produced but it was part of a pattern of losing the initiative in big matches, particularly when the pressure comes on.
Shane Barrett's red card was the second one Cork have been shown in the last three matches against Clare. They opened their campaign 12 months ago with another one, against Waterford. That needs to stop. Eoin Downey was substituted last year in the Munster game against Limerick when he got a yellow, so concerned were they about losing a man, again.
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Joe Canning: Cork had system failures in discipline and game management - they need a ruthless streak
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Sunday brings
Tipperary
back to Páirc Uí Chaoimh where they endured a bit of a horror show in the league final only three weeks ago. I still expect Cork to win but it's amazing how the tables have turned.
Cork did not always look at ease when Clare came back at them last Sunday. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
Eoin Downey had a torrid time marking Peter Duggan and his confidence must have been shaken. Rob Downey looked ill at ease when playing on, injured.
Even if he lines out, you'd have to wonder whether he can be fully fit. The suspended Shane Barrett is a huge loss.
Maybe all of this will fire up a response and they'll want to get their season back on track after a disappointing result – for all Ryan's insistence that he'd have settled for a draw that morning.
Tipp were definitely better compared with the league final: commitment and work-rate were a lot closer to the levels of the earlier league matches and there was a key improvement in the puckout. In the league final, they conceded the Cork puckout and the ball was just worked up the field past them.
They didn't do that with last Sunday with Limerick. They took responsibility individually and kept it tight. Their own puckout was much more successful even though they weren't winning the ball cleanly. They were contesting the ball and not letting Limerick win primary possession, which happened most of the time in the league final. Then, they showed great energy to compete on the ground.
Jake Morris and Tipperary have what it takes to punish any Cork failings this weekend. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
On Sunday they'll have to test their opponents' mettle by getting stuck in to the battle for possession and if they can't get it cleanly, they should create as much ruck ball as they can – anything to stop Cork simply gliding into possession and running around or through them at pace.
Maybe Liam Cahill was keeping something up his sleeve by not starting Jake Morris at centre forward in the league final. He was a dominant figure there against Limerick and had excellent form there earlier in the season.
There were plenty of people questioning John McGrath when he was selected last week but he scored two of the finest goals to show that he still has that finishing touch.
The build-up to the second goal was just as impressive, a lovely flowing move with precision passing through Limerick's middle third. Would that have been even attempted three or four years ago?
Can Tipperary put in the same display this week against a bristling Cork as opposed to a stuttering Limerick?
It wouldn't be a huge surprise if Mark Fitzgerald and Waterford beat Clare this weekend. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Waterford
are into action this weekend but against an unexpectedly upbeat
Clare
. Unlucky not to force a draw in Ennis last year and reach the All-Ireland stages for the first time in the round robin, Peter Queally's team got promotion and won Division 1B and, in Mark Fitzgerald, have an outstanding, young defender.
The lengthy odds against them are based on Clare's second-half display last week but I wonder to what extent Cork's fall-off contributed to this. Up to half-time all of the reservations about Clare were being confirmed. One half later, the temptation is to park all that because they got such a famous result at home.
But I think this will be a fair test of Clare. It's hard to predict a Waterford victory, but it wouldn't be the biggest surprise in the world.
In Leinster,
Galway
's poor form against Kilkenny was the biggest eye opener on week one although, on the basis of the league, maybe it shouldn't have been.
Offaly
are an emerging team and in my lifetime have been difficult opponents for Galway.
Dublin and Wexford both beat Galway last year, and now Offaly will feel they have every chance in Tullamore.

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A bet on over 49.5 total points in a match that finished 26-25 (51 points in total) would win, while if the match finished 25-24 (49 points), the bet would be under and lose. Outrights Outright bets focus on long-term outcomes like who will win the All-Ireland Championship, provincial titles, or who will be top scorer. These are popular before and during the championship for value hunting. An example would be a bet on Cork to win the All-Ireland outright at 5/1, or Patrick Horgan to finish as top scorer in the championship at 6/1. How to bet on the All-Ireland SHC Whether you're betting on individual matches, or the outright winner of the Liam MacCarthy Cup, betting on the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship isn't difficult. Below we have put together a quick and easy to follow guide: Sign up or log in to your chosen bookmaker Navigate to the GAA/hurling section. Browse and select your market. This could be match odds, player specials, or outright winner. Add selection to your bet slip Enter your stake and then double check all looks correct Confirm your bet 📺 How to watch the All-Ireland SHC In Ireland, the championship is shown live on RTÉ. There is also streaming available on GAA Go and GAA+ for selected games. Semi-finals and finals will be televised, but early rounds may require live score apps, radio coverage, or GAA social media for match updates. In the UK, coverage is available on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. About the author Craig Mahood Craig Mahood is an expert in sports betting and online casinos and has worked with the company since 2020. He joined the Betting & Gaming team at The Sun in June 2022 and works closely with the leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to provide content on all areas of sports betting and gaming. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter at the Scottish Sun, covering Scottish football with particular focus on Celtic and Rangers, As well as football, he has covered horse racing, boxing, darts, the Olympics and tennis for the Sun. Responsible gambling A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry, or depressed Problem gambling – Gamble Aware – Help with gambling addiction If you have a problem with gambling, or you know someone who does, help is out there. Extern Problem Gambling is the leading provider of information, treatment, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling harms across Ireland. Most read in GAA Hurling