
When it's Cork v Tipp, best to expect the unexpected
When it comes to sport, it feels like we've reached our saturation point. It is impossible to keep up with everything. Would you even want to? How does a sport manage to keep itself relevant when there is so much going on? For the most part, it seems to be clips, clicks and giggles. Scroll through whatever social media that you've chosen to annihilate what's left of your brain cells and you're overwhelmed by nonsense. Apologies, content.
The streets won't forget this, that was the best game ever of that, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh is a great venue, but I can't park on the halfway line. Hyperbole has been the chosen weapon in the race to find the lowest common denominator. However, we saw something very different in Thurles and in Ennis last weekend.
The occasions and the action were able to speak for themselves. It was impossible to distill what we saw into something bite-sized. There was a purity to it. Yes, the Munster Hurling Championship is alive and well. Where would we be only for it? To paraphrase the greatest hurler of them all, would the GAA only be half-dressed without it?
I'm not one for hyperbole, but tomorrow the next chapter of the greatest rivalry in sport will unfold in front of a packed Páirc. A Cork juggernaut that was as good as derailed last Sunday in Ennis will lock horns with a rejuvenated Tipperary who held the greatest team of modern times to a draw a couple of hours later in Thurles.
Like all great rivalries, the fortunes of the protagonists have fluctuated over the past 136 years. Go back over the history of it and it's surprising how little tit-for-tat there is from year to year. When a team wins one, they tend to win a couple. Five is the magic number for Cork. They achieved that on four occasions while their longest streak is six, but that stretched out from 1976 to 1985. Tipp like the number four. They achieved that on three occasions but the hegemony they enjoyed over Cork from 1958 to 1968 is their high-water mark, the high-water mark. Seven games, seven wins.
What of Sunday, then? Well, after the League Final three weeks ago, many pundits may have mentally accrued the points in Cork's favour already. However, to quote the great truant Ferris Bueller, 'life moves pretty fast.' The second half of that game was about as false as our secondary national competition gets and this rivalry has turned the formbook on its head often enough in the past to ensure that the future can never be written in stone.
Take, for example, 2007. Cork had beaten Tipperary in the Munster Finals of 2005 and 2006. They'd beaten them on that famous day in Killarney in 2004. They'd also beaten them in the 2000 Munster Final and the 1992 Munster semi-final. Interestingly, Cork haven't enjoyed back-to-back championship wins over Tipp since.
Anyway, both teams had fallen in the Munster semi-finals so this game was to decide who would top the qualifier group. A post-Semple Gate Cork lost a thriller to Waterford while Tipp had drawn twice with Limerick before falling at the third attempt. Tipp were mired in controversy. Brendan Cummins didn't start, neither did Eoin Kelly. Cork were hell bent on getting into a fifth successive All-Ireland Final.
Some 53,286 souls were present the previous year when Cork won the Munster Final, but only 12,902 bothered to show up to this. Cork raced into a 0-8 to 0-3 lead, but from there, Tipp grew into it and 2-3 from Willie Ryan gave them their first win over the old enemy since 1991. Both sides went out in the next round, Tipp with a whisper to Wexford, Cork with a scream to Waterford. I worked with a man from Cahir at the time. It's 26 miles from Thurles to Cahir. It took him three days to complete that particular marathon. Sometimes a game is just a game.
Try this one for size. A young team loses an All-Ireland Final that they certainly could have won, perhaps should have won. They're expected to push on and surpass one of the all-time great teams and be the next big thing for years to come. They beat their nemesis in the league but when championship comes they ship three goals in their opening game and are faced with the same questions that haunted them from the previous campaign.
No, this is not Cork 2025, but Tipperary 2010. In what turned out to be the last kick of a once great machine, an Aisake Ó hAilpín inspired Cork beat Tipp by ten points. The year, however, would belong to the Premier men. Cork haven't beaten Tipp at home since. Throw in 2017. A young and improving Cork showed great form in the league but nobody expected them to beat the All-Ireland champions in their backyard. Enter Michael Cahalane.
And then there was this one. Cork hammer Tipperary in Thurles in a game that they must win to reach the All-Ireland Series. The loss sparks an existential crisis within Tipperary and the consensus is that the rebuild will take years. However, 349 days later Tipperary closed that gap and draw a game that they should have won. No, that's not tomorrow, that was 2023.
The moral of the story? Expect the unexpected. More than anything else, as Public Enemy told us back when Tipp were beating Cork by nine points in Limerick in 1988. Just don't believe the hype.
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Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Matthew Bradley fires late winner to give Muskerry winning start in Cork Premier SHC Divisional/Colleges
Muskerry 1-23 Duhallow 2-19 It was lucky 13 for Matthew Bradley as he fired the late winner for Muskerry against Duhallow in the opening phase of the Co-op SuperStores Cork Premier SHC divisional section at Coachford on Tuesday night. After Duhallow had battled back to wipe out a four-point gap as the game ticked into injury time, Aghabullogue man Bradley replied with his 12th point of the night only for Cian Crowley to set up Brandon Murphy for another Duhallow leveller. There was still time for more, however, and when Muskerry won a free at midfield, Bradley converted to give Muskerry the points. While the mid-Cork divisional side – finalists in the divisions and colleges segment of the competition last year, losing to Imokilly – were picking from a reduced pool and had not had any time together, victory sets them up nice for the round-robin section, with a clash against Carbery next. For much of the first half, they were in control, with Bradley to the fore as they amassed an 0-8 to 0-3 lead that was augmented as Matt Brady's delivery was kept in by James Foley, who then drove goalwards along the endline before finishing well. With seven minutes left until half-time, they were up 1-10 to 0-5 but early Duhallow sub Evan Murphy pointed and then linked with Jack Murphy to set up Luke Philpott for a fine goal. By half-time, Duhallow were within three, 1-12 to 1-9, despite having had eight wides in the first half to their opponents' two, and they pushed on further on the restart. Excellent free-taking from Fionn O'Connor saw them reel Muskerry in and then push ahead, with Brandon Murphy's excellent point making it 1-15 to 1-13 on 42. While O'Connor answered a James Lane point for Muskerry, Duhallow would then endure a ten-minute scoreless spell as Muskerry settled again, with Bradley, Mark Lucey and Foley helping them to regain the upper hand. They looked safe when David Casey made it 1-21 to 1-17 in the 58th minute, but, after an O'Connor goal attempt from a free was saved, Cian Crowley's follow-up was brilliantly touched over by Muskerry goalkeeper James Walsh. Then, Rory Lynn managed to claim possession after a scramble in the Muskerry goalmouth and fired home to level. Muskerry kept their heads, however, and Bradley was on hand to be their match-winner. Scorers for Muskerry: M Bradley (0-13, 7f), J Foley (1-2), J Lane, O O'Driscoll (0-2 each), M Lucey, D Twomey, D Casey, J Devine (0-1 each). Scorers for Duhallow: F O'Connor (0-7, 6f), R Lynn, L Philpott (1f) (1-1 each), C King (0-3), E Murphy, B Murphy 0-2 each, C Crowley, C O'Keeffe, S Howard (0-1 each). MUSKERRY: J Walsh (Grenagh); P Fitton (Ballinora), M Brady (Éire Óg), P O'Sullivan (Aghabullogue); J Galvin (Éire Óg), C McGoldrick (Éire Óg), W Ahern (Cloughduv); O O'Driscoll (Cloughduv), M O'Connell (Dripsey); D Twomey (Grenagh), J Foley (Aghabullogue), J Devine (Cloughduv), M Bradley (Aghabullogue), J Lane (Aghabullogue), A Dinan (Donoughmore). Subs: M Lucey (Donoughmore) for Dinan (36), B Horgan (Kilmichael) for O'Sullivn (46), D Casey (Éire Óg) for Twomey (49), C Cotter (Kilmichael) for Devine (51), M O'Sullivan (Dripsey) for Ahern (58). DUHALLOW: B Newman (Newmarket); A Coughlan (Banteer), C O'Callaghan (Dromtariffe), R Heffernan (Kilbrin); B Linehan (Meelin), J Murphy (Dromtariffe), C Curtin (Meein); S Howard (Dromtariffe), F O'Connor (Kilbrin); C O'Keeffe (Newmarket), R King (Kilbrin), C King (Kilbrin); B Murphy (Dromtariffe), L Philpott (Banteer), R Lynn (Newmarket). Subs: E Murphy (Dromtariffe) for Curtin (9, injured), C Crowley (Newmarket) for Philpott (49), J Harrington (Kilbrin) for E Murphy, R O'Connell (Banteer) for Linehan (both 57). Referee: D Twomey (Shanballymore).

The Journal
3 hours ago
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August All-Ireland senior finals could make a return in 2027
The 42 Reports from Kilcormac, Offaly GAA PRESIDENT JARLATH Burns has revealed August All-Ireland finals could be back in place for the 2027 season. The timing of the showpiece games in the inter-county championship has sparked heated debate with successive weekends in July currently used. Burns, speaking today at Offaly's GAA training centre 'The Faithful Fields' in Kilcormac, outlined how August All-Ireland finals may return in two years time. 'We have an amateur organisation that is also working alongside Croke Park, which is a commercial organisation. Croke Park operates with regard to its priorities and how it does its business, a year in advance. So, already, August 2026 is taken up. 'That puts August 2027 into the mix. I'm around the country all the time, in clubs and counties every single day of the week, and the thing that I get most debate on are the timings of the All-Ireland finals. 'And there is a school of thought that is saying that first and third weeks in August, leave everything as it is and just have a bigger space between the semi-finals and the finals, three weeks instead of two weeks. GAA President Jarlath Burns. Leah Scholes / INPHO Leah Scholes / INPHO / INPHO 'That means then that there's only the two teams that are being affected. The disadvantage of that is that you're into the bank holiday weekend, and that can create difficulty as well. 'You might have heard me saying that this isn't going to happen during my presidency. The decision might be made during my presidency, but it might not actually occur during my presidency. But I am certainly open to first and third weeks in August from 2027 on. 'At the end of the day, we are a games organisation. We also have to factor in replays. We have to factor in camogie and LGFA, and replays for those as well. So Croke Park could be very, very busy in that month of August. But that's great. The more games we can have in it, the better.' Armagh's Aidan Forker and John Maher of Galway in action in last year's All-Ireland senior football final. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO Clare's Diarmuid Ryan and Seamus Harnedy of Cork in action in last year's All-Ireland senior hurling final. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO With concerts already likely to be booked in for August 2026, a shift in timing of the All-Ireland finals in 2027 would create a window earlier in the summer for the stadium to be used for such events. 'One of the jobs you get when you're President of the GAA, you're chair of the Croke Park board so you get to understand the cycle of touring acts and it would have been perfect for them to finish their tour in Ireland and then go on maybe to Australia or wherever for it going into the summer. 'Now it might be to start the tour in Ireland and that's doable. You know, everybody wants to play in Croke Park. That's one thing. All of the biggest acts in the world, they do want to play in Croke Park.' In the wake of last Saturday's dramatic Munster final, the debate has surfaced as to whether a replay would have been a fairer solution. Burns would be in favour of replays if there was sufficient room in the calendar. Advertisement 'You don't have to talk to me above anybody else about replays and provincial finals. We've lost three now (and) two quarter-finals, on penalties. I would be very much in favour of replays where at all possible.' 'At the end of this championship, because it's a three-year phase, we're going to review all aspects of it. I agree with the split-season for all of the reasons that I've given before, but I definitely think that any review should consider the possibility of replays, particularly in provincial finals. Limerick's Cian Lynch and William O'Donoghue dejected after the game last Saturday. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO 'I just think that was such a game of drama, it was just a pity the way it ended. The Armagh-Donegal game could have gone the same way for the third year in a row, so I'm totally in favour of replays.' The GAA President admitted the preliminary hurling quarter-finals are a barrier to faciltating replays in the current schedule. 'We did bring a motion to Congress this year. Ironically, it was Munster GAA who stymied it. For good reason as well, because they know that they have it very tight with the preliminary quarter-finals. 'Those mean a lot to the counties that are in them. Every time CCCC have gone to Ard Chomhairle to try and end the preliminary quarter-finals, the counties themselves who would be in that position have always come back and said, 'No, this preliminary quarter-final means an awful lot to our team and our county, and we want to keep it.' 'If you do away with the preliminary quarter-finals, there are advantages to that because you could stretch out the Joe McDonagh Cup and you could make that a longer competition. 'But because they have to be ready for the preliminary quarter-finals, you end up then with all of those Joe McDonagh counties ending at the same date as the Leinster final. There are lots of considerations there but certainly I'd be open to doing whatever has to be done to get replays in for provincial finals.' Burns was also asked for his views on penalty shootouts being employed to deliver a winner in championship ties. Cork goalkeeper Patrick Collins saves a penalty during last Saturday's shootout. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO 'That's what's in rule and that's what we have at the moment. It's not too often that you have penalties in a hurling match for obvious reasons. There are many people who say it adds to the drama as well, and that it can assist in the narrative of the game, that there was a winner on the day, there was a cup presented. 'Whenever we used to have replays, people gave off to the GAA that we were just doing it for the financial gain. And remember, the 83 per cent goes back. We need every penny we can get for all those good reasons. And now we have stopped replays to allow for the club season. We're getting, not criticism, but debate over it. 'So there are all of these points that you have to consider. The GAA do not take these decisions lightly. They are all voted on. We're a very democratic organisation and if people want to change it, we'll be in favour of that.' No decision has yet been made on the International Rules returning laser this year with suggestions of games in Croke Park and SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. 'We haven't really made any decision on that,' stated Burns. 'We have a Management meeting on Friday night and that's on the agenda. We have to be mindful of lots of things because that's coming in the middle of a closed season, which we are very protective about and that's why we did away with the pre-season competitions last year because we wanted our county players to have a genuine closed season. If we are going to start now with International Rules at that time, we know that that would compromise that principle that we have brought in, giving our players that rest period. So it's something that we have to do a little bit deeper thinking on, to be honest, before we make an actual decision on it. Personally, I would love to see the International Rules back, the players would love to see it back, but we have to be very careful about the consequences of bringing it back. Written by Fintan O'Toole and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .


Extra.ie
3 hours ago
- Extra.ie
'It was a pity' - Munster final drama prompts GAA rethink
GAA president Jarlath Burns said replays will be considered in light of the drama-packed Munster hurling final between Cork and Limerick that was decided on penalties. After the match ended level following extra time, Cork won the first provincial hurling final to go to a shoot-out 3-2 – and with it a first Munster title since 2018. But with various calls for the compressed inter-county calendar to be changed to allow for provincial final replays, Burns yesterday opened the door to such an option – especially after the former Armagh captain witnessed his own county losing back-to-back Ulster football titles on penalties. And he also suggested All-Ireland finals could return to August rather than July. Uachtarán Tofa Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Jarlath Burns during the GAA Congress at Canal Court Hotel. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile 'You don't have to talk to me above anybody else about replays and provincial finals. We've lost three now, two quarter-finals, on penalties. I would be very much in favour of replays where at all possible.' He was speaking at the official launch of the All-Ireland hurling series at Offaly's Centre of Excellence, The Faithful Fields. Asked if he thinks it might be revisited, he replied: 'These things are always revisited. At the end of this championship, because it's a three-year phase, we're going to review all aspects of it. 'I agree with the split-season for all of the reasons that I've given before, but I definitely think that any review should consider the possibility of replays, particularly in provincial finals. I just think that was such a game of drama, it was just a pity the way it ended. The Armagh-Donegal game could have gone the same way for the third year in a row, so I'm totally in favour of replays.' A motion relating to replays was actually brought forward and debated at the GAA's Annual Congress back in February but was ultimately withdrawn after significant opposition and the fear it would impact negatively on the club window. 'Well, we did bring a motion to Congress this year,' added Burns. 'Ironically, it was Munster GAA who stymied it.' His words will feed into the possibility of a motion being brought to the Special Congress that is taking place in early October. On the question as to whether penalties is a fair way to decide a championship game, he said there are pros and cons. Cork won the first provincial hurling final to go to a shoot-out 3-2 – and with it a first Munster title since 2018. 'Well, that's what's in the rules and that's what we have at the moment. There are those who would say that winner on the day means winner on the day. And whatever that comes to, it has to come to. It's not too often that you have penalties in a hurling match for obvious reasons. We had it on Saturday evening. 'There are many people who say it adds to the drama as well, and that it can assist in the narrative of the game, that there was a winner on the day, there was a cup presented. Whenever we used to have replays, people gave off to the GAA that we were just doing it for the financial gain. And remember, the 83 per cent goes back. We need every penny we can get for all those good reasons. 'And now we have stopped replays to allow for the club season, which obviously in the dual counties, and that's what we're trying to promote, dual counties, and we're getting, not criticism, but debate over it. 'So there are all of these points that you have to consider. The GAA do not take these decisions lightly. They are all voted on. We're a very democratic organisation and if people want to change it, we'll be in favour of that.' Burns too opened the door on the possibility of the All-Ireland finals returning to August rather than July. Uachtaran CLG Jarlath Burns. Pic: INPHO/Bryan Keane 'You might have heard me saying that this isn't going to happen during my presidency. The decision might be made during my presidency, but it might not actually occur during my presidency. But I am certainly open to first and third weeks in August from 2027 on. At the end of the day, we are a games organisation.' With the Munster Council raising the price of a stand ticket to €50 for last weekend's Munster final while the Leinster Council offered up 20,000 free tickets for under-14s to the Leinster hurling final, Burns admitted that Croke Park are looking at dynamic pricing for big Croke Park days. 'We do have a ticketing workgroup set up under Declan Woods from Cavan. They are coming up with all sorts of ideas around dynamic structures, dynamic pricing. 'If you look at the URC final on Saturday, they have a dynamic structure. Even the corners of the stands, it's cheaper to get into them than the main part of the stand. It's interesting what they're charging to get into Ard Comhairle as well, if any of you have seen that. 'So, I think the future of that is if we could get, I think it was 10,000 this year, why could we not get 20,000 young people to come this year and create that culture, where the more empty seats you have in the stand, the more we have to fill with young people who we want to come into our games.'