BBC pundits preview All-Ireland hurling final

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6 days ago

All-Ireland hurling final: Cork v Tipperary
Venue: Croke Park, Dublin Date: Sunday, 20 July Throw-in: 15:30
Coverage: Live on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website; plus live text commentary, report, highlights and reaction on the BBC Sport website
This year's showpiece occasion of the inter-county hurling season, the All-Ireland final, pits Cork against fellow Munster side Tipperary, the first time the two provincial rivals have contested the decider.
As league and Munster champions, Cork start as pre-match favourites to land the Liam MacCarthy Cup at Croke Park on Sunday.
The Rebels will be aiming for a 31st All-Ireland success and a first since 2005 as they seek to make amends for the heartache of their one-point extra-time defeat by Clare in the final 12 months ago.
Tipperary target a 29th victory in the Dublin showdown, six years after their most recent triumph in 2019.
The game will be broadcast live on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and ahead of the final we have gathered the thoughts of two of our star-studded line-up of pundits - Kilkenny four-time All-Ireland winner Paul Murphy and Limerick five-time All-Ireland winner Seamus Flanagan, who give their verdict on the big match.
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Paul Murphy: "The Munster champions are hot favourites, particularly after beating Limerick in the Munster final.
"Cork have been very impressive at various stages of the year, bar a few blips on the radar, including Limerick beating them in the round robin stage.
"Tipperary have improved a lot better than many people would have expected, having failed to get out of Munster over the past couple of years. They really have been the big success story of this year.
"When the sides met in the round robin stage Darragh McCarthy getting sent-off just at throw-in leaves us not knowing how these sides might size each other up as they played the entire game with 14 men.
"That adds a bit more intrigue to the game. You can't take much from that day because Cork totally overwhelmed Tipperary.
"Tipp come in as underdogs but they were very impressive in their semi-final [a 4-20 to 0-30 win over Kilkenny]. They'll realise they are just 70 minutes from winning an All-Ireland final. Anything can happen on the day.
"A lot of the talk around them surrounds Patrick Horgan. Having not won an All-Ireland medal during his career, this could be his last chance.
"After losing the All-Ireland final last year the way they did, after extra-time. I'm sure they'll be eager to put in a strong 70-minute performance.
Seamus Flanagan: "Tipp v Cork in an All-Ireland hurling final is a novel pairing and not many people would have seen Tipperary getting to this stage but they are full value for their place in the final.
"Cork come into with a resounding semi-final win over Dublin [7-26 to 2-21] - seven goals speaks for itself while Tipperary came through a tougher test against Kilkenny and that should stand to them coming into an All-Ireland final.
"It's an exciting game. I think if Tipp can hold Cork to one or two goals in the game they will be there or thereabouts coming down the home straight but if Cork get that eye for goal early on, who knows what could happen? It could just open up.
Talking tactics
PM: "Cork have a marginally stronger bench to sustain them and they've been free scoring. Their full forward line is the most dangerous line they have. They were rampant in the semi-final, scoring those seven goals.
"Brian Hayes is probably the one player on the field who is a frontrunner for Hurler of the Year at the moment.
"Tipp have Eoghan Connolly at full back or centre back. He moves between both and he scored three points last time out. Tipp will probably be looking to play him at centre back in the hope that he can step forward and maybe get a few scores to help the forwards too.
"Tipp are in with a good shout for us but I think everyone's favourites are Cork for this match. And the real fairytale story will be if Patrick Horgan can collect an All-Ireland medal after so many seasons with Cork.
SF: "There are some interesting pair-ups. Eoin Downey picking up Jason Forde or John McGrath, again you would have said that Kilkenny's Huw Lawlor would have enough for the two boys in the semi-final, but they proved that class is permanent.
"You're looking at the half-back line, Rob Downey picking up Andrew Ormond, a really quick player, a smart player. That'll be an interesting pair-up.
"Midfield, I feel that Cork might have the upper hand in this one with Tim O'Mahony, and Darragh Fitzgibbon against Willie Connors and Conor Stakelum. I think it could be a Cork win on that front
"In the forwards, Shane Barrett - will he be picking up Ronan Maher? Who knows. I feel that Ronan Maher may go back into that full-back role and pick up Patrick Horgan and Eoghan Connolly might move to six.
"Then you're looking at the inside line of Cork. Patrick Horgan, Brian Hayes, Alan Connolly. Three lethal inside forwards and the Tipp full-back line are going to have to be at the top of their game to contain those boys."