No holding back as Tipp and Cork go for League glory

GAA: Allianz National Hurling League Division 1A Final Preview

By Shane Brophy

CORK v TIPPERARY

SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork

Sunday, 6th April

Throw-in @ 4.00pm (E.T.)

Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin)

There aren’t many tougher propositions in hurling than playing a high-flying Cork team in their own backyard as Tipperary prepare go into the lions den for the National Hurling League Division 1A final on Sunday.

For all the hype there is about a sell-out at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, this is not a fixture Tipp should agree to in the longer term.

Tipperary owed Cork a home knockout league fixture and this is being honoured, and this year it works out well for Liam Cahill’s charges as it is the perfect dry run for when they return to Leeside three weeks on in round 2 of the Munster Championship, with the same throw-in time of 4.00pm, so every aspect of what will happen for the players that day should the same this Sunday, hopefully the result as well.

Taking this game on its own merits, in no other circumstance should Tipperary agree to a home and away arrangement any more as Pairc Ui Chaoimh is more of a home advantage to Cork than Semple Stadium ever is to Tipp, particularly as the Thurles venue is seen by Cork, and most other counties as their second home.

Winning a record 20th National League and first since 2008 would mean a lot to Tipperary, but having to do so by trying to beat Cork in Cork is a massive challenge with the wave of momentum the Rebels are on. However, the Tipp players only have to look to the minor hurlers for inspiration and what they did in winning the All-Ireland final last year against Kilkenny at Nowlan Park.

Playing the final in Pairc Ui Chaoimh is also harsh in that Tipperary had the best record in the round-robin stage of the league, five wins from six games, including a four-point win over Cork in Thurles in round 4.

However, the Cork side that started that night will potentially have only eight players that will likely line out on Sunday with Mark Coleman, Sean O’Donoghue, Patrick Horgan, and Alan Connolly among those that could come into the side, the latter in place of big Brian Hayes who will miss the final with a knee injury but should be back for the championship meeting between the sides on April 27th.

The Tipperary team that played in the 2-22 to 1-21 in late February is likely to be very close to the one that lines out on Sunday, the only changes possibly being Sam O’Farrell coming into the midfield after being rested against Clare (provided he comes through the U20 game v Cork unscathed) while Sean Kenneally started that night but was subbed off and has only appeared fleetingly since.

In terms of the full forward line that will probably contain Darragh McCarthy and Jason Forde, it will be interesting to see who they will go with as the third option, among them being John McGrath in terms of experience, the live-wire Dylan Walsh who goaled as a sub in the league clash, or possibly playing Jake Morris closer to goal and starting Noel McGrath in the half forward line among with Gearoid O’Connor and Alan Tynan who is available again after suspension.

The remainder of the team looks pretty nailed on which is encouraging to be more sure about Tipp’s best starting fifteen compared to this time last season.

Barry Hogan will start between the posts with Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly and Michael Breen in front of him, and all three will get a tough examination with Cork one of the few teams that play three in their full forward line. Whom man-marker Michael Breen will be tasked on will be interesting, possibly coming out to Darragh Fitzgibbon, or not as the case may be as Tipp hold that back for championship.

Joe Caesar, captain Ronan Maher, and Bryan O’Mara will likely make up the half back line and they will be key to Tipp’s chances of winning, along with the midfield stifling Cork’s greater athleticism before they get up to full speed.

This is where the defensive instincts in Craig Morgan and Sam O’Farrell as a midfield partnership who are also defenders will be important, or indeed Willie Connors if he retains his place, but the Kiladangan clubman is made for coming off the bench, particularly in the second half when things become stretched with his ability to use the ball to its fullest.

Respective managers Liam Cahill and Pat Ryan have consistently said through the league that everything is about building towards championship which starts for both two weeks on Sunday, but only one will go into it with momentum still intact.

Having such a competitive game as a National League final is ideal fourteen days out, provided it doesn’t come at a cost in terms of injury or psychological damage from a heavy defeat.

Tipperary have played in five National League finals since their last success in 2008, with defeats to Kilkenny in 2009, 13, 14 & 18, as well as to Galway in 2017. Bar the 2009 loss which felt like a win such was the performance level in that classic final at Semple Stadium, Tipperary went onto lose their first round game in the championship. It’s the one risk associated with any team reaching a National League final, it’s great preparation, but only if you win.