Former Tipperary manager Michael Babs Keating believes Cork are a spent force after watching them lose to Tipperary in last Sunday's Munster SHC semi-final. The outspoken multiple All-Ireland winning player and manager was an interested spectator at Pairc Ui Chaoimh and was left in doubt that the Rebels are a team in decline. "I think it's the end of the road for the team," he said. "Some of the players were slipping before Sunday's performances and despite how well Sean Og and the others played, the Cork half backs weren't the engine of the team that they once were. "In the past, Cork often got five or six points from the half backs, which was like having extra forwards - the same as Sean McMahon at his best with Clare was like and extra forward. "I fear for Cork because I've watched a lot of minor and under 21 games over the past couple of years and haven't seen any prospects coming through to replace the great players on the current team." Despite Tipp's impressive showing, Keating feels Kilkenny are still the team to beat, even if they have lost their goalscoring touch somewhat in recent years. He added: "The main problem for Kilkenny in my mind is that they're not getting goals as fluently as they used to when DJ Carey was still playing for them. "One other thing about Kilkenny is that they have escaped injuries in the past couple of years up to Henry Shefflin's cruciate in last year's final." Tweet

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