To be beaten by the better team is one thing but to go down without a fight is particularly hard to swallow. Will probably not happen anytime soon but the back door needs a serious debate if not overhaul. None of this is Tipp's fault. Did what they had to do and did so with aplomb. Can't wait for the AI.

ironmaiden (Kilkenny) - Posts: 28 - 17/08/2014 17:36:30    1637943

Not winning the province is not an excuse. It did not stop Kilkenny.

Well done to Tipp. Unfortunately we did not prepare you for the next game.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 17/08/2014 17:44:48    1637950

I agree with you Jimbo, 5 weeks is too long a gap. It should be 3 at most. At the same time I allow myself a wry smile when Kilkenny win a semi final as Leinster champions and people say it's because they're "fresh" after their 5 week break, playing against "tired opponents".

ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1246 - 17/08/2014 17:46:06    1637953

Shocking stuff. Michael Duignan said that midfield dominance for Cork should swing it their way, the exact opposite happened. Tipp's midfield owned the ball. Pauric Maher was unreal. Bonner Maher was unreal. The difference between the cork centre forward position and the tipperary one couldn't have been more pronounced. Not to pick out cooper as almost everyone around him were as bad.

Hats off to Tipp. By far the better team. Their corner backs swept up loads of ball and are very tigerish. I was very impressed by them although we made it very easy for them at times. Best of luck in the final.

For us, it's back to the drawing board. A supposed stronger spine in the team this year was supposed to make the difference but it hasn't at all. Brian Murphy was really missed there today. Without any underage success in a while, it doesn't look great. However, we had some enjoyable days this year, beat the reigning AI champs and got some revenge, brought home a long overdue Munster and held our own until the semi. There's always next year.

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts: 1494 - 17/08/2014 17:56:55    1637958

Tipp's hurling ability is second to none. Not even Kilkenny. Chronic lack of ball winners in the forwards though... gonna need to be a very smart puck out strategy in the final or that Kilkenny backline will ate us alive!

Never doubted O'Shea's ability as a coach or the hurling ability of the players. The fire and swagger that was missing seems to be back now. Good times.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 17/08/2014 18:00:33    1637962

Tipp were excellent. They've shipped some heavy enough criticism too over the last number of years.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13718 - 17/08/2014 18:02:08    1637963

Just to note I'm not putting to boot in and sorry if it appears that way, that's not what I'm about. I have a lot of close friends in Cork Gaa circles and while I'm not ever going to be seen roaring cork on at the same time I have a lot of respect for Cork Hurling, traditions and history.
I'm still of playing age myself but when I was going to play Cork with Limerick we went to Mass before hand for a reason :p. But that utter fear of Cork is gone at this point in time, from a limerick point of view anyway.
But several factors are the cause for decline I think anyway and not in any order but all are interlinked.
Rugby...a few class Hurlers have been lost to Rugby Darren Sweetman is one such talent.
City clubs (fail from grace)I remember when the county team was full of stars from 3 huge clubs in the city, now they are few and far between, the historic famed cork clubs are not producing the same standard of Hurler they once did.
Politics....cough Fra....cough..Sorry but everyone knows who I'm talking about and that the route of the problem, money being spent on what I consider a white elephant of a stadium , 60-70 million is a crazy amount of cash to spend. Just a fraction of that 500k or so could build a centre of excellence and hire full time coaches for schools etc.
Schools... last time Cork schools where competitive was a few years back with St Colmans and they had a ton of players from other counties.
Cork has the population, the interest , the money, but I think the county lacks forward thinking and leadership at the top.

freetaker1 (Limerick) - Posts: 754 - 17/08/2014 18:15:23    1637967

Well I did tell ye all it would be 5 or 6 points win for tipp if ye read my posts

tiobraidArann (Tipperary) - Posts: 362 - 17/08/2014 18:16:48    1637969

Cork have been getting soft frees for 2 years now. Today the ref kept them in the game for the first half. On man to man battles Tipp were better all over the field. A great display for Tipp.

Jimmy Barry Murphy has good players but he has a difficult job because he hasnt alot of top class players.

It should be a great final.

Sheedy (Galway) - Posts: 107 - 17/08/2014 18:24:48    1637973

Cody won't be happy
He knows what's waiting for him

tiobraidArann (Tipperary) - Posts: 362 - 17/08/2014 18:31:17    1637978

JBM must be pulling his hair out.

Miler (Mayo) - Posts: 1015 - 17/08/2014 18:48:07    1637991

Wow
And without Micky Cahill Mahoney and Niall O Meara

tiobraidArann (Tipperary) - Posts: 362 - 17/08/2014 18:49:36    1637992

tiobraidArann
County: Tipperary
Posts: 85

1637978 Cody won't be happy
He knows what's waiting for him
CHILL!!!!!!!

Miler (Mayo) - Posts: 1015 - 17/08/2014 18:52:54    1637997

Ballydalane this arrogant smirk that Kilkenny are immune to a 5 week break ignores the fact that Croke PArk is Kilkennys second home. They play there far more often than any hurling team. They have also more big game experience than any other team.

A five week break for a munster team who go to play their first game in Croke Park has proven a step too far for nearly all munster champs. It is a big reason why we in Limerick were not overly disappointed to lose the munster final

disillusiondfan (Limerick) - Posts: 4279 - 17/08/2014 18:59:16    1638002

Cork seemed tired at times and their number of wides took more steam out of their game.

mikeyjoe (USA) - Posts: 415 - 17/08/2014 19:03:11    1638007

tiobraidArann
County: Tipperary
Posts: 88

1637978
Cody won't be happy
He knows what's waiting for him


Tipp genuinely have a great chance in this one, but what more motivation does a Kilkenny team need than meeting them in an AI Final?!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8597 - 17/08/2014 19:04:23    1638010

Ah!,,,,
Tipps old home croke park!

tiobraidArann (Tipperary) - Posts: 362 - 17/08/2014 19:27:38    1638030

Real dub
We have the same motivation meeting them

tiobraidArann (Tipperary) - Posts: 362 - 17/08/2014 19:28:27    1638031

Hard to luck to Cork, the wides in the first half seemed to drain energy out of the team. As always JBM and the Cork fans were very gracious in defeat. Don't ever change lads we need as many sporting teams as possible, other counties could learn a lot from Cork.

We badly needed this win today, Cork will come back stronger from this.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 17/08/2014 19:55:21    1638054

Disillusionedfan
County: *Limerick*
Posts: 2979

Ballydalane this arrogant smirk that Kilkenny are immune to a 5 week break ignores the fact that Croke PArk is Kilkennys second home. They play there far more often than any hurling team. They have also more big game experience than any other team.

A five week break for a munster team who go to play their first game in Croke Park has proven a step too far for nearly all munster champs. It is a big reason why we in Limerick were not overly disappointed to lose the munster final.
_____________________________

I said wry smile, you said "arrogant smirk". And don't give me this Croke Park lark, the top Munster teams have played there plenty of times (and Kilkenny didn't even play there last year). Embarrassing that ye're still using that as an excuse.

ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1246 - 17/08/2014 19:59:47    1638056