Youth, you can’t beat it.
An absolutely classic forward display from Cork was the difference between them and Tipperary in Semple Stadium on Sunday.
It was fast, it was free flowing and it was non-stop scoring.
Two of the most traditional hurling counties in the game served up a classic that reminded us that open and attacking hurling is still alive and kicking.
There were no sweepers, there were no exaggerated defensive movements, it was just two sides attempting to score more than the other and it was refreshing to watch.
https://twitter.com/RealEddieHobbs/status/866333238066892805
Although Tipperary scored 1-22 from play, which admittedly is a phenomenal total that would win the majority of games, their defending left a lot to be desired.
Their defence was way too open and gave the Cork attackers way too much space on the ball and space to move around in.
Galway uncovered these defensive frailties in the league final and Tipperary were unable to solve these problems in the meantime.
Cork went for youth today and it paid off. Whoever said you win nothing with kids ? 😀😀💪💪#TippvCork
— Michael Cooke (@MikeCooke92) May 21, 2017
Cork’s youngsters, who were earmarked by Nicky English prior to the game, gave them the upper-hand on the Premier County.
Nicky English claimed last week at the Sky Sports Launch of their Championship coverage that Luke Meade, Shane Kingston and Mark Coleman represented a changing of the guard for this Cork side.
“Luke Meade is as good a player as in the country. Shane Kingston is a good player, Mark Coleman a really, really good player.”
The industrious trio have refreshed the Lee-siders, they have reinvigorated them and they have kickstarted a revival in the Rebel ranks.
This trio along with Colm Spillane, Darragh Fitzgibbon and Michael Cahalane (who scored the sealing goal) highlight the abundance of fresh faces in this Cork side and as Diarmuid ‘The Rock’ O’Sullivan claimed on the GAA Hour hurling show last week, these youngsters, under the guidance and influence of their older and more experienced players, are rejuvenating the Rebels.
English compared this influx of fresh faces to the Cork squad to Tipperary’s fresh squad’s of 2009 and 2016 respectively.
Youngsters are fresh, they are lively and they have no inhibitions holding them back. It was the freshness of the likes of Ronan Maher, John McGrath and Michael Breen that instigated Tipperary’s Liam McCarthy triumph last year and this year it was Cork’s turn to unleash their youthful assassins.
The sextet of newcomers exuded a hunger, drive and determination but they weren’t alone. Cork’s more experienced players who may have slightly disappointed in recent times have been encouraged by the youngsters.
That’s the effect youth has on a team, the older players are driven on by the youngsters who are vying for their positions, the older lads are looking over their shoulders and realise they have to perform to keep their place on the team.
It’s a good place for this Cork side to be in.
As Ger Loughnane said on RTÉ’s live coverage of the game
“The Munster Championship back to it’s absolute best…Sometimes they serve up something that’s just beyond words, and today was just one of those days.”
Don’t write Tipperary off because it was this way they went down against the same opposition in 2010, before going on to raise the Liam McCarthy Cup in September.
