In recent weeks TG4 have been airing an excellent new GAA series: Laochra Gael – Na Coimhlintí Móra. Cork and Tipperary have featured from 1987 to 1992 and, at that time, the rivalry was at its most intense. Every game was crucial, every ball was contested, and every result was a matter of life and death. The sides met on seven occasions and with the exception of the 1988 Munster final every game was a tooth and nail battle. The series had it all, thrilling comebacks, wonder goals, elimination of reigning All Ireland champions and even a few never-to-be-forgotten quotes.

Cork and Tipperary will face one another for the seventh time in as many years next Sunday at Pair Uri Chaoimh. In contrast, the rivalry hasn’t been the same this time around. The intensity hasn’t been the same, and by late Sunday evening both teams will remain in the championship regardless of what happens in ‘The Park’. Many pundits are crying out for a return to the old system where only the provincial runners up were given a second chance. It won’t happen because it doesn’t suit the ‘money’ men.

The only knockout clash in the last seven years came in 2004 when Timmy McCarthy was sprung from the bench to inspire Cork to victory in Killarney. In the 2005 Munster final Cork blitzed Tipperary in the first half, and while Tipperary mounted a spectacular second-half comeback, Cork always had the capacity to tack on a couple of late scores to hold out. In 2006 the Munster final turned on Brian Murphy’s twirl at one end, which resulted in a Ben O’Connor goal at the other end. Tipperary had their goal chances in the first half, and Redser O’Grady was denied what seemed to be a valid point late in the game. Cork have not beaten Tipperary in championship hurling since.

In 2007, Tipperary had come out of a trilogy with Limerick and nearly got caught by Offaly in the qualifiers. Cork had their troubles with Semplegate that year, and had their full team back for the Saturday night game against the old enemy in Thurles. Expectations were low in Tipperary and that was reflected in the attendance which apparently doubled at half time when the Thurles town folk smelt a victory. The victory arrived but Tipperary were subsequently mugged in Croke Park by Wexford. In 2008 Cork soared into an early lead but they lost their way, and didn’t complete the journey. In 2009 there was only a puck of the ball between the teams despite a winter of discontent on Leeside. And don’t forget that Cork missed penalties in both game. Cork have a problem with penalty takers and they need to solve it pronto, because teams are aware they can give away penalties against them, safe in the knowledge that they wont be punished. Donal Óg Cusack might yet be the safe option and might succeed where other players have failed. It’s amazing that in a county where the fine lines and the small margins are covered in intense detail, that they haven’t managed to find a consistent penalty taker.

For Tipperary, 2010 is a make or break year. Whether by accident or design, they have followed a 5-year plan somewhat similar in format to what the Offaly footballers did from 1978 to 1982.

2006: Beaten Munster finalists
2007: Beaten All Ireland Quarter finalists
2008: Beaten All Ireland Semi finalists
2009: Beaten All Ireland finalists
2010: The 1982 Offaly plan would suggest that they become All Ireland Champions

In Unlimited Heartbreak –The Inside Story of Limerick Hurling (Pardon the Plug!), the Tipperary manager, Nicholas English stated that back in 2001, Tipperary simply had to beat Limerick in the Munster final to continue the progression of the previous two years. It’s like that for Tipperary now. They have progressed a step further in each of the last few years and there’s only one last step on the ladder. They have to deliver an All Ireland title. They have learned the value of losing a final, they have taken a step forward every year, and crucially they avoided a massacre at the hands of Kilkenny from 2006 to 2008 when it might have killed the development of their team. The last minute Damien Fitzhenry winner in 2007 might actually have done Tipperary a favour. By last September they had developed sufficiently as a team to have a right cut at them. However last September is last September and no trophies will be handed out in 2010 on the back of a moral victory in the 2009 All Ireland final.

But for all their claims to an All Ireland title, and there are many, there is no guarantee that they will beat Cork on Sunday. Donal O’Grady probably summed it up on RTÉ recently when he said that Cork wouldn’t be strong enough to beat Kilkenny, but they could be strong enough for Tipperary.

Cork are in a great position coming into this game. After their spectacular collapse in the second half of the league final, the nation has written them off. When Tipperary were in the headlines for putting up cricket scores in challenge games, Cork were in the headlines for their mounting injury list. As with all injury lists, one can assume that Cork will have the players they want on the field. Sean Óg Ó hAilpín will be on that field despite many having reservations about his current form. Being mindful of what Damien Hayes did in the League final, and what Pat Kerwick can do when fit, there is no doubt that if he is fit, the Killenaule man can wreak havoc on Ó’ hAilpín with his searing pace.

The Cork defence, though not yet selected will most likely contain Shane O’Neill, Eoin Cadogan, Brian Murphy, John Gardiner, Ronan Curran, and Sean Óg Ó hAilpín. There are mismatches for the taking there, and the Cork backs will not be comfortable with the way Tipperary incessantly rotate their forwards. Cork could not cope with the movement of the Tipperary forwards a year ago, and it’s unlikely that they can do so a year later. In midfield, Shane McGrath and Brendan Maher will not fear what any Cork pairing throw at them. Tom Kenny is carrying an injury and if fit he needs to finish from his bursts forward.

Very little has changed in the Cork forward line from last year. Patrick Horgan is a threat but is only as a good as the supply of ball he receives. Ben O’Connor will take on scores, but his tally alone won’t be enough. Despite initial promise, the twin towers have not become to hurling what Kieran Donaghy and Tommy Walsh were to football. Michael Cussen is the better of the two, and the most likely to provide consistency. Despite Aisaki Ó hAilpín cleaning Padraic Maher out overhead for a period in the league game a few weeks ago at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, this writer believes that he is more comfortable winning ball that is coming in low. However, when he has possession he needs to shoot on sight or lay it off, because the longer he retains possession, the less he is likely to do with it. Cathal Naughton is an attacking luxury probably best suited to a roving role from corner forward but has a lot of prove defensively if selected at midfield or wing forward. For all his undoubted qualities, a 70-minute game doesn’t appear to be among them. Perhaps Denis Walsh will spring some surprises where team selection is concerned, but while at times some of the new kids on the block looked promising in the league, nobody made a jersey his own..

There are other factors. Cork no longer have a workhorse in the mould of Timmy McCarthy to tie up a hurling half back. Seamus Callinan will rove and run in search of loose ball. Padraic Maher might well be suffering from ‘second season’ syndrome. Could the same affliction burden Noel McGrath? Brian Murphy has always had the capacity to tie up Eoin Kelly and it will be interesting to see if he can maintain that tradition. Tipperary depend on movement to win their own puck outs. If Cork can match their forwards for movement, they have a decent chance. But that might require brave decisions on the sideline particularly when the game is in the melting pot.

Cork, on the oth