ALL it takes is one game to change the dynamics of the All-Ireland hurling championship.

What occurred in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday between the sport’s greatest rivals has sent shock waves through Tipperary after the there-in-a-row seeking Munster title holders were blown away by the rejuvenated and firedup Rebels.

Not even the Cork hurling fantasists saw this one coming after a progressive National League campaign ground unceremoniously to a halt in the competition’s final at the beginning of last month. In the wake of that eight points defeat to Galway, team manager Denis Walsh was being accused of showing too much loyalty to the squad’s older generation.

The long serving Sean Og O hAilpin had been taken off in Thurles, while Ronan Curran continued to struggle to emulate his best days in the centre back position. There was also much furore about the continued deployment of Aisake O hAilpin at full forward after he had failed to score against Galway. In short, Walsh was under pressure to change his personnel, but the team management held their nerve.

Not alone did Cork stay loyal to their established players, but two more – Jerry O’Connor and Niall McCarthy – were recalled for the collision with Tipperary. Furthermore, they kept faith with the gangling O hAilpin on the edge of the square, but all that did was make Tipperary even stronger favourites to record their second win over the men in red down by the Lee in three years. The neutrals, the journalists and the pundits were virtually unanimous in their pre-match commentary . . . Cork would not have the legs to cope with the ‘champions in waiting’.

How wrong we all were. Instead, it was John Gardiner and company who looked the fresher and more mobile outfit. Tearing into Tipperary from the throw-in, they largely dictated the exchanges with Donal Og Cusack’s short puck outs catching the Munster champions napping time and again. They hurled with a determination and bite which wasn’t always evident in the league final, while the fit-again Eoin Cadogan at full back made a huge difference to the overall security of their defence.

For more of McIntyre’s review of Cork & Tipp, Offaly vs Antrim and the Derby see page 53 of this week’s Connacht Tribune