Cork prepare assault on strong Tipperary side

Tipperary v Cork, Munster SHC quarter-final

Sunday, May 22nd, Semple Stadium

Throw-in: 4pm

Beware of Cork men talking down chances. Easy to imagine Tipp fans nodding sagaciously all week as they listen to talk of benchmarks and tough tasks and falling behind the camp emanating from the Leeside dressing room this week.

The Rebels have just about stopped short of expressing the hope that they can give their old rivals a decent game for an hour, at least.

Which Cork to expect? The red shirts demonstrated remarkable hospitality to all and sundry in the way they defended throughout the league, and even coughed up 0-25 to Galway before narrowly defeating them and avoiding relegation. If they display similar generosity in Semple Stadium then the local lads will go to town.

But this Cork team is not defensively minded by nature. All-out attack is their virtue and even if they are reliant on the presence of Seamus Harnedy to create goal chances, Cork will hope to capitalise on the fact that Tipperary have had a nervy few seasons at fullback.

James Barry is a terrific defender but is manning a key role this summer. And Pat Horgan and Conor Lehane have the stuff to unsettle even the most serene of defences. Seamus Kennedy's anticipated inclusion at right-half back deepens the sense of a relatively young Tipp defensive line, with Padraig Maher very much the leader of that division now.

John McGrath's assured and classy league performances enhances the scoring potential within the team and Seamus Callanan's comeback at the tail-end of the league was nicely timed: the big Thurles man will be a key figure on Sunday afternoon, with Tipp favouring a more direct game this season rather than the total-hurling philosophy favoured by Eamon O'Shea.

Dealing with Callanan’s presence and keeping tabs on Noel McGrath at centre forward is just the start of it. Cork will make life hard for Tipp but the Premier county should have the firepower to go through.