In many ways a draw would have been the fair result in this game. Both sides showed clear signs of nerves in the first half, and in some ways appeared to be showing a little too much respect for each other. It was just that bit more experience in the Cork team that allowed them to pull through in the end. And it was close. There were a lot of wides and lot of frees from both teams in the first half, though once they settled, it was a tremendous game of hurling.

I felt that Tipperary were moving the ball that bit better in the early stages, especially the amount of ball coming into the half-forward line. They were putting Cork under a lot of pressure, but they can only blame themselves for amassing 12 wides by the end of the half.

It's a well-worn notion that the side which consistently takes their chances will usually win and Tipperary certainly let their chances slip. But Cork responded in the manner they do best. They contained that pressure to good effect so that by half-time the damage was minimal and the scores were all square.

The game stepped up another gear in the second half and it was entertaining right to the end. Play flowed more, and a very exciting exchange of points developed. But I did feel that Tipperary were losing their shape a little throughout the field, and Cork were able to keep those few points ahead.

In the forwards, we saw Ben O'Connor cutting loose a lot more. He forced Brendan Cummins to pull off one great save but I suppose it would have been a bit of an injustice if he scored, as he had got through with his marker unaware. There was also a significant step up for Joe Deane, who was coming out a lot more and picking up a lot more loose ball. And then there was the tremendous display from Sean O hAilpin, who worked tirelessly throughout the game and prevented a lot of trouble in the defence.

One of the big talking points will be Tipperary's two missed penalties. Of course in a Munster final you always go for the goal, but there have to be question marks over the way they were taken. I was a bit surprised to see John Leahy taking the second as he had been having a poor game and, like Declan Ryan, he throws the ball a bit high before he hits it. And I don't think he got the full power behind it either so the Cork defence were able to make another block.

Even when Cork pulled five points clear there was no let-up in the excitement. Tipperary still had very little time on the ball but you have to credit as Tommy Dunne for his goals. They were two superb shots. If Leahy was able to produce one of his better days it could have been different but it would have been difficult for him to produce three star performances in a row.

The introduction of Pat Ryan also proved crucial for Cork, and they really took over at midfield from there on - which of course is a big change for them. They were able to win a lot more of the one-on-ones and that seemed to upset Tipperary, who were forced to move Dunne and Leahy into the half-forward line.

Cork of course will be delighted to have won another Munster championship, but there is the bonus for Tipperary in that they got to play a Munster final. And Nicky English will be able to take a few good points from this game.

For a start, it is significant that it took some 45 minutes before Sean McGrath got his first point, and part of that was because David Kennedy was playing a very solid game in Tipperary's defence and cleared up a lot of ball.

Still, towards the end, there were at times up to three Corkmen free in the forwards and to me that suggested a little bit of inexperience in the Tipperary backs, especially some of the younger ones. But they will learn from this and we may yet see a lot more of them in this championship.

In an interview with Ian O'Riordan