LONG READ: This was one of Tipperary’s greatest All-Ireland victories

Match previews have rarely been so immaterial to an All-Ireland final. Tipperary’s stunning second half performance demolished Cork and rendered most anticipations of the game redundant. We revel in the unexpectedness of it all.

Oh, frabjous day, if I may borrow from Lewis Carroll. It was certainly fabulous and joyous and any other adjective you may wish to toss into the mix. There’s something especially exhilarating about defying the odds and doing it in such a spectacular manner. It will be celebrated as one of our greatest in the list of 29.

For several reasons Sunday’s win stands apart from all others. Never before, in my memory, has a Tipperary side delivered the ultimate prize with such spectacular speed.

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Context is everything. Rewind to May of last year and that humbling defeat to Cork at the Stadium. Tipperary hurling was in crisis. The team looked spiritless and demoralised. Liam Cahill bristled at a journalist’s question after the Clare game about his suitability for the job.

Fourteen months later we’re yelping in delight at Croke Park as Ronan Maher mounts the steps to accept the Liam MacCarthy Cup. All’s changed, changed utterly. In the press room afterwards Liam Cahill playfully exclaims “I’m back Shane,” in reference to the previous year’s question.

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It’s difficult to overstate the distance travelled in that fourteen months. From zeros to heroes, from noughts to nineties, the team was transformed at breakneck speed. Never before has so much been achieved so rapidly.

Then there was the backdrop to Sunday’s game. Cork were unbackable, heading to Dublin for a coronation; the pundits were unanimously in agreement. It was to be Cork’s day with Tipperary as the designated bridesmaids. Have Tipperary ever won in the past from such an outsiders ranking?

The nature of the second half mauling inflicted on Cork stands out also – 3-14 to 0-2 of a second half savaging. It was payback, you might say, for defeats over the past two years; payback with interest, doing a Cork on Cork. All aspects single out this final as unique and special from a Tipperary perspective.

How this winning formation was built over such a short timespan is fascinating. Rhys Shelly won his battle with Barry Hogan to be number one. He was superb on Sunday. I watched his puckouts carefully and time and again he hit his man with laser-like accuracy. He became the first goalie ever to score from play in an All-Ireland final and the penalty save was embellishment of the day’s work. An All-Star surely.

Ditto with Robert Doyle. He came in under the radar somewhat - at least for me. The find of the season, he quickly settled in to negate the absence of Cathal Barrett and has mostly been outstanding throughout the campaign. A man-marker and a chaser, he’s happy hunting far from goal and has even added scoring to his repertoire. He held Alan Connolly to a single point on Sunday.

Eoghan Connolly has greatly developed throughout the season also. He can defend, getting in those little flicks, but loves powering forward and scoring as he did on Sunday. He would have lifted the roof if he’d found the corner of the net on that first half drive. Michael Breen too has developed his man-marking ability, stifling Pat Horgan in one of his best displays of the year.

The pivot in that defence, of course, is Ronan Maher who successfully shadowed Brian Hayes, the most feared forward for Cork this year. Holding Hayes to a single point was critical to the day’s fate, though he did concede a late penalty. Overall, an outstanding leader, man of the match and eloquent speaker who hit all the right notes in his acceptance speech. A worthy addition to the Sarsfields’ wall of fame.

Our defence was critical to subduing Cork and Craig Morgan and Bryan O’Mara completed the formation. O’Mara excelled as sweeper, especially in the first half and, like others, his game has developed over the year. There’s much more to come we feel.

Craig Morgan had a tough afternoon on Cork’s best, Shane Barrett, but throughout the year he’s been an ever-present part of that defence, taking up the sweeper role for a spell in the second half. There’s still some uncertainty about his best position.

We worried in advance about midfield but our concerns were baseless. Willie Connors turned in a powerful display, slipping back to wing back to negate Declan Dalton in a move that facilitated Bryan O’Mara’s sweeper role. Conor Stakelum too put in a heavy shift chasing down Tim O’Mahony. His work sometimes goes unnoticed but not to Liam Cahill, who clearly values his input.

Sam O’Farrell moved to midfield and made a strong contribution as playmaker for others, setting up the likes of Jake Morris for crucial points. Another one of the year’s finds, he’s tipped to grow into a powerful inter-county player with a bright future.

Speaking of finds, Andrew Ormond has been another “springer” this year, surprising this columnist with a massive impact against Clare, an impact he has since sustained. Two points early in the second half got Tipp moving; his “take them on” attitude has added a new dimension to the Tipp attack. He caused Robert Downey some problems.

Jake Morris is arguably the most developed player on this team. Once a skinny lad who skipped onto breaking ball and planted goals, he’s now a far more complete package. Strong and robust, he puts in the hits and takes the knocks, as his work ethic has become a huge part of his game. He had a few bad wides on Sunday but is considered a player of the year contender.

Then we had the star turns on the full forward line. Darragh McCarthy has had an eventful maiden season but any doubts about his temperament and ability were buried on Sunday. Nerveless on the frees, despite the unsporting jeers, he didn’t miss one. He nailed the penalty too and for good measure chipped in with four points from play. Outstanding. A real star.

Then vying for top billing was John McGrath, scorer of 2-2, creator of the penalty and general destructor of Cork’s dreams. His re-emergence after a few injury-plagued, fallow years has been a central aspect of this All-Ireland success.

Jason Forde’s resurgence this year has also been crucial to events. Scorer of just two points on Sunday but over the span of the season a vital cog in the machine.

Sunday wasn’t a day for impact subs; they were coming on to join in a victory parade. However, over the season the likes of Noel McGrath, Oisín O’Donoghue and Alan Tynan made major contributions to this All-Ireland win.

For Liam Cahill it’s vindication. He’s had the strength of character and courage to make big calls and his instincts have proven correct. He becomes the first manager ever to win All-Irelands at minor, Under 21, Under 20 and senior levels.

The tactical nous displayed on Sunday in setting up with a sweeper and carefully selecting match-ups was outstanding. Just as important is Cahill’s ability to inspire players to be the best version of themselves. That was displayed in the workrate and attitude of the Tipp team, which ultimately led to a complete Cork meltdown.

Some stats illustrate the point: from 36 possessions Cork were turned over on 29 occasions. Tipperary scored a total of 3-15 off turnovers. That tells you who were the hunters and who were the hunted.

Finally, one is never insensitive to the hurt experienced by the opposition. This was traumatic for Cork, losing yet another final and, perhaps more damning, being crushed in a second half no-show. The recriminations, no doubt, will follow.

One feels for Pat Ryan, who seems like a decent man, and the likes of Pat Horgan will have many sympathisers in his long wait for a Celtic Cross.

For Tipperary, however, it’s another chapter in a fine history. Congratulations to all involved.