Tipperary hurlers had to settle for a point despite being the better team in Cork

It was a draw that felt more like a point dropped than a point won.

Leaving Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night, there was a lot to be cheerful about but that nagging voice in the head just wouldn’t be quiet. Four spilled goals undid our finest efforts elsewhere and, in that context, a one-point takeaway seemed an inadequate return for the effort.

It was like old-time Munster championship at the Páirc. The colour and atmosphere were matched by a freewheeling, rollercoaster of a game. Fifty scores in total, breath-sucking end-to-end fare, six goals and an ebb and flow that was just dazzling to behold.

In the end the old cliché about a draw being a fair result was rolled out by many. No, it wasn’t a fair result. Over the span of the match Tipperary were the better side, controlling the game for long spells and building winning positions before being nobbled by those cheaply-conceded goals.

It’s not a new problem. It was evident against Clare when we leaked three in the opening round. Last year on our worst days against Cork and Clare at the Stadium our defensive naivety was a major talking point afterwards. Even during Liam Sheedy’s time, remember Kyle Hayes’ free passage from his own half to eyeball Barry Hogan for a crucial goal in the 2021 Munster final.

It’s a systemic problem and needs to be addressed if this team is to progress in the championship. Cork struck early on Sunday when Declan Dalton went down the throat of our defence to bat home their first goal. Two defenders shadowed the Cork man but neither could get close enough to even attempt a tackle.

That opening blitz had us in disarray and we could easily have leaked another goal or two. Pat Horgan slipped Cathal Barrett out in the right corner and careered in before batting wide. Another penetrating attack saw Johnny Ryan bravely get in the way to prevent yet more damage. The fact that we were coughing up so many chances was deeply worrying.

After that initial barrage the Tipp team steadied. The midfield area became an attrition zone where we started to do well, winning rucks and grafting ferociously hard. Alan Tynan was already emerging as a big player, Seamus Kennedy too excelling as well as Dan McCormack and, as always, the game management of Noel McGrath.

Slowly, steadily we chipped our way back into the contest point by point. For about twenty minutes we heavily outplayed and outscored Cork. Seamus Kennedy and Alan Tynan were notable contributors to the scoreboard but there was a negative when Jason Forde clutched his hamstring after hitting a point. His free-taking loss would be crucial later in the game, though his replacement, Mark Kehoe, would enjoy a handsome return of 1-4 from play.

We looked set to take a four-or-five-point lead to the dressing rooms but then the old Achilles heel struck again. This time Ronan Maher unwisely took a short sideline cut, Cork turned over possession and Robbie O’Flynn was away, riding tackles and over-stepping the rule before tapping past Hogan in goal. Mark Kehoe had the last flag of the half but a two-point advantage was slim reward for our first half efforts.

Early in the second half Cork drew level but then Gearóid O’Connor struck for an excellent goal. Set up by Noel McGrath, he had plenty to do but raced in before turning back as defenders converged and delivering the finish through a crowded goal. It was the spark that signalled a Tipperary push that took the lead out to five points.

When we talk about the lack of pace in Tipp’s, defence it should be remembered that Cork’s third and fourth goals came, not off runners from outfield, but high deliveries that we failed to deal with. Darragh Fitzgibbon finished the first one over the line after our cover was badly breached, Harnedy out-fielding Ronan Maher on the long delivery.

Even then there was another kick from Tipperary, Dan McCormack sending Mark Kehoe away for the Kilsheelan man to race in and beat Patrick Collins. It was frenetic fare now at the climax of the game.

Cork’s fourth goal was a real sickener for the Tipp following. Another long puckout where Cork won possession out on the left flank, then the flick across goal by Kingston and another Cork tap-in, this time from Brian Hayes.

If there’s encouragement for Tipperary it’s in the way the team responded to each sucker blow. After Cork’s third goal, for instance, Tim O’Mahony powered forward off the puckout to land another instant point, which was followed by a Dalton free. The Cork-dominated crowd was now in full voice and with only around five minutes remaining one sensed that the tide was with the locals.

Yet, it was Tipperary who struck next with Kehoe’s goal and now again after Brian Hayes’ goal it was Tipp who once more found the next flag. A huge catch by Alan Tynan on the puckout, the dash for goal and the lay-off to Seamie Callanan. Credit Patrick Collins with a great flick away before Callanan recovered to salvage a point. In the end it was Shane Kingston with the leveller, as both sides missed late frees.

There was so much to admire about the Tipperary performance that it’s a pity the defensive lapses proved so topical. Alan Tynan was the undeniable man of the match with another power-play performance. Noel McGrath was at his orchestrating best. Seamus Kennedy, ever the big-day player, had one of his finest games in the blue and gold.

Dan McCormack too showed immense leadership. Mark Kehoe was superb, hitting 1-4 from open play. Gearóid O’Connor was effective as well, apart from the second half free-taking lapses.

Behind it all, though, we can’t ignore the defensive problems. You could praise individual items from each defender – like the final ball that Cathal Barrett brought out bravely while being fouled - but the collective cover isn’t even close to being secure enough.

Elsewhere, our Under 20 side made a disappointing exit from the championship on Monday night, outmuscled by Clare at the Stadium. We slipped behind early on to a Banner goal but recovered to go in level at half-time.

Second half free-taking problems were no help as we tried to stay in tow. Then Clare got the crucial goal through Keith Smyth with around five minutes of normal time to run. It was the decisive score.

Thereafter, a long-range free from Smyth went all the way for a sloppy final goal. It was symptomatic of our error-ridden display. Clare had more power and cohesion and deserved to advance.

Finally, it was a who’s who of hurling management at Clonoulty last week for the launch of the golf classic in aid of the Dillon Quirke Foundation. It was great to see all the managers mixing and mingling as they lent support to such a worthy undertaking.

I had an interesting conversation with Eddie Keher at the event. He may be in his eighties but he looks like he could still tog off. The Kilkenny legend is not a fan of the modern short- passing game and is a strong backer of the Conor O’Donovan solution to the hand-throwing malaise.

What a pity Croke Park seems to be tone deaf to such people.