{"id":406506,"date":"2026-04-19T10:58:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T10:58:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/406506\/"},"modified":"2026-04-19T10:58:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T10:58:14","slug":"all-ireland-final-collapse-is-now-irrelevant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/406506\/","title":{"rendered":"All-Ireland final collapse is now ‘irrelevant’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cork’s second-half collapse in last year’s All-Ireland final against Tipperary will have no bearing on next Sunday’s Munster SHC clash between the sides in Thurles, according to Brian Hayes.<\/p>\n

It’s nine months since the Rebels’ quest to end what was then a 20-year wait for Liam MacCarthy hit a significant roadblock in that 35 minutes of hurling at Croke Park.<\/p>\n

A return of only two points in that period; Cork’s mental fortitude was questioned amid talk of a dressing room bust-up during the half-time interval.<\/p>\n

The full story of their capitulation owes much to Tipp’s brilliance but the blowout was, nevertheless, extraordinary.<\/p>\n

Pat Ryan subsequently stepped down as coach, with his former Cork team-mate Ben O’Connor taking over.<\/p>\n

A new year and it was back down to business. The league brought more good than bad for the Rebels. At the end of was a Division 1A decider, where Limerick were the victors. No qualms from those in red jerseys as to the outcome.<\/p>\n

‘It’s the sound of the summer, it’s the Munster hurling championship’<\/p>\n

Watch tomorrow’s Munster SHC double header, with Clare-Waterford and Tipperary-Cork live on @rte2<\/a> and @rteplayer<\/a> from 1.30pm pic.twitter.com\/P4Mv1WnGiH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) April 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Championship now looming. Tipperary first up and another joust with the Shannonsiders to follow seven days later.<\/p>\n

For St Finbarr’s player Hayes, the aim is now to push on after their league run, taking the positives and adding to it as Cork strive to hold on to their Munster crown.<\/p>\n

“If you take the league as a whole, we’d be pleased with some aspects of it, particularly the way we played in the away games,” the inside forward told RT\u00c9 Sport at the launch of the Centra GAA Sharpshooter Competition in partnership with Patrick Horgan.<\/p>\n

“We can take value in that going forward. Against Limerick, we probably do ourselves justice with our workrate for the whole.<\/p>\n

“There were definitely times, particularly in the second quarter, that we would be happy with, so it’s a question now of trying to marry that together for a full 70-minute performance come championship.”<\/p>\n

\"William
\nWilliam Buckley in action against Cathal O’Neill of Limerick during the recent Division 1A final<\/p>\n

“The young lads coming have been great, the drive they have. Take William Buckley or Barry Walsh who is playing U-20 at the moment, they are playing great, as is Diarmuid Healy. The younger lads are keeping us sharp and that’s growing competition all the time in training and for matchday squads.”<\/p>\n

When asked about whether the horror of last July’s fade out against the Premier will be a factor in this provincial round-robin clash, the 25-year-old insisted that will not be the case, saying: “The All-Ireland final will be irrelevant come Sunday.<\/p>\n

“It’s a new season, we’ve had a new league campaign and we’ll be focusing on our performance on Sunday. We want to enjoy it and get the Cork crowd behind us.<\/p>\n

“I have full faith in the lads to drive it on. There is a better balance to the team in general. We’re looking at increasing the workrate, fighting for the dirty ball, something Tipperary have been brilliant at.<\/p>\n

“Looking to win the breaks on the puckouts, for and against, is what we’ll also be going after.”<\/p>\n

Watch a Munster Hurling Championship double-header, Clare v Waterford (2pm) and Tipperary v Cork (4pm), on Sunday from 1.30pm on RT\u00c92 and RT\u00c9 Player. Follow our live blog on RT\u00c9.ie\/sport and RT\u00c9 News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RT\u00c9 Radio 1<\/p>\n

Watch The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RT\u00c92 and RT\u00c9 Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on the RT\u00c9 News app and on rte.ie\/sport. Listen to Sunday Sport on RT\u00c9 Radio 1<\/p>\n