Cahill, McCarthy and Tipp leave critics lost for words

REDEMPTION. That was the story of yesterday's All-Ireland hurling final.

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Twice this summer, Darragh McCarthy left the field with red cards.

Yesterday, the 19 year old left Croke Park with 1-13 to his name and the Liam MacCarthy cup after Tipp's 3-27 to 1-18 demolition of Cork.

Redemption too for Liam Cahill.

The season began with critics questioning his methods. It ends with an All-Ireland after one of the greatest second-half displays ever witnessed on Jones' Road.

It was the first time Tipperary had beaten Cork in a senior Championship final since 1991.

The famine is over, just not the one everyone expected.

For Tipp, a 29th All-Ireland, for Cork the pain goes on.

They came into the game as unbackable favourites on the back of a seven-goal humbling of Dublin, looking to add Liam MacCarthy to League and Munster titles and end a 20-year wait.

But this was never going to be a walkover. And there were clear warnings from the past.

Brian Murphy wrote in yesterday's match programme about the 2018 Under-20 Championship when Cork dismantled Tipp in Munster only to come undone in the final against a Premier side managed by Cahill.

Darragh Fitzgibbon, Shane Kingston, Mark Coleman, Declan Dalton, Tim O'Mahony and Niall O'Leary were on that Cork underage team.

Eoghan Connolly and Conor Stakelum were in blue and gold.

Once again they all faced each other in an All-Ireland decider.

Once again Cork were expected to win.

Once again Tipp took home the cup.

The day began with a sea of red and white descending on the capital in expectation.