Cork and Tipp fans set for epic All-Ireland hurling final as Croke Park clash nears

Cork, the masters of fluid stickwork and fearless forward flair, fuelled by a hunger to make up for last year’s one-point defeat, were last night declared red-hot 2/5 favourites to end their All-Ireland drought and lift the Liam MacCarthy cup for the first time since 2005.

Tipperary, the epitome of controlled aggression and crisp, clinical hurling, who beat Cork in the league in February, only to be beaten by Cork in the league final, are peaking, battle-hardened and determined for Croke Park.

WhatsApp groups are set to buzz late into the night as the hunt for tickets goes down to the wire.

One fan who struck lucky was Cork man Sean O’Brien, who won 10 of the precious seats from the most unlikely of sources, Cavan GAA. He spotted that Cavan GAA was giving away 10 tickets as first prize in their monthly draw, and so he decided to take a chance and enter.

“It’s great, it was just pure luck,” he said. “It popped up on Facebook, I entered every draw going, I entered a draw from Mexico too — I follow Mexico GAA.”

Sombrero-wearing GAA superfan, Cyril Kavanagh, is travelling to Dublin by bus this morning with five pals, including ace forward Patrick Horgan’s father-in-law, Tadgh Lovett. The group have three tickets between them and will have to hunt for the rest.

In Tipperary, the legendary Effin Eddie Moroney, who went viral before the internet thanks to his colourful match commentary of a U21 Tipperary football final in 1993, said he believes Tipp will do the business tomorrow — no effs or buts about it.

“Best of luck, Cork, but Tipp are bringing home Liam MacCarthy, and there’s no question about it, it has to happen and it’s going to happen,” he said.

Taoiseach and Cork fan Micheál Martin admitted the match is “going to be a tough one” for his team.

“I’ve watched all of the Tipperary games this year. They beat us in the league in Thurles, and they were good that day,” he said.

But he discounts the Cork win in the Munster championship in April because of the early red card for Tipp forward Darragh McCarthy.

“They have a very good forward line, they can put the ball over the bar, and they can score goals.”

“I hope it will be a very exciting final. Two goal-scoring forward lines, but it’s going to be very, very tight, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Cork have already won in the eyes of one Carrigtwohill child, Levi Lilley, 8, after the players signed a jersey to raffle to generate funds for his beloved playground, which was destroyed by arsonists.

Levi’s mum Máire said: “This may have been just a few signatures on a jersey to them but to us it means everything.”