In the end it was an emphatic win for Cork against Tipperary, but Rebels boss Pat Ryan feels there is still much to be worked on ahead of the meeting with Limerick and is happy there is sufficient time to "get our energy back".
SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh was witness to a Munster SHC round-robin encounter where the hosts laid down a marker from the start, firing in three first-half goals in 17 minutes, their task made a little easier by the early dismissal of Tipp attacker Darragh McCarthy.
At the break, Cork were nine points to the good and they extended that advantage to 15 by the full-time whistle. As things stand they lead the way in the Munster section on three points, Sunday's win coming after their draw with Clare in Ennis.
Ryan, in his post-match reaction to RTÉ Sport, was looking at a half-full glass when assessing the rout of their provincial neighbours.
"I thought we went away from where we want to play a small bit," he reflected.
"There are things we'll go after. Tipp were down a man and that has happened to us over the last 18 months. It's hard to win games in Munster when the teams are so good. There is only a puck of a ball between the teams and it gave us a great advantage for the game itself."
Cork have had a busy April. It began with a league title win over today's opponents and in between was that thrilling Easter Sunday battle with the Banner, a match where they relinquished the initiative after leading by 12 points at the break.
Ryan could see that the battery was running somewhat low in the second period against Tipp.
"It's hard to go at it two weeks' in a row and I thought our energy was down a little bit in the second-half," he added.
"We did get a good bounce off the bench and that was really, really positive and Seamus (Harnedy) managed to get through 70 minutes for us, so that played a huge part in us winning.
"But then we gave away too many short puckouts in the second-half to a team that was down to 14 men. That's an area we'll work on over the next three weeks. Get our energy back, we picked up a few knocks, couple of dead legs but that all should be okay for the Limerick game in three weeks' time."
Looking ahead to that game with John Kiely's men, Ryan said: "The Munster Championship is a marathon and we have two games to come. There will be a massive massive crowd the next day, Cork and Limerick will bring great support. This break will give us a great chance to refresh."
Tipperary manager Liam Cahill remarked on the uphill task his side faced when reduced to 14 men early on.
"It was a difficult day. Cork were superior again, cutting holes open in our defence. Goals again win matches. It's a big ask for us to pick ourselves up after today and head to Ennis the next day.
"We have to take that [sending off] into account to be fair, what ever chance you have with 15, 14 makes it all the more difficult. I was proud the way our lads chipped way at the scoreboard and tried to do the right things on the ball. A team like Cork, with all their speed and movement and their numerical advantage, it was always going to be big ask.
"Darragh McCarthy is a very, very good young player and he will be a big player with Tipperary into the future. He will recover from it but it's a big day to have something like that happen to someone so young."
Next up is a date with Clare in Ennis for Cahill's men, the manager under no illusion about the importance of that encounter on 10 May.
"Two massive games ahead provided we're able to go to Ennis and get something. It's knockout hurling from now on and in two weeks' it will be knockout for both teams, that will be a ferocious encounter. We have to dust ourselves down and be in as good a shape we can be to take on the All-Ireland champions."
