Cork won't end their All-Ireland hurling famine without Séamus Harnedy in the starting team, according to former Limerick hurler Niall Moran.
The 36-year-old has enjoyed another stellar season in red, but missed the rout of Dublin in Saturday’s semi-final with a hamstring issue.
Ahead of the game at Croke Park, manager Pat Ryan said the influential St Ita’s man would be available for the decider should the Rebels progress.
His replacement in the half-forward line, Declan Dalton, delivered a strong performance, picking off 0-05 including some long-range missiles both from play and placed balls. With the full-forward line plundering 5-11 and the likes of Shane Kingston and Conor Lehane impressing off the bench it means Ryan has plenty of options up front.
Whether to restore Harnedy to the team to face Tipperary could be the biggest decision.
Now in his 13th season, he took the Premier County for five points from play in the Munster round-robin victory and starred on the half-forward line in the Munster final success over Limerick.
Speaking on 2fm’s Game On, Moran feels the three-time All-Star should be included from the start.
"He has to find a place for Seamie Harnedy," he said. "In my book, Cork don’t win any All-Ireland without him. Who will be the unlucky person to miss out?"
Moran says that while the swashbuckling nature of Cork’s run to the final has caught the eye, the mounting pressure to win Liam MacCarthy for the first time since 2005 could play into Tipperary’s hands.
"The real weight of expectation is going to be on one team and one team only and that’s Cork.
"If Cork are only a point or two up, with 10 minutes left, how will the psychology of that work for them?
"Whose camp would you prefer to be preparing for? I definitely think Liam Cahill has all the aces up his sleeve in terms of that.
"Can Tipp bring that level of performance and a little bit extra? It’s not beyond them."
Also speaking on the programme was decorated Kilkenny hurler Eddie Brennan.
The eight-time All-Ireland winner says given the resounding defeats to the Rebels already this season, Tipperary head into the decider brimming with motivation.
"After what happened in the league final and the round-robin in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, if Liam Cahill had a wish list, this is the one he wanted to get," he said.
"I’d imagine they are saying, 'are these boys going to put on an exhibition against us again?’ That’s the sole motivation.
"Tipp are in a great place, their collective has really impressed me, but I’m not sure they can hold Cork for 70 minutes, plus the three or four forwards that are going to come in full of energy."
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