Two-time All-Ireland-winning hurler Niall O'Meara is wary of easing the rules around head contact in the sport but feels that simulation has become an increasingly prevalent issue in recent years.
O'Meara, who won All-Ireland titles with Tipperary in 2016 and 2019, watched his former team lose out to Cork in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh - a game he didn't particularly enjoy - where a melee on the stroke of half-time resulted in Jason Forde and Shane Barrett being shown straight red cards.
Afterwards, Cork manager Ben O'Connor reiterated his much publicised comments asserting that the GAA hierarchy were seeking to "cleanse" the sport. The Cork manager insisted that referees were too quick to dispense cards for accidental head contact.
"I suppose it is a physical game. But there's danger levels there, if you look at the condition of the players, they're big, strong lads," O'Meara told RTÉ Sport.
"If you've got the wrong shoulder to the head or a hurley to the head, you could get a concussion fairly handy, which I've had a couple of myself.
"I understand what he means by tap on the head. Brian Gavin documented during the week that a lad can go to hook someone and catch him on the head at the wrong time. I wouldn't classify that as a red card. But there are certain ones that are.
"The biggest one for me at the moment is that a lot of players are ducking to try and get the other lad's arm over him for a free. I think that's actually a big problem in the game at the moment.
"Lads are running in and trying to grab your arm and make a movement up and holding your arm. That's an issue as well, especially in rucks and things like that.
"But to analyse the game, it's in a good place. If you're just being nitpicking, that's what I would say. But everyone's entitled to their opinion and I'm sure Ben is trying to lay down a marker for this Cork group."
O'Meara is relatively contented with Tipperary's progress in the league so far, despite the reversal in Cork.
Liam Cahill's side began their campaign with wins over Galway and Offaly, the loss in Páirc Uí Chaoimh being only the third defeat - aside from finals or semi-finals - in 19 league games across the manager's reign.
"I think they'd be very happy. I suppose down in Cork the weekend, I didn't really enjoy the game too much, there was a bit too much shadowboxing.
"I suppose coming after the All-Ireland final last year, Cork might have had a bit more in the tank to try and win it.
"But Tipp will be delighted. I was very impressed with Cathal O'Reilly at corner-back and Jake Morris continues to go from strength to strength.
"There's no medals won in February but it's about building. People would say he [Cahill] hasn't timed things right in years previous - but he certainly did last year."
Tipp's 2025 All-Ireland victory was possibly their greatest bolt-from-the-blue success, coming in the wake of a 2024 campaign in which they exited the championship in dismal fashion after a hammering at the hands of Cork in their Munster SHC game in Semple Stadium.
O'Meara, who retired from inter-county hurling following the 2023 campaign, admitted that he didn't see an All-Ireland coming last year but stressed that there is always a residual belief in Tipperary that the hurlers are there.
The wing-forward cited the titanic victory over then All-Ireland champions Clare in Ennis in Round 3 of the Munster SHC as the turning point in their fortunes.
"It's hard to say after what happened the year previously, that you could see that much of a turnaround," says O'Meara.
"I think the turning point was actually down in Ennis when Andrew Ormond got his first start. Tipperary had a 10-point lead and Clare started to turn the sails. They brought on Shane O'Donnell and he made a monster catch in front of me.
"It was like, 'ooh, this could be make or break for this Tipp group?' And they actually dogged it out and got over the line.
"We always had a lot of talent. Tipp would always fancy ourselves as having a lot of hurlers. But to create a team, you have to have a plan.
"Mikey Bevans and Liam brought through their cohort really well from the minors and Under-20s. They kicked on. And Tipperary always feel they have a chance in Croke Park. And that ended up being the way."
O'Meara was speaking to the media on the eve of this year's Fitzgibbon Cup final, held in Croke Park for the first time since 1986, with his alma matter Mary Immaculate College (aka, Mary I) facing off against city rivals UL (University of Limerick).
It's 10 years since O'Meara was part of a star-studded Mary I side that won the college's first ever Fitzgibbon title against UL in the decider in CIT.
O'Meara was deployed in the full-forward line alongside Declan Hannon and David Reidy, with Cian Lynch at centre-forward. Colm Galvin and Darragh O'Donovan took the midfield berths, with Galway's Sean Linnane also starting in the half-forward line.
Last year's All-Ireland winning captain Ronan Maher was stationed at wing-back, even if straight-talking Mary I manager Eamon Cregan was apparently unconvinced watching one early training session.
"Eamon is a gas man. He said it exactly as it was. If he wasn't happy with what you'd done, you would hear it. One training [session], Ronan Maher was pucking the ball and Eamon goes 'that lad can't hit the ball at all.' Ronan had the hurl in his left hand, messing or something. Eamon didn't know who he was! We always laughed back at that.
"Obviously, if you look back on the match programme, I think both teams were littered with players that went on to achieve great things.
"The game itself, I just remember Cian Lynch got one of the best points I've ever seen live near the last score of the game.
"Brilliant game of hurling and great craic with the lads. As we know, you're only going to get to play with those lads for so long."
Mary I subsequently won the Fitzgibbon in 2017 and 2024 and are after number four on Friday. O'Meara had already been part of the side that reached the final in 2013, losing to UCC, where current manager Jamie Wall was also in the team.
A year later, Wall suffered a back injury in a match which left an abscess on his spine which resulted in him being paralysed from the waist down. In 2016, he was part of the management team for the Fitzgibbon triumph.
"Jamie epitomises college hurling, if you ask me," says O'Meara. "He's got that Cork passion, as I like to call it.
"He was a big driving force in 2013 as well. After everything that happened, for him to be there in 2016...
"[He's] just a brilliant hurling brain. Really intelligent. I think what people take for granted is the fact he's been involved with inter-county teams.
"He knew the right emotional touches to have as well. That picture will live long in the memory. It was a really special occasion."
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