John Gardiner believes Cork peaked too soon for last year's championship and have taken those lessons on board.

The Rebels hammered Tipp by 10 points in last year's Munster SHC opener, but while the Premier County went on to win the All-Ireland, Cork's championship ended in a heavy All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Kilkenny.

"We peaked for the Tipp game," Gardiner told the Irish Independent ahead of Sunday's latest meeting with Tipp.

"All our focus through the league last year was for the Tipperary match. We thought we could get back to that level, but we failed and Tipp were rising with every game they played and they got better and better towards the final.

"We learned a lot from that. Even if you see the difference in the results of the league last year and this year - I'm not saying we were holding back or anything - but we training through a lot of games and now we are fully focused on Tipp again."

The former Cork captain admits facing the All-Ireland champions in Thurles is the toughest possible start the Rebels could have to the championship.

"There are no handy games in Munster, but playing the All-Ireland champions who (won) the All-Ireland in some fashion . . . They were deserving winners.

"From our point of view, there is nothing expected of us. Talking to people all over the country, Cork are written off. No one is giving us a chance. We believe we are still a good team and I think Tipp will give us the respect we deserve." Tweet

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