Allen's appointment as manager brought a level of continuity to the Cork senior hurling set-up. Very little changed with regard to the backroom team and the team virtually picked itself for every match. With Allen at the helm Cork reclaimed their second Munster title in three years with an exciting victory over Tipperary. The subsequent All-Ireland championship decider saw Cork take on Galway, winners of a thrilling semi-final with Kilkenny. On a sun-drenched day Cork defeated the men from the West on a score line of 1–21 to 1–16. It was Cork's second championship title in-a-row and Allen's first as manager.