A catheter adapted to carry a position sensor, comprising: an elongated catheter body; a deflectable section distal the catheter body; a tip electrode distal the deflectable section, the tip electrode having a longitudinal axis and comprising: a shell defining a cavity, the shell having a distal portion including fluid ports and a proximal neck portion; an elongate internal member aligned and on axis with the longitudinal axis of the tip section and having a tubular distal portion including fins extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, a baffle mid-portion defining multiple flow paths, a stem portion and a proximal base portion adapted to form a fluid tight seal with the proximal neck portion of the shell, the elongate internal member further comprising an on-axis passage extending through its entire length to receive the sensor and to position the sensor generally centered in the cavity and on-axis with the longitudinal axis; and an annular region extending along the longitudinal axis between the shell and the internal member, wherein fluid delivered to the tip electrode flows into an annular gap between the stem portion and the shell, is separated into multiple flow paths by the baffle mid-portion, has its velocity decreased by the fins and is dispersed in the annular region and passes to outside the shell via the fluid ports. an elongated catheter body; a deflectable section distal the catheter body; a tip electrode distal the deflectable section, the tip electrode having a longitudinal axis and comprising: a shell defining a cavity, the shell having a distal portion including fluid ports and a proximal neck portion; an elongate internal member aligned and on axis with the longitudinal axis of the tip section and having a tubular distal portion including fins extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, a baffle mid-portion defining multiple flow paths, a stem portion and a proximal base portion adapted to form a fluid tight seal with the proximal neck portion of the shell, the elongate internal member further comprising an on-axis passage extending through its entire length to receive the sensor and to position the sensor generally centered in the cavity and on-axis with the longitudinal axis; and an annular region extending along the longitudinal axis between the shell and the internal member, wherein fluid delivered to the tip electrode flows into an annular gap between the stem portion and the shell, is separated into multiple flow paths by the baffle mid-portion, has its velocity decreased by the fins and is dispersed in the annular region and passes to outside the shell via the fluid ports. a shell defining a cavity, the shell having a distal portion including fluid ports and a proximal neck portion; an elongate internal member aligned and on axis with the longitudinal axis of the tip section and having a tubular distal portion including fins extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, a baffle mid-portion defining multiple flow paths, a stem portion and a proximal base portion adapted to form a fluid tight seal with the proximal neck portion of the shell, the elongate internal member further comprising an on-axis passage extending through its entire length to receive the sensor and to position the sensor generally centered in the cavity and on-axis with the longitudinal axis; and an annular region extending along the longitudinal axis between the shell and the internal member, wherein fluid delivered to the tip electrode flows into an annular gap between the stem portion and the shell, is separated into multiple flow paths by the baffle mid-portion, has its velocity decreased by the fins and is dispersed in the annular region and passes to outside the shell via the fluid ports.