A high-thermal-sensitivity ablation catheter tip , the tip comprising: a thermally and electrically conductive shell configured and arranged to conduct ablation therapy; a thermally-insulative tip insert having a distal face and positioned such that the conductive shell surrounds at least a portion of the tip insert ; and a flexible electronic circuit extending around the tip insert , and including a plurality of thermal sensors (241 1-N , 244 1-N ) placed in thermal communication with the conductive shell , wherein the plurality of thermal sensors (241 1-N , 244 1-N ) are distributed across at least one of a length and width of the flexible electronic circuit , and a plurality of electrodes (107 1-3 , 207 1-3 , 407 1-N , 507 1-N , 607 1-N , 707 1-N ) electrically insulated from the conductive shell and configured to sense electrophysiology characteristics of contacted tissue, wherein the plurality of electrodes (107 1-3 , 207 1-3 , 407 1-N , 507 1-N , 607 1-N , 707 1-N ) are coupled to a distal face of the tip insert and extend through the conductive shell , wherein the conductive shell further includes an inner surface , and wherein the plurality of thermal sensors (241 1-N , 244 1-N ) are in thermal communication with the inner surface of the conductive shell , wherein an inner diameter of the conductive tip shell is less than an outer diameter associated with a circumferential placement of the plurality of electrodes on the distal face of the tip insert , characterized in that the inner surface of the conductive shell includes one or more longitudinally extending channels (211 1-3 ), the longitudinally extending channels (211 1-3 ) configured and arranged to facilitate assembly of the plurality of electrodes (107 1-3 , 207 1-3 , 407 1-N , 507 1-N , 607 1-N , 707 1-N ) within the conductive shell . a thermally and electrically conductive shell configured and arranged to conduct ablation therapy; a thermally-insulative tip insert having a distal face and positioned such that the conductive shell surrounds at least a portion of the tip insert ; and a flexible electronic circuit extending around the tip insert , and including a plurality of thermal sensors (241 1-N , 244 1-N ) placed in thermal communication with the conductive shell , wherein the plurality of thermal sensors (241 1-N , 244 1-N ) are distributed across at least one of a length and width of the flexible electronic circuit , and a plurality of electrodes (107 1-3 , 207 1-3 , 407 1-N , 507 1-N , 607 1-N , 707 1-N ) electrically insulated from the conductive shell and configured to sense electrophysiology characteristics of contacted tissue, wherein the plurality of electrodes (107 1-3 , 207 1-3 , 407 1-N , 507 1-N , 607 1-N , 707 1-N ) are coupled to a distal face of the tip insert and extend through the conductive shell , wherein the conductive shell further includes an inner surface , and wherein the plurality of thermal sensors (241 1-N , 244 1-N ) are in thermal communication with the inner surface of the conductive shell , wherein an inner diameter of the conductive tip shell is less than an outer diameter associated with a circumferential placement of the plurality of electrodes on the distal face of the tip insert , characterized in that the inner surface of the conductive shell includes one or more longitudinally extending channels (211 1-3 ), the longitudinally extending channels (211 1-3 ) configured and arranged to facilitate assembly of the plurality of electrodes (107 1-3 , 207 1-3 , 407 1-N , 507 1-N , 607 1-N , 707 1-N ) within the conductive shell . <EOS>