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Seamus Harnedy struck the winner in a brilliant Cork comeback. Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Rebels

JBM doesn't want Cork to get a reputation as the comeback kids

“I don’t like doing it too often,” Jimmy Barry-Murphy said after Cork came back to stun the Dubs.

JIMMY BARRY-MURPHY HAILED the fighting spirit that saw Cork pull off a remarkable comeback against Dublin.

But he would much prefer if his players weren’t giving themselves such mountains to climb.

Cork trailed by 12 points at one stage in yesterday’s Allianz National Hurling League semi-final in Nowlan Park but clawed back the deficit to win by a point, 1-27 to 2-23.

It’s the second time in as many games that Cork have reeled in the opposition in dramatic fashion; they came from six down to beat Wexford in the quarter-finals.

“I don’t like doing it too often,” JBM said afterwards. “I mean, we didn’t do it against Tipperary at Croke Park last year.

You can’t be giving yourselves big leads to peg back like that.

“It’s a league semi-final at the end of the day and the lads are just thrilled to get over this one and get to a league final. That’s vital.

“We are not playing Championship until 7 June and we are thrilled about that, to get to the final.

“You know, Dublin were a very, very good team today, a serious team and we are thrilled to just get over them.”

Waterford’s shock win against Tipperary sets up a repeat of the 1998 decider — the last time that Cork won the league title.

It also serves as a dress rehearsal before the two meet again in the Munster Championship semi-final.

“We will take every game as it goes but we are delighted with the progress we’ve made,” Barry-Murphy said.

I think we are definitely making progress. I am not saying we are Championship contenders or anything like that.

“I’d like to think we are as good as many teams around.”

– First published 06.45

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