BACKING UP THE Little All-Ireland, as the Cork hurling final is dubbed, remains a thorny issue for Leeside clubs.
Over 19,000 people poured into Páirc Uí Chaoimh to witness Glen Rovers beat St Finbarr’s, but their provincial ambitions withered away in front of fewer than 3,000 fans at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.
Like that, Cork clubs have struggled to lift themselves for Munster fare ever since the great Newtownshandrum team headed into their winter years.
Since their 2009 run to a third Munster title in seven seasons, Cork clubs have won three games in the past 16 editions.
In fact, only one team that lifted the Seán Óg Murphy Cup has managed to turn around and win the next day out. That was Glen Rovers in 2016.
Cork’s other two wins were delivered by 2024 Munster champions, Sarsfields, who were beaten by divisional side Imokilly in the county final, but reimagined their approach to spring an all-time shock against Ballygunner.
That raised hopes of a Cork club revival, but Sars and the Glen were comfortably beaten in the past two seasons by the Gunners and, now, talented first-timers Inagh-Kilnamona.
Since 2009, Cork’s record against Clare teams is won 1, lost 5. Against Waterford clubs, it’s also won 1, lost 5. Against the Limerick representatives, it’s won 1, lost 3. Against the Tipperary champions, who have, like Cork, struggled in the past decade, it’s won 0, lost 2.
Fourteen times in that stretch, the Cork side has been beaten first day out.
Ben O'Connor celebrates Newtownshandrum winning the 2009 Munster Club SHC final. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
For those who remember the 70s, there is an obvious contrast with a golden period when Cork’s city giants went unbeaten for 28 consecutive Munster matches, cashing in for 10 provincial titles in a row. Between 1972 and ‘79, they won seven out of eight All-Irelands.
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The landscape has changed since then. Glen Rovers, Blackrock, and the Barrs, holders of 87 county titles between them, went through droughts of 16, 29, and 18 years.
Where once the county’s Christy Rings relocated to play their hurling in the city, the centre of power shifted east to the sprawling suburbs and commuter towns.
Where the Seán Óg Murphy Cup resided exclusively in Cork City from 1967 to ‘83, it has spent 15 of the past 20 years in East Cork and just four with the traditional superpowers.
- Where do the other Cork superclubs stand? -
Dublin has witnessed the emergence of superclubs in new areas, led by Kilmacud Crokes, Ballyboden St Enda’s, and Cuala south of the Liffey. Since their breakthroughs, they have been scooping up county titles and contending on a national stage in both codes.
With the exception of football titans Nemo Rangers over the past half-century, Cork’s new money haven’t had anything like that success beyond the county bounds in hurling.
Some expanding areas have yet to translate their population growth onto the biggest stage.
Ballincollig are making positive steps after becoming the first Cork club to win the All-Ireland Féile for two decades this year, while their hurlers gained promotion to the senior A ranks, the county’s second tier. They were also defeated by St Mary’s of Clonmel in the Munster intermediate quarter-final on Sunday.
Carrigaline’s progress has been faster on the football side of the house. Douglas and Bishopstown have both been relegated out of the premier senior hurling grade, with the latter enduring three successive drops down to the fourth tier.
The decline of boarding schools has seen a particular dip in Cork second-level hurling success. Having produced 41 previous Harty Cup titles, the county has won one in the past 20 years (Midleton CBS in 2019).
Despite their close calls in hunting Liam MacCarthy, the Rebels’ two-decade All-Ireland drought has its seeds below the surface.
Glen Rovers supporters celebrate winning the Cork senior hurling title. DAVID RIBEIRO
DAVID RIBEIRO
The Munster championship is also skewed by circumstances in other counties. Ballygunner have largely strolled to 13 consecutive Waterford titles in their 74-game unbeaten run. They can afford to have a second pre-season in the two months between the Déise decider and the Munster campaign.
The Limerick championship has been shared between four clubs since 2010. It really heats up at the semi-final stage.
Clare are almost unique in how cut-throat their championship is and how strongly their victors compete on the provincial circuit. Cork and Tipp have the first part of that equation, but have fallen short of the latter element lately.
“Going out to play in the Munster club is tricky because it’s so competitive in Cork that you can’t plan for it,” Patrick Horgan wrote in his recent autobiography, “even the best club teams can’t presume that they’re going to be competing in November or December in the Munster club.”
Writing about their breakthrough title in 2015, Hoggie noted a Munster campaign was “the last thing on our minds”.
He added: “We were just in no form for more games, particularly when we hadn’t been planning for them on the basis that the county title had been our goal.
“Ballygunner, on the other hand, are a club who can plan their provincial campaigns months in advance because they have such a stranglehold on the Waterford championship.”
Urchar ag David Fitgerald 🤯🤯
David Fitgerald finishes off a brilliant move what a goal !!
25 Nóim
@inagh_kilnamona 1-12 (15)
@GlenRovers_ 0-05 (5)
@GAA_BEO #GAABeo https://t.co/9udKUBD6Po
This year, the “famine factor” Horgan referenced was lesser – a nine-year drought, albeit one heightened by the Glen’s redemption narrative following their 2023 relegation. They were eyeing a better tilt at Munster.
In the debrief, manager Tomás Mulcahy dwelt upon the club’s fortnight turnaround from their county title, compared to Inagh-Kilnamona’s three weeks. It was a point made by the winning camp, too.
“My fear was coming today, after two weeks from a county final, could we raise the level again? Could we go up another notch?” said Mulcahy. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do that.
“They harried us, hooked us, blocked us. They ran. They chased. We were doing that to teams all year. We didn’t have that today in our tank.”
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The numbers behind Cork's struggles in Munster club championship - and some root causes
BACKING UP THE Little All-Ireland, as the Cork hurling final is dubbed, remains a thorny issue for Leeside clubs.
Over 19,000 people poured into Páirc Uí Chaoimh to witness Glen Rovers beat St Finbarr’s, but their provincial ambitions withered away in front of fewer than 3,000 fans at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.
Like that, Cork clubs have struggled to lift themselves for Munster fare ever since the great Newtownshandrum team headed into their winter years.
Since their 2009 run to a third Munster title in seven seasons, Cork clubs have won three games in the past 16 editions.
In fact, only one team that lifted the Seán Óg Murphy Cup has managed to turn around and win the next day out. That was Glen Rovers in 2016.
Cork’s other two wins were delivered by 2024 Munster champions, Sarsfields, who were beaten by divisional side Imokilly in the county final, but reimagined their approach to spring an all-time shock against Ballygunner.
That raised hopes of a Cork club revival, but Sars and the Glen were comfortably beaten in the past two seasons by the Gunners and, now, talented first-timers Inagh-Kilnamona.
Since 2009, Cork’s record against Clare teams is won 1, lost 5. Against Waterford clubs, it’s also won 1, lost 5. Against the Limerick representatives, it’s won 1, lost 3. Against the Tipperary champions, who have, like Cork, struggled in the past decade, it’s won 0, lost 2.
Fourteen times in that stretch, the Cork side has been beaten first day out.
For those who remember the 70s, there is an obvious contrast with a golden period when Cork’s city giants went unbeaten for 28 consecutive Munster matches, cashing in for 10 provincial titles in a row. Between 1972 and ‘79, they won seven out of eight All-Irelands.
The landscape has changed since then. Glen Rovers, Blackrock, and the Barrs, holders of 87 county titles between them, went through droughts of 16, 29, and 18 years.
Where once the county’s Christy Rings relocated to play their hurling in the city, the centre of power shifted east to the sprawling suburbs and commuter towns.
Where the Seán Óg Murphy Cup resided exclusively in Cork City from 1967 to ‘83, it has spent 15 of the past 20 years in East Cork and just four with the traditional superpowers.
- Where do the other Cork superclubs stand? -
Dublin has witnessed the emergence of superclubs in new areas, led by Kilmacud Crokes, Ballyboden St Enda’s, and Cuala south of the Liffey. Since their breakthroughs, they have been scooping up county titles and contending on a national stage in both codes.
With the exception of football titans Nemo Rangers over the past half-century, Cork’s new money haven’t had anything like that success beyond the county bounds in hurling.
Some expanding areas have yet to translate their population growth onto the biggest stage.
Ballincollig are making positive steps after becoming the first Cork club to win the All-Ireland Féile for two decades this year, while their hurlers gained promotion to the senior A ranks, the county’s second tier. They were also defeated by St Mary’s of Clonmel in the Munster intermediate quarter-final on Sunday.
Carrigaline’s progress has been faster on the football side of the house. Douglas and Bishopstown have both been relegated out of the premier senior hurling grade, with the latter enduring three successive drops down to the fourth tier.
The decline of boarding schools has seen a particular dip in Cork second-level hurling success. Having produced 41 previous Harty Cup titles, the county has won one in the past 20 years (Midleton CBS in 2019).
Despite their close calls in hunting Liam MacCarthy, the Rebels’ two-decade All-Ireland drought has its seeds below the surface.
The Munster championship is also skewed by circumstances in other counties. Ballygunner have largely strolled to 13 consecutive Waterford titles in their 74-game unbeaten run. They can afford to have a second pre-season in the two months between the Déise decider and the Munster campaign.
The Limerick championship has been shared between four clubs since 2010. It really heats up at the semi-final stage.
Clare are almost unique in how cut-throat their championship is and how strongly their victors compete on the provincial circuit. Cork and Tipp have the first part of that equation, but have fallen short of the latter element lately.
“Going out to play in the Munster club is tricky because it’s so competitive in Cork that you can’t plan for it,” Patrick Horgan wrote in his recent autobiography, “even the best club teams can’t presume that they’re going to be competing in November or December in the Munster club.”
Writing about their breakthrough title in 2015, Hoggie noted a Munster campaign was “the last thing on our minds”.
He added: “We were just in no form for more games, particularly when we hadn’t been planning for them on the basis that the county title had been our goal.
“Ballygunner, on the other hand, are a club who can plan their provincial campaigns months in advance because they have such a stranglehold on the Waterford championship.”
This year, the “famine factor” Horgan referenced was lesser – a nine-year drought, albeit one heightened by the Glen’s redemption narrative following their 2023 relegation. They were eyeing a better tilt at Munster.
In the debrief, manager Tomás Mulcahy dwelt upon the club’s fortnight turnaround from their county title, compared to Inagh-Kilnamona’s three weeks. It was a point made by the winning camp, too.
“My fear was coming today, after two weeks from a county final, could we raise the level again? Could we go up another notch?” said Mulcahy. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do that.
“They harried us, hooked us, blocked us. They ran. They chased. We were doing that to teams all year. We didn’t have that today in our tank.”
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Cork GAA Cork SHC GAA Hurling Munster Club SHC Rebels