CORK HAVE FINALLY bridged the gap.
For hurling fans in the south, it’s a gap that that was never expected to open up.
It is seven years since the Rebels fell at the final hurdle in their quest for three-in-row.
Those seven long years without an All Ireland final appearance didn’t even yield the consolation of silverware in Munster. And all on Leeside had to bite their tongues as Limerick, Waterford, Tipperary and then Galway squared up with Kilkenny in the September showpiece.
Well, after seeing off Dublin in today’s thrilling five-point win over Dublin, Cork’s chin can wag again.
‘Until victory, always’
That’s the message Cork fans summoned as they flew the flag of another red Rebel, Che Guevara, on Hill 16.
Unchartered territory
It’s going to be a big day for Cork in this year’s All-Ireland final with not many of their players having experienced this stage before. From the current panel Brian Murphy and Tom Kenny played in the 2005 and 2006 finals while Cathal Naughton came on as a substitute in the 2006 decider.
Experience ex-schmeerience
On the other hand three of Cork’s players are getting set for an All-Ireland final and they have proved that underage experience is not necessary to shine at senior level. Neither Conor O’Sullivan, Daniel Kearney nor Seamus Harnedy represented Cork at minor level.
O’Sullivan played one game at U21 level for Cork against Tipperary in 2009, Kearney played twice at U21 level for Cork against Waterford and Tipperary in 2010 while Harnedy never played U21 for Cork.
Spot the fan
Pitch invasions are outlawed in Croke Park these days, but a few fans still managed escape onto the pitch after the game yesterday in Croke Park. Spot the Cork supporter in this picture.
What Twitter had to say for itself
One man summed it up.
Meanwhile, RTE’s commentary helped to create a siege mentality on the south coast.
Daly, the man who keeps coming back for more
Anthony Daly is a glutton for punishment. The Clare man has not tasted outright victory in his last seven All-Ireland senior semi-finals as player and manager. Agonisingly close, yet so far.
His adopted county certainly won’t mind if he suits up for a ninth bite of the cherry.
If Cork think they’ve had to wait…
It’s 65 years since Waterford claimed a minor hurling All Ireland. Now, thanks to first half goals from DJ Foran and Adam Farrell, they are just one game away from ending the Déise drought.
The Munster side edged out Kilkenny’s young guns yesterday by 2-12 to 0-16 and you can read the full match report here.
©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Heart checks required as points-per-minute rate hits the roof of the Cusack Stand
The rates of scores were pretty ridiculous at GAA HQ yesterday. Consider that Cork hit 0-15 in the whole of the Munster final and reached that mark by half-time against Dublin.
Consider too that every one of the starting midfielders and forwards on both sides all got on the scoresheet.
And only when two sides have their sniper sights calibrated like these two could you have a game which was level an astounding 15 (yes, 15!) times.
Goal shy?
Cork have not been prolific at finding the net under Jimmy Barry-Murphy and had not raised a green flag in their previous four Championship games this summer.
It took them until four minutes from the finish to break that streak on Sunday. However, when Patrick Horgan closed down the ‘keeper after 346 barren minutes, he came up with a flick that was as instinctive as it was important for the Rebels.
YouTube credit: Caomhán O’Bolghuídhír
Dominant display of the weekend
Mayo’s Cora Staunton accounted for a whopping 4-8 of her side’s 5-11 to 0-11 win over Westmeath yesterday. Kerry must surely be considering some special treatment for her when the sides meet in the All Ireland Ladies SFC quarter final on August 24.
YouTube: LadiesFootballTV
Elsewhere in the Ladies SFC…
There will be yet another Cork v Dublin clash as the Rebels survived a brave fightback from Armagh to reach the quarter-finals by the narrowest of margins.
A late Cathy Donnelly goal earned Tyrone their quarter-final berth against Galway and Laois were always comfortable in their 1-14 to 0-7 win over Meath. The O’Moore ladies will be up against Monaghan in the last eight. Full details here.
Sunday’s most frightening celebration
Waterford Manager Kieran O’Gorman celebrates with his selectors Wayne Power and John Treacy after the Deise’s defeat of Kilkenny in the MHC semi-final.
Official pre-match procedure update:
There’s an extra little formality to get around from now on. Sunday marked the introduction of the pre-match handshake.
It passed without incident, no refusals.
What’s this, even more success for Cork?
The senior footballers may have come out on the losing side to Dublin last week, but the junior side booked their place in the All Ireland final today with a 1-15 to 1-9 win over Lancashire in London. Read the full report here.
Days don’t get much better than this, Rebel fans.
HawkEye update: It’s catching on…
By now, we’ve all seen the new technology the GAA installed in the spring. The scoring review system has ended many rows in the pub/Sunday Game before they even started.
Inevitably, the success has meant the idea is now being taken up outside HQ too. Laois club Shanahoe have installed their very own technology, they call their system ‘Tony Kennedy’ and he’s never wrong – except one time the sun was in his eyes… and the other time there was rain on his glasses.
Credit: John Clooney
Munster in control of the small ball
Both Munster teams won yesterday’s games, Waterford in the minor and Cork in the senior. There will be a Munster winner in next Sunday’s match between Limerick and Clare to set up the first all Munster All-Ireland senior hurling decider since 1997.
And if the Limerick minors overcome Galway in their All-Ireland semi-final, September 8th will be dominated by the southern counties.
If Kilkenny truly are at the end of an era, there is a long queue to be their successor.
What now?
After months of hectic weekends with wall-to-wall action. This weekend marked the beginning of the Championship’s grand finale. The quantity of matches may be down, but if today is anything to go by, there will be no drop-off in quality.
It’s one GAA semi-final down, three to go. Next weekend, the all-Munster All Ireland SHC line up will be completed. But will it be Clare or Limerick who earn the right to face Cork a second time this summer?
Then it’s football’s turn to entertain the nation with Mayo hoping their thrashing of Donegal can translate into a win over Tyrone.
Dublin’s footballers were in Croke Park to watch the double dream die yesterday, but the most populous region in Ireland will hope yesterday’s disappointment won’t affect the Dublin footballers too much when they host Kerry on September 1.
With all that fun in store, time will absolutely fly by.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Cork’s defeat of Dublin
‘That’s perfect preparation for an All Ireland final’ – Lorcan McLoughlin
