‘Maybe next year will be third time lucky’: Sombre Cork supporters at Croke Park find hope in defeat

“It was ours to win.”

Cork fans were left heartbroken after yesterday’s All-Ireland final defeat. It was meant to be the day Cork hurling came full circle. Instead, it became another chapter in a 20-year tale of heartbreak and what-ifs.

A blistering second-half performance from Tipperary shattered Cork’s dreams of reclaiming the Liam MacCarthy Cup, leaving players and fans alike devastated after a 3-27 to 1-18 loss at Croke Park.

Cork had led at half time, but a series of unforced errors, a red card for Eoin Downey, and missed opportunities proved costly.

As the final whistle blew, the red sea of supporters stood motionless — stunned, silent, and teary-eyed as Slievenamon echoed across the stadium.

Across the city and county, the sense of loss was palpable. Outside the Hogan Stand, lifelong supporter Máiréad Kelleher from Douglas struggled to find words: “I’ve followed this team up and down the country. My father brought me to the ’99 final when I was 10.

“I thought today was finally our day again. Gutted doesn’t even come close — we left it behind us. Devastated.”

Beside her, Timmy O’Regan, wearing a jersey signed by Patrick Horgan, stared into the distance.

“We were the better team for most of that first half. But Tipp showed up when it mattered. That second goal, it just knocked the wind out of us. This one hurts more than last year — because we believed this time.”

The mood was sombre in Croke Park in the final 10 minutes of the match as the red sea that dominated the stands started to slowly trickle out in defeat.

An emotional Seánie Moynihan, from Mayfield, told The Echo: “We’ve lost four or five All-Ireland finals in 20 years. You’d swear Liam MacCarthy has a grudge against us. Lads gave everything, but it’s hard not to feel cursed at this stage.”

Dunmanway local Eimear Sheehan said the car ride home, which was full of excitement on the way up the motorway, will be a quiet journey.

“The kids were all buzzing this week. They painted flags, sang ‘Up the Rebels’ every morning. They’re going to be heartbroken.

“It’s more than just a match — it’s the pride.”

Despite the pain, some supporters still spoke of pride and a belief in the team’s future.

“They’ll be back,” said Aoife McGrath, from Midleton. “Today was a blow, no question. But we’re not far off. Next year, maybe next year, we will be third time lucky.”

Ted Hickey from Mallow said: “What went wrong? We looked like champions for 40 minutes. Then we disappeared. Again.

“It’s cruel on the lads, but how many times do we have to learn the same lesson?”

Many fans also voiced heartbreak on behalf of Cork’s talismanic forward Patrick Horgan, who, at 36, may have played his last final without securing the elusive medal.

“He gave years of his life to Cork hurling. Hoggie deserved better,” said Donal Barry, wiping a tear from his eye on Jones Road, while Cork fans trudged out of the grounds.

“He’s carried us through dark years. And yet, no All-Ireland to show for it. It’s cruel.”

Tomás Hartigan, a 72-year-old from Fermoy leaned on his walking stick and shook his head slowly at the loss.

“I have been going to finals since ’66. This one felt different. There was a fire in the team this year, a real belief.

“You’d feel it in your bones, and still it slips through the fingers. They will have to carry this scar.

“That is the hardest thing, losing when you were good enough.”

Vicky Wright could not even face drowning her sorrows following the disappointment.

“We had planned to stay tonight,” she said. 

“We had the hotel booked and presumed we would be out celebrating in Coppers or Ryan’s. We were cocky about it, but no, now we can’t face it, and we are looking for a lift home.”

Richie Timmons from Kinsale said: “We thought we had it. We had beaten Tipperary twice and absolutely destroyed Dublin in the semi. We were the favourites.

“Tipp were the underdog, and they took it from us in the end. They were better at the end of the day, there was no one or two points between it, or arguing that the red card changed everything. It was a clear win by them.”