Páirc fanzone falls flat as fans left shellshocked by Cork loss

There was a palpable sense of shock in the Rebels’ Fanzone in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 5.10pm yesterday when the signals of a devastating defeat for the Cork hurlers were broadcast: The lonesome note of the final whistle and the beginning of ‘The Valley of Slievenamon’.

The crowd of between four and five thousand had gathered in Cork’s GAA headquarters and spirits had been high before the game. The first half appeared to be going to plan, even if it wasn’t going all Cork’s way. Tipperary appeared to be stubbornly refusing to give the Cork hurlers the run of Croke Park they had enjoyed in the semi-final against Dublin and those not- so-long-ago clashes against Tipp earlier this year in the National League Final and the Munster Championship.

Shane Barrett’s goal just before half time to put Cork six points in front offered comfort. Speaking to The Echo, James Hegarty from Glanmire was confident Cork could build on that.

“I think Cork are on top. I think they deserve a higher scoreline myself but the ref isn’t on our side, I think, as there were a few frees given in the wrong direction,” he said.

“It’s a good close game; they’re fighting for it, it’s entertaining.”

Fiona Carolan of Gurranabraher was also in good humour at half time and satisfied with the set-up at the stadium.

“I think the game needed a goal before half time and it’s great that Cork are up,” she said, expressing confidence that Cork could hold out for victory.

The second half got under way and, before we knew what had hit us, Tipperary had cut the lead to a point. Then the first of three second-half goals was scored, raising the green flag for the Premier County. After witnessing a blue and gold blur, the final whistle sounded and a six-point lead at half time had been transformed into a 15-point deficit.

Two lads outside the stadium, Olan Taaffe from Douglas and Harry Spratt from Blackrock, were bitterly disappointed at the result but gave kudos to Tipp for their second-half performance.

“We all thought they were going to wipe the floor with them but Tipp played very well in fairness,” said Harry. “Tipp must have got some half-time team talk.”

Though describing himself as “severely disappointed”, Olan was looking to the future, vowing: “We’ll be back!”