Big Cork hurling wins lift the city and county like nothing else
Ger Mellerick and Brian Hayes show their joy. Picture: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
NONE of us were expecting that.
We all know what Limerick are capable of, and just how punishing they can be when they get going. In a fixture like that, with your backs to the wall on the verge of elimination, you just want to see the players go out and give everything to stay in the championship.
But those Cork players showed something else. It was a side to them that we haven’t seen in years.
The way they attacked Limerick from the off, there was no hesitation. No doubt. No anxiousness or nervousness. They just had one objective – get the win by any means necessary.
It stunned me and it certainly stunned Limerick – hence the eight-point advantage at the interval. But the Limerick fightback was always going to come, and sure enough it did. By the 61st minute, when Limerick were now two in front, you got the feeling that might be it.
The Cork players looked tired and understandably so – they had given everything up to that point, and Kyle Hayes’ subsequent score pushed the All-Ireland champions three in front.
With just five minutes to go the Limerick lead had reached four – but Cork would not wilt. The Rebels fought on relentlessly, and eventually got their reward when Kingston was brought down for a penalty and Kyle Hayes was black-carded.
Patrick Horgan converted in style, and that was that. Cork would not be beaten this time. Not on their turf.
Before a ball was thrown in, I expected the worst, as did most Cork fans. It’s why the post-match scenes were so jubilant, and so special.
Limerick have been a psychological hurdle for this Cork team for so long, but none of that mattered on Saturday. It was pure grit and determination, and made for an unforgettable Cork performance no matter the outcome at the end of the Munster Championship.
They didn’t just produce what we know they’re capable of – they did so much more. Every man on that pitch went out with the willingness to die for the badge.
When the starters tired, the substitutes brought that same drive and energy. Brian Roche, Ger Millerick, Tommy O’Connell and especially Shane Kingston helped Cork over the line.
This will surely give the team the confidence boost they so desperately needed, and I feel this is a massive turning point for this group of hurlers.
This team are fast and skillful, and they played to that very strength for over 70 minutes. Their direct quick-thinking hurling put them in the driving seat, and this has to be the way forward.
Something I’ve been so critical of over the past two-and-a-half seasons is Cork’s puck-outs, but especially their ball-winning in those 50/50 situations, or lack thereof. They were a completely different team at the weekend.
But the key was in those long puck-outs.
When going long, Cork won 46% of their puck-outs against Clare, and only 43% against Waterford. Yet, against Limerick, the Rebels came out on top in 19 of 26 attempts, a staggering 73%. It’s easily why they were able to win despite conceding 3-26 again.
Credit has to go to Patrick Collins, he’s been under a lot of pressure for his performances between the posts over the last few years, but he answered in style. He was absolutely on it from the start with his long-range passing.
Not only did Collins answer the critics, but so did the forwards.
Some of Seamus Harnedy’s leaps were breathtaking, Shane Barrett was a menace throughout the game and easily put up his best performance in a Cork jersey, while Patrick Horgan and Alan Connolly made some excellent runs out wide.
Declan Dalton and Brian Hayes may not have been big scorers but contributed effectively. Darragh Fitzgibbon was Man of the Match for a reason, and Ethan Twomey was excellent.
Credit also has to go to the backs at the other end, they dealt with everything Limerick sent forward – with the Treaty only winning 48% of their long restarts. Rob Downey was immense, while Tim O’Mahony and Damien Cahalane were also great in the air defensively.
It all hangs on this weekend’s performance, but if Cork can produce more of the same, there’s no reason they don’t get over the line in Thurles.
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