Cork hurling on a high as eyes turn to other games in Munster tomorrow

YOU knew there was a big game in Thurles when there were tailbacks at the toll in Watergrasshill many hours before the match.

You just can't beat a Munster hurling championship game at FBD Semple Stadium in what has always been known as Cork’s second home but last Sunday, the Rebels pretty much owned the famous stadium.

A do or die game for both the ‘home side’ Tipperary and Cork watched by a crowd of 43,972, but more than 30,000 people turned up to support the Rebels. By the time referee Thomas Walsh blew the full-time whistle, the Cork faithful were getting ready for a second pitch invasion in eight days. A massive 4-30 to 1-21 victory over a Tipperary side who wanted to bury themselves in a hole after a chastening experience. 3-1 for Alan Connolly raised the roof.

How many people saw this turnaround coming? Defeats against Waterford and Clare put the Rebels on the brink of elimination but they have shown another side to their game that we haven’t seen in quite some time.

The buzz on Leeside over the past two weeks has been nothing but incredible. Wins over Limerick and Tipperary has resuscitated the Rebels season as the aim of lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the first time since 2005 remains alive for this year.

The pressure was on everyone involved in the Cork senior hurling team and they have delivered with two sizzling performances. It’s a waiting game now but the high likelihood is that Pat Ryan’s charges have done enough to qualify for the knockout stages of the All-Ireland SHC. All eyes will be on the TUS Gaelic Grounds as Limerick meet Waterford and FBD Semple Stadium as Tipperary face Clare. Both games are on tomorrow at 4pm. It looks like Cork will be in the preliminary quarter-finals against the Joe McDonagh Cup winner, Offaly or Laois.

The atmosphere and the pitch invasions in the last two games showed the love and passion the Leeside faithful have for the small ball. When you go so long without reaching the holy grail, the supporters are desperate for the good times to return.

It mightn’t come this year but then again it might. The Cork team and supporters will focus on the games tomorrow before worrying about anything else. But, the Leesiders are on the right road with a young team full of quality, pace, athleticism and most importantly a bit of cutting in them that Cork had arguably lacked in recent seasons.

You know things are going well when people who have very little interest in hurling talking about the Rebels and what a great turnaround it has been.

The last two games have felt like finally Cork are arriving as a team. We have said that many times over the past 10 years or so but this feels different and looks different.