Cork's last All-Ireland hurling success would give you goosebumps 

As we get closer to the big day on Sunday, let’s take a little trip down memory lane to the last time Cork won the All-Ireland SHC title.

There was a time when getting to finals and winning All-Ireland’s were nearly taken for granted. But not many would have expected after Cork won the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 2005 that they would have failed to add to the 30 All-Ireland crowns since. They have a chance to change that this Sunday when Cork will only appear in their fourth decider since 2005 when they take on Clare in Croke Park at 3.30pm.

From watching back the game in full this week to get in the mood, it would give you goosebumps and send a shiver down your spine. John Allen’s side defeated Galway on a scoreline of 1-21 to 1-16 in what was an accomplished team performance.

From goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack all the way to Joe Deane, Cork delivered and answered everything that the Tribesmen threw at them. The Rebels led 1-9 to 0-10 at the break thanks to Ben O’Connor’s green flag midway through the first half.

Cork kept Galway at arms length for the second half and had five points to spare at the end. It was back-to-back All-Ireland titles and the fans were in dreamland as they rushed onto the Croke Park pitch once the referee blew for full-time.

"Is fada an turas é ó Fiji go Corcaigh agus ó Corcaigh go Páirc An Chrócaigh."

"Corcaigh abú, Rebels abú, UP YA REBELS!"

"Nil aon áit ar fud an domhain a mhaith liom níos fearr a bheith ach anseo ag glacadh Corn Liam MacCáraidh ar son an foireann Corcaigh sin agus ar son muintir dílis Chorcaí.” 

There is no doubt that Seán Óg Ó hAilpín's acceptance speech immediately after the game is the greatest All-Ireland final acceptance speech of all-time. The Rebels fans celebrating widely in the stands and on the pitch. Things never felt so good.

Happy days it was, and 19 years on, Cork have a chance to end the long drought on Sunday. It would be well overdue.

Scorers for Cork: B O’Connor 1-7 (0-2 f), J Deane (0-3 f), T Kenny 0-3 each, J O’Connor, T McCarthy, B Corcoran 0-2 each, J Gardiner (f), N McCarthy 0-1 each.

Galway: G Farragher 0-8 (0-6 f), D Hayes 1-0, A Kerins 0-3, F Healy, 0-2, D Hardiman, D Tierney, N Healy.

CORK: D Óg Cusack; B Murphy, D O'Sullivan, P Mulcahy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Óg Ó hAilipín; J O'Connor, T Kenny; Kieran Murphy (Sarsfields), N McCarthy, T McCarthy; B O'Connor, B Corcoran, J Deane.

Subs: N Ronan for Kieran Murphy (Sarsfields), Kieran Murphy (Erin’s Own) for N McCarthy.

Galway: L Donoghue; D Joyce, T Óg Regan, O Canning; D Hardiman, S Kavanagh, D Collins; F Healy, D Tierney; R Murray, D Forde, A Kerins; G Farragher, N Healy, D Hayes.

Subs: K Broderick for N Healy, K Hayes for Forde.

Referee: S Roche (Tipperary).