Cork hurling: How the Rebels' forwards rank in scoring performance for 2024
Robbie O'Flynn had the highest PPG across the forwards after playing only 116 minutes. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
Throughout Cork’s run to the All-Ireland final this year, there were a total of eight games played, with roughly 612 minutes on offer to players, between added time and the extra time of the All-Ireland final.
For Cork’s forwards – none featured for the entirety of available minutes, with Patrick Horgan (601) the only one to accumulate over 600 minutes.
Given his extensive involvement, the fact he didn’t win an All-Star may be somewhat surprising. Especially since Cork picked up five in total.
Only two of those recipients were forwards though; Seamus Harnedy and Shane Barrett. When you look at how effective the duo were in front of the posts for Cork, it’s clear to see why.
There are so many factors in hurling to determine what makes a good player, even when it comes to the forwards – who are generally judged on their scoring return.
Horgan, despite not getting as much from play as other forwards is still so important to the team for his deadly accuracy from placed balls. Alan Connolly is primarily a goal scoring threat, with less of an emphasis on point scoring.
Both Barrett and Conor Lehane were often used as playmakers this year, again – another factor in scoring return.
Of the regular six starting forwards, it’s no surprise to see that Harnedy and Barrett had the best points per game (PPG) ratio of the lot, and were the only two to average over three per game.
That is of course without counting frees, penalties and 65s.
But despite Harnedy averaging 3.73 PPG and Barrett averaging 3.03 PPG in 431 minutes and 555 minutes respectively, they weren’t the best forwards in the squad, at least in terms of minutes to scores.
The man with the best PPG ratio is Robbie O’Flynn, who averaged 4.24, despite only playing 116 minutes across the championship.
Of course in limited time off the bench it’s easier to maintain a better scoring record, but it’s a testament to Robbie’s quality. Despite playing so few minutes and partnering that with the injury woes he’s endured in the last couple of years – Robbie has still been able to make a significant impact.
Granted, this season that meant just 1-4 in the championship, but nonetheless, it points toward a positive 2025.
In second place is Shane Kingston, who, despite not making any starts, finished with 0-9 in 158 minutes. That’s almost as much as Declan Dalton managed from play across the year, despite playing 253 more minutes.
Like with O’Flynn, he has the advantage of featuring later in games where defenders have expended a lot of energy, but his contributions off the bench were noticeable.
That leaves the inside line of Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly and Brian Hayes.
The three all put in decent campaigns but were just shy of winning any All-Stars, and their PPG is reflective of that.
Alan Connolly was the most effective of the three from play with 2.99 PPG, unsurprisingly – given he netted four goals in 2024.
Horgan, who notched 10.37 PPG overall, did more scoring from play than he probably was credited with. 3-14 across 601 minutes leaves him with an average of 2.68 PPG.
That’s marginally better than Brian Hayes – whose outstanding performance against Limerick provides a boost to his PPG.
Even without that performance though, he was integral to Cork in 2024. The 514 minutes played after not starting the opening game points to that fact.
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