Cork hurlers need to end barren run of 27 years without success in the national league

Clare and Limerick’s conversion of National Hurling League titles into All-Ireland’s in the last two seasons should tempt Cork into giving it a serious crack at ending their 27 year long wait for a league crown.

Gone is the notion that a team is better off keeping their powder dry for the championship. 

The inter-county season is much more compact these days than it used to be, when we celebrated the biggest hurling day of the year on the first Sunday of September.

The entire season takes place within a six-month window now, so it is certainly worth grabbing momentum as soon as possible and attempting to ride that wave as far as it can carry you.

The Cork hurlers have famously not won a league crown since goals from Sean O’Farrell and Alan Browne inspired them to a 2-14 to 0-13 victory over Waterford in Thurles in 1998, but going on their early January displays against Waterford and UCC this could be a great chance of ending that wait.

In those early January challenge matches Pat Ryan’s side already looked in good nick, and that was true whether the players in question were established first-teamers, individuals attempting to crack the first fifteen, or up and comers trying to snare a place on the panel.

There is going to be serious competition for places over the next few months, and this should prevent the usual coasting that Cork seems to do in this competition every spring.

Newer members to the panel such as Diarmuid Healy, Micheal Mullins, Ben Cunningham, Jack Cahalane, William Buckley and Alan Walsh will all be looking to break into the big time, but the sight of slightly older and more experienced players such as Ger Millerick, the Roche twins, Tommy O’Connell, Robbie Cotter, Cormac O’Brien, Padraig Power and Ethan Twomey all trying to crack the first team is what really should drive on Cork this year.

Chances will be at a premium for these players. 

The must take them as and when they arise.

With the hunger from this group there can be no resting on laurels for any of last year’s starters either. 

All bets should be off, and all jerseys should be up for grabs, as such healthy competition can only help this Cork team in their efforts to drive on to the next level.

This could well mean that some high-profile names find themselves still standing when the music stops in this kill-or-be-killed hurling version of musical chairs, but if so, this should only be viewed in a positive light for Cork hurling.

Their current odds of 3/1 to win the league looks tempting. 

This year’s league will see the top two sides in Division 1A head straight to the final, and if Cork get off to a flyer in Chadwicks Wexford Park on Saturday against Keith Rossiter’s charges then they have a serious chance of being involved in that final, with the scraps for places in the championship squad surely ensuring that there will be no let-up in intensity levels.

This time of year always sees a delicate balancing act in terms of ensuring game time for all, while also being cognisant of not over-working the Fitzgibbon Cup crew within the panel. 

Both UCC and MTU won their opening fixtures in the competition so will expect to be busy in the competition for another few weeks yet.

The likes of Wexford, Tipperary, Galway and Kilkenny will probably use their respective league campaigns to experiment and build up their panels, so are unlikely to be serious contenders, although Kilkenny rarely turn their nose up at the prospect of collecting silverware.

Limerick and Clare, for obvious reasons, look to be Cork’s biggest rivals for both league and All-Ireland honours in 2025. 

In 2024 Brian Lohan’s Clare used the league well, collecting silverware for the first time since the 2016 league title, which served as a springboard for All-Ireland victory later in the year. They certainly added proof to the adage that winning can become a habit.

Limerick have famously won five All-Irelands since their breakthrough in 2018, but it is worth noting that they have collected three league titles in this period too.

Cork will know that, after last year, there can be no flying under the radar now. 

They are deemed one of the big guns, who are most likely to challenge for All-Ireland honours come season’s end.

Therefore, they may as well begin the journey at ending the 20 year wait for All-Ireland glory by ending the 27 year absence without a league win first.