Kerry clash affords off-duty reporter the chance to be a 'real' Cork fan

One of the nicest traditions in Cork life is how the Lord Mayor is given a car by Ford, with the number plate XX-C-1.

The current incumbent, Cllr Dan Boyle, is able to enjoy the newly relaunched Capri, spotted at the very enjoyable lunch in honour of Teddy McCarthy, prior to the unveiling of his statue last Saturday week.

Lord Mayor is of course one of the best jobs in Cork – but, through sheer blind luck, I think I managed to land in one of the other contenders for that title, getting to chart the fortunes of the county senior hurling team.

The deadlines are a bit tight, but that’s modern journalism; otherwise, it’s the kind of job that a 15-year-old me would have designed for himself, without ever thinking it was viable. There is one drawback, though.

Think back to last May and the climactic scenes to the Cork-Limerick game in the Munster SHC at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. It was never-to-be-forgotten stuff, the emotion clear to see as the fans flooded the field at the end.

As enjoyable as it was to witness that, I had to have some detachment – while the Cork supporters celebrated the awarding of the late penalty, I was writing, “26C surging run, foul 7L – black card pen. 13C goal.” It may not be proper shorthand but it’s code that works for me, describing how Shane Kingston was fouled by Kyle Hayes before Patrick Horgan netted to put Cork back in front.

DESOLATION

Obviously, this Sunday presents a chance for the Cork team to have a cut off Clare again, but before that is the football clash with Kerry on Saturday evening. And that will afford the opportunity for some guilt-free, bias-infused, red-and-white partisanship.

With my colleague Barry O’Mahony on the football beat, the big-ball offers the chance to be a Cork fan. Obviously, any Leesiders heading to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening will be doing so in the clear knowledge that John Cleary’s side are the rank outsiders, but then glamour and bandwagons have never really been part of the Cork football condition.

When things are not going well, the constant refrain is that Cork should be doing a lot better; when they are contending for silverware on a regular basis, the response is that they should be winning more than they are.

Nobody is giving Cork a chance but that’s nothing new. And, even if Kerry are romping clear at half-time, I’ll remember how Cork came from 1-8 to 0-3 down at the break in 2008 to come back and win.

What will make Saturday special is that I will have two travel companions who will be experiencing senior inter-county championship fare for the first time – and who are mercifully still just too young to realise that their Cork kits are the 2023-24 vintage rather than the current outfits.

They will be happy to be experiencing the occasion – and the snack bag that we bring with us – and will cheer if Cork win. However, if it’s an away victory, they won’t be spending the journey home lamenting where everything has gone wrong for football in the county.

And there’s a lot to be said for that.