Echo Sport Podcast: How can Cork improve on that semi-final?

How do you improve on a near-perfect performance?

That is the question the Echo Sport Podcast crew tried to answer this week, as they looked back at Cork’s 20-point win over Dublin in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final on Saturday evening.

With regular presenter Eamonn Murphy still away – but expected to be fit for the final-preview episode next Monday – sports editor John McHale took the reins, joined by Denis Hurley, Jack McKay and John Horgan.

Naturally, there was praise for how Cork came out so strongly after a four-week lay-off in the wake of the Munster final win against Limerick – especially given that Dublin had produced such a good performance in themselves seeing off the Shannonsiders – and the guest felt that there was little in living memory to compare with it.

Of course, Cork manager Pat Ryan felt that the display fell short of absolute perfection and highlighted a few areas that can be improved for the final; this was discussed by the panel in studio, as well as any potential changes to the Cork lineup for the final.

There was also a stout debate as to the management’s willingness or reluctance to make big changes during games and the status of Cork’s veteran superstar Patrick Horgan was examined.

John Horgan, who has been covering Cork hurling for the bones of a half-century, was asked if he had ever seen anything like the sea of red that enveloped Croke Park on Saturday evening – conservative estimates put it at at least 60,000 Rebels in place – and his simple answer was, “No.”

The symbiosis between a team on a mission and a fanbase keen to be there every step of the way has been almost unprecedented but the flipside of that is that tickets for the final will be like gold-dust. The decider will be the ninth Cork hurling championship game in a row played before a sellout crowd, something never seen before, while even in this year’s Allianz Hurling League campaign they were drawing more than 20,000 for home games.

That level of demand will mean a lot of disappointed Rebel supporters for the final, not least because so many tickets end up in the hands of those who may not have shown the same dedication but will have benefited from the corporate events that offer admission to the game as part of the not-insignificant financial outlay involved.

The balance in maximising earning potential from reaching the final and also looking after the real fans is something that the two Johns, Jack and Denis try to parse.

In a bumper episode, Sunday’s semi-final between Tipperary and Kilkenny – and the scoreboard issues from late in that match – are also looked at as the All-Ireland fervour moves up a gear.

Catch the podcast every week at https://www.echolive.ie/podcast