Cork v Tipperary: U21 loss of 2018 likely to be a driver for Rebels

If Robert Downey does ascend the steps of the Hogan Stand on Sunday week to collect the Liam MacCarthy, we can be almost certain that old cliché about “losing one to win one” will be rolled out.

In a sense, it will be true, given that there is a possibility that the Cork starting 15 could be the same as that which began last year’s final against Tipperary; however, it would ignore that some players on the panel have lost three deciders and plenty others have lost two.

Against that, a handy number of the current squad have tasted All-Ireland U20 success, under Pat Ryan in 2020 and 2021 or with Ben O’Connor’s side in 2023, while Diarmuid Healy also has the minor victory of 2021.

Prior to the turning of the tide at those under-age levels, Cork had to endure a lot of heartache across a period of almost a quarter of a century. Of the near misses, the 2018 All-Ireland U21 – the last year before the change to U20 – was arguably the most painful and may be referenced across the next week and a half by a sizeable contingent in the Cork camp.

Niall O’Leary was corner-back, Mark Coleman, centre-back, Darragh Fitzgibbon midfield behind a half-forward line of Robbie O’Flynn, Declan Dalton and captain Shane Kingston. In the inside line was Jack O’Connor, alongside full-forward Tim O’Mahony – who had scored two goals in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat of Wexford, showing that last Saturday’s salvo was no fluke.

In the Munster championship, Denis Ring’s side saw off Waterford before betting a Tipperary team managed by Liam Cahill in the final – O’Connor and O’Flynn scoring goals with Dalton scoring seven points, Kingston four and Coleman three in a 2-23 to 1-13 victory at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The 3-26 to 0-13 blitzing of Wexford left Cork as big favourites for the All-Ireland, which for the first time would see a re-match at U21 – with Galway joining Leinster, both provincial finalists progressed to the last four and Tipp had regrouped by defeating the Tribesmen, a game where Jake Morris scored 1-9.

A crowd of 16, 173 was present in Limerick on August 26 and they saw a strong Tipp start – the Premier County led by 0-5 to 0-1 when Mark Kehoe was fouled for a penalty, converted by Morris.

The redeploying of O’Flynn as a third midfielder helped Cork to get more of a handle, while Conor Cahalane – a late addition to the team at centrefield instead of Ger Millerick – also helped to lead the charge.

Two points from him were added to by a Declan Dalton free and points from Jack O’Connor, O’Flynn and captain Shane Kingston before Cahalane picked up a loose ball around the 65 and drove in the direction of the Tipp goal before finishing well past Barry Hogan.

That put Cork two in front before Feehan ended Tipp’s scoreless run, though another Dalton free and O’Flynn’s third left it 1-9 to 1-6 as injury time dawned.

Cahill’s third for Tipp reduced the deficit just before half-time and they roared into the second half with points from Colin English, Morris and Darcy to re-take the lead before Jack O’Connor tied the game once more.

Tipp were back in front when Ger Browne sent over a nice point before Cork engineered a great goal chance which would have put them back in front as Dalton fed O’Flynn on the run but Hogan saved well from him and Brian McGrath kept out O’Mahony’s follow-up.

Cahalane got Cork level again only for Stephen Nolan to plunder a second Tipp goal on 53. However, Cork did manage to necklace four consecutive points together, from Dalton, sub Brian Turnbull, Dalton again and O’Mahony to leave it 1-16 to 2-12, two minutes into injury time.

However, just when it looked as if the Rebels would end a 20-year wait for victory at this grade, Tipp sub Conor Stakelum forced a turnover close to the Cork goal and bundled the ball over the line.

Another replacement, David Gleeson, followed that with a point as they finished the job, 3-13 to 1-16 the final score.

In this year’s Munster final, Cork showed that a previous defeat can be turned around quickly; the lessons of the U21 in 2018 mean that they know that past results are no guarantee of future performance.