You have to lose one to win one... will that apply to Cork's All-Ireland hurling final showdown with Tipp? 

The Cork senior hurlers have history behind them when it comes to turning All-Ireland final heartbreak into lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

‘Bouncebackability’ is a phrase coined by former Northern Irish soccer international, Crystal Palace Manager and television pundit Iain Dowie.

The term refers to Dowie’s Palace side emerging from a relegation battle before clinching Premier League promotion via the play-offs and all within a six-month time-span in 2004.

Thankfully, Pat Ryan is not Iain Dowie and his Cork team have not flirted with losing their senior inter-county status. 

Yet, Cork must bounce back from last year’s All-Ireland SHC final loss to Clare if they are to end a 20-year famine in Croke Park next Sunday.

Overcoming an All-Ireland final defeat, any All-Ireland final defeat, as any manager, selector, player or supporter will tell you, is one of the most difficult feats to achieve in the GAA.

Last year’s one-point loss at the hands of the Banner was tough to take.

The manner in which Ryan’s side have rebounded, claiming this year’s National League and Munster titles before firing seven goals past Dublin, speaks volumes for the calibre of coaching and player attitude within the county’s senior hurling setup.

One more step remains but it is the most difficult one to take.

Should they win, it will not be the first time the Rebels have overcome All-Ireland heartbreak and rebounded to lift the famous trophy within 12 months.

In 1982 and 1983, the Rebels suffered back-to-back losses at the hands of Kilkenny. 

Captained by Brian Cody, the Cats emerged 3-18 to 1-13 winners in 82’ before adding another All-Ireland title, the county’s twenty-third, with a 2-14 to 2-12 victory the following year.

1984 was the GAA’s centenary year. That season’s All-Ireland final was moved to Semple Stadium in Thurles, the home of hurling, and saw Cork qualify for their third senior decider in succession.

The Cats’ dreams of three-in-a-row were ended by Wexford who subsequently lost to Offaly in that year’s Leinster final, before the latter lined out against Cork.

Captained by the mercurial John Fenton, who would finish with 0-7, a Seanie O’Leary-inspired Cork, the corner forward pillaging 2-1, proved too strong for their opponents. 

SUFFERED

Having suffered at the hands of Kilkenny for two years running, Cork brought the Liam MacCarthy Cup back to the Rebel county for the first time since 1978.

2003’s All-Ireland hurling final saw Kilkenny come out on top once again, defeating Donal O’Rourke’s young Cork side, after a tight battle. 

Setanta Ó hAilpín’s second-half goal preceded the Rebels’ only lead before Martin Comerford (1-4) and Henry Shefflin (0-6) scores ensured an off-colour Kilkenny edged the result 1-14 to 1-11.

That felt like an opportunity lost for a Cork side that bounced back in style in 2004. 

Niall McCarthy, Ben O’Connor and Joe Deane provided the bulk of the scores as Cork atoned for their previous final loss by defeating Kilkenny 0-17 to 0-9. 

The Rebels would add another All-Ireland title for good measure the following year, defeating Galway by five points.

So, as Pat Ryan and his team journey towards the capital, they can take solace from the fact that they are following in the footsteps of other famous Cork teams who bounced back from All-Ireland heartache to lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup.