The Echo Sport Podcast: Cork footballers frustrate fans in Killarney but hurlers show true grit

The Echo Sport Podcast crew is back to discuss another bumper weekend of Cork GAA action.

Starting on the front foot, the hurlers got the job done away to Waterford, in a tough and tight battle down east.

It makes it three wins on the bounce for the hurlers and given they were without defensive pillars Rob Downey and Ciarán Joyce, the victory in Walsh Park was hugely satisfying, even if it took all their grit and experience to prevail.

The black cards had a huge bearing on the game and there's no doubt the Déise had every right to feel aggrieved. The first against Mark Fitzgerald on Brian Hayes was a marginal call though probably worked out well for them, given Alan Connolly's goal was ruled out for a penalty that he then missed. Plus Waterford scored Cork in the next 10 minutes.

The decision against Jack Fagan also looked harsh, given there was a covering defender and the penalty, buried by Mark Coleman, opened up the four-point gap that stood at the final whistle.

Cork though, could only worry about themselves and had they failed to win would have been left to rue the wide count of 12 to just three, and none in the second half, for Waterford.

Cork have one foot in the Munster final before the last group game with Clare but we outline the scenario where the Rebels finish third on scoring difference, however unlikely that looks.

Unfortunately, the Munster football final went the way of so many disappointing days in Fitzgerald Stadium since the last success, way back in 1995.

It's now 14 years and counting since Cork collected the provincial title and they simply didn't make enough to the strong wind in the first half in Killarney to upset the odds this time.

Goal-scorer Brian O'Driscoll was superb but none of the other Rebels were in the Man of the Match conversation. To have any hope, they needed the core of the team to catch fire. 

Up front Mark Cronin and Chris Óg Jones combined for 0-6 but there wasn't enough creativity in a front six missing Dara Sheedy and Brian Hurley. At the other end, not alone did David Clifford slam over 1-6, Tony Brosnan popped off the bench to shoot five points.

The challenge now is to park it up and reset for Meath on Saturday week.

Now in its fourth season, every week Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, Jack McKay, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.