Cork's 1990 All-Ireland hurling win grows more special with age
Cork's Teddy McCarthy battles with Anthony Cunningham of Galway in the 1990 All-Ireland SHC final at Croke Park.
It’s only with the passage of time that one appreciates the luck they had when they were younger.
My first All-Ireland final was this day 36 years ago, when Cork beat Galway to claim the senior hurling title; my second was two weeks later as the footballers beat Meath to retain the Sam Maguire Cup and complete the double.
Cork had last won the hurling in 1986 but a disappointing 1989 season ended with a Munster semi-final defeat to Waterford after a replay. When Fr Michael O’Brien’s side lost a league last-four replay to Wexford by 1-9 to 0-6 on Easter Monday 1990, the starting forwards scored just two points between them. And yet, five months later, with Cork after dethroning All-Ireland champions Tipperary to reclaim Munster, the same sextet began the All-Ireland decider against Galway.
Prior to the provincial final win in Thurles, Cork had seen off Kerry - the only county to score more than two goals against them that year - and Waterford, while the All-Ireland semi-final victory had been over Antrim.
The 1986 final win had been against Galway and Cork had never lost to the Tribesmen in a decider; however, by half-time in 1990, it looked for all the world as if the Connacht side would end that hoodoo. When a five-point lead was extended to seven on the resumption, Cork’s pre-game status as underdogs seemed all the more understandable.
Though Cork had a goal from Kevin Hennessy after 48 seconds and they led until the 19th minute, Galway looked likelier champions when they got on top. Their captain Joe Cooney was in inspired form in the first half, while Tony Keady at centre-back and midfielder Michael Coleman were also to the fore.
Cooney’s kicked goal levelled the game at 1-6 each before Éanna Ryan put Cyril Farrell’s side ahead for the first time in the 20th minute. Éanna Ryan put them ahead for the first time and they drove on from there; after one Cooney point, Cork centre-back Jim Cashman banged his hurley to the ground in frustration as if to say, “What can I do here?” But Galway wasted at least two good goal chances and, though Cork turned with a deficit of 1-13 to 1-8, they were not a lost cause by any means.
After Cork squandered goal opportunities early in the second half, Galway added two more points to buttress their lead but a superb goal by Cork captain Tomás Mulcahy in the 44th minute – running on to a Ger Cunningham clearance – suggested there was momentum to be mined by the men in red. When Cunningham then bravely saved from Martin Naughton – injuring his nose – and the ball was waved wide rather than a 65 being awarded, the feeling was amplified.
Mulcahy at centre-forward broke Tony Keady’s grip while, at the other end, Cashman began to get the upper hand on Coooney while Seán O’Gorman was excellent in defence. They had drawn to within two points by the time Mark Foley found the net and, though Galway drew level again, John Fitzgibbon raised the green flag twice in quick succession.
“The match could have been over by half-time but we survived it,” said Seán O’Gorman in Cork Hurling: Game of My Life.
“Galway missed a few chances and we were still well in the match. Much was made of what was said at half-time but, to be honest, I don’t remember.
“We came out In the second half got some great scores – and Ger Cunningham’s nose saved the day! – and we turned it around.”
Galway sub Brendan Lynskey did get a second goal for them to ensure that the outcome wasn’t decided until the very end, but Cork held out - the final score was 5-15 to 2-21.
A fortnight later, the footballers made it third-time lucky against Meath, securing the first – and still only – double of the modern era.
J Fitzgibbon 2-1, K Hennessy 1-4 (0-3f), T Mulcahy 1-2, M Foley 1-1, T McCarthy 0-3, T O'Sullivan 0-2, G Fitzgerald, K McGuckin (0-1 sl) 0-1 each.
J Cooney 1-7 (0-2f), M Naughton, N Lane 0-4 each, B Lynskey 1-0, E Ryan 0-2, T Keady, M McGrath, M Coleman, A Cunningham 0-1 each.
G Cunningham; J Considine, D Walsh, S O'Gorman; S McCarthy, J Cashman, K McGuckin; B O'Sullivan, T McCarthy; G Fitzgerald, M Foley, T O'Sullivan; T Mulcahy, K Hennessy, J Fitzgibbon. D Quirke for McGuckin (44), C Casey for B O'Sullivan (48).
J Commins; D Fahy, S Treacy, O Kilkenny; P Finnerty, T Keady, G Mclnerney; M Coleman, P Malone; A Cunningham, J Cooney, M Naughton; M McGrath, N Lane, É Ryan. T Monaghan for Malone (53), B Lynskey (1-0) for Cunningham (60).
J Moore (Waterford).
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