John Horgan: Good for Cork hurling to see Erin's Own return but Munster record a worry

Dismal, that in just one word sums up the record of Cork clubs in the provincial and All-Ireland SHC stage.

That chain of woe had another link added to it last Sunday when Glen Rovers came a cropper against the champions of Clare, Inagh-Kilnamona at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Cork's very poor record in the Munster club championship has been well documented at this stage, just three clubs successful in it in almost forty years, Midleton, Newtownshandrum, winners on three occasions and Sarsfields two years ago.

Sars did not win their own county that year but were the county's representatives because the champions Imokilly were not eligible to participate.

To be fair, Sars represented the county well in that campaign, taking the trophy back to Riverstown after defeating Ballygunner on a memorable Sunday in Semple Stadium.

The Glen were very worthy winners of the Cork PSHC this season and there was cautious optimism that they could give the Munster club a right rattle. As we all know now, that was well and truly dampened last Sunday, the Cork champions involved in a rearguard battle from pillar to post, never once leading in the 60 minutes.

Very little was known about the first-time winners in the Banner but in his column in The Irish Examiner last Saturday, Anthony Daly did issue a warning that they were a very capable combination.

His words were certainly prophetic. They proved to be a damn good team that came out deserving winners.

Now they will have home advantage in the semi-final against Thurles-Sarsfields as the Glen would have had if they were successful.

As a unit, Inagh-Kilnamona were on top in most departments, their defensive six containing the Glen attack which had performed very well in the Cork final against the Barrs to just seven points from open play.

The absence at the start of Micheál Mullins was a blow for the Glen, a player who always likes to get stuck in with a fine physical presence. He was introduced late on but at that stage the ship was sailing in troubled waters.

Former Clare star Aidan McCarthy and current player David Fitzgerald posted some huge scores for the Clare champions and the team as a whole illustrated that they could have a big say in the destination of this championship.

When a Cork club is dumped out of the provincial championship, a question is immediately posed about why the record is so poor.

After all, back in the day Cork clubs were hugely successful on the provincial and All-Ireland stages but those times are consigned to the past.

I suppose the bottom line has to be, they haven't been good enough against the best of the rest.

It's been said that Cork club hurling lacks in the physical stakes in comparison to other counties and in the latter stages of the season that can be a factor.

Are the considerable demands of the Cork championship impacting later on when the provincial arena is entered?

The initial stage at home certainly requires a team to be tuned in from the word go, only two sides emerging from a four-team group, the three games played need maximum effort and if there are any shortcomings, your season can be over in a matter of a short couple of weeks.

In the distant past a team could find itself in a final having played just three games. The current successful format requires much more... a minimum of five games to be crowned outright winners if a quarter-final is avoided, otherwise it's six.

Here on Leeside, there is a dual-player difficulty. Quite a number of players involved in both codes and having hardly any break if your club is successful.

Kanturk are a prime example, having 13 dual players playing almost week in, week out.

But how wonderfully they coped this season, reaching the last four of the PSHC and last Sunday becoming a premier senior football club after winning the Senior A title.

Their achievements over the past few months deserve the highest praise.

The overall picture with hurling on Leeside has to be a concern, no visit from the MacCarthy Cup for 22 years and the poor return on the senior club stage.

Cork are maybe not embellishing their squad from one year to the next in the same manner that John Kiely seems to be doing in Limerick.

We posed this question very recently: how many players did enough during the Cork club championship to be granted an audition for Ben O'Connor's squad? Answers please.

Job done

Anyway, the big good news story last Sunday was the return to the elite level of Cork club hurling by Erin's Own, fully deserving winners over Carrigtwohill in the Senior A final.

It could not be considered a classic decider but the return from the Caherlag team was sufficient. They have now done what their objective at the season's outset was to get back up on the Premier hurling horse as fast as they could.

Every grade of hurling is a tough ask and to go through the season unbeaten, winning all your games requires a huge effort. Erin's Own did that.

It could be said that this fine club, both on and off the field, has been going through a period of transition.

Some great warriors have departed the big stage, replaced by a younger cohort who have fitted in exceptionally well.

Carrigtwohill will be very disappointed on a very poor performance overall in the final, scoring just seven points from general play and being honest, they were a well-beaten team at the end.

The Erin's Own defence was superb all through. Oran O'Regan was just one of their most influential players.

Maurice O'Carroll delivered a sublime goal, Matt O'Riordan rifled over some sublime points but it was a contest that never really ignited.

Maybe this was the best scenario for Erin's Own, taking a step back in 2025, reflecting on that campaign and putting the structures in place to reset for 2026.

The Glen did that too a few years back and whilst it's so difficult for a club to lose its elite premier status, it can be just the the kick up the backside that is needed to reboot again.

Erin's Own are a welcome addition back to the PSHC.

High drama

The domestic hurling season is almost complete now but there's still the county junior championship to be concluded and thus far there has been no shortage of drama, Killeagh requiring a penalty shootout to oust Newmarket.

Right or wrong, a penalty shootout is a nerve-wrecking experience and we have had a few in Cork this season.

Killeagh's second string are now just an hour away from a county final appearance as are their semi-final opponents, Valley Rovers.

Donoughmore will take on Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas in the second semi-final.

Rural Ireland will be at play in both and you know what, this competition can contain more endeavour and honest application than in some of the other grades.