A Rebel I came, I'm still the same
Seven weeks ago, in the Munster semi-final, Cork did a lot of things right and Limerick did a lot of things wrong. Yet when all was said and done, eight points still separated the sides. Last weekend, Cork did a lot of things wrong, and Limerick did almost everything right. Do the maths yourself.
There is no logical argument you can make in favour of a Cork win next Sunday. But who needs logic anyhow?
Previous iterations would have wilted in the tropical Limerick sun. However, this Cork side is a different animal to that which went before.
While a u-21 All-Ireland title would be welcomed with open arms in Cork, the true success of this crop of hurlers won't become apparent for years to come.
Cork did a lot right. Limerick did a lot wrong. But just doing a lot right was never going to be enough.
In the wake of the leagueiest league that has ever leagued, predictions are an act of folly. The truth is we haven't a clue.
Twenty years ago, a Limerick side that hadn't won a championship game in four years travelled to Cork to face the provincial champions. A culmination of off-field and on-field drama saw the underdogs prevail.
30 years ago, the GAA made the seismic decision to allow jersey sponsorship and Cork GAA, in tandem with Barry's Tea, became the commercial trailblazers in a brave new world.
This afternoon, Cork claimed their third BT Young Scientist award in five years. But at what cost?
We won the lottery, then died the next day. Just one more massive let-down to add to the list then.
Cork answered a lot of questions last Saturday. But they’ll have more to answer next Saturday.
Deserted stadia and crowded streets. It's been the strangest of summers.
42 years ago, as Cork GAA tried to alleviate the crippling debt left over from the construction of Páirc Úi Chaoimh, a new club championship format was introduced.
It may have taken a global health crisis and the complete cessation of sport for three months, but maybe the GAA might emerge from its hibernation with a feasible solution to its perennial fixtures problem. Or at the very least, something vaguely resembling a feasible solution.
Ten years ago this month, an old and unfancied Cork team welcomed the All-Ireland runners-up, Tipperary to the Park. Aided by a man mountain at full-forward, it proved to be the last kick from a dying team.
John Horan practically dismissed all hopes of an All-Ireland championship last weekend. What are we going to do with ourselves now?
115 years ago, hostility abounded between two of Cork's most prestigious hurling clubs. Did this bitterness give rise to the espionage which ultimately thwarted Cork's All-Ireland ambitions?
A dual minor All-Ireland winner, at one time Finbarr Delaney was one of the most prolific forwards in Cork hurling.
Even in times so devoid of sporting commentary and parochial discord, comparing Niall McCarthy to D.J. Carey is probably as futile an exercise as can possibly be conceived. Yet here we are.
The epic story of the 1920 Munster Championship is a timely reminder that sport in Ireland has persevered through testing times before. It will return. At some stage.
John Gardiner, Ronan Curran and Sean Og O'hAilpin used once reign supreme. Since their departure, they've proved a tough act to follow.
The Cork hurlers 2020 campaign begins in earnest on Sunday. Grounds for experimenation, integration and rejuvenation. But at the end of the day, it's still only the league.
75 players have played championship football for Cork this decade. After years of anguish, a revival is finally in sight.
We were back, we were miles off, we were back again, we were years away. Cork's hokey-pokey decade.
In June 2008, Patrick Horgan, Seamus Callanan, T.J Reid and Joe Canning all made their intercounty debuts. Since then, they have been at the forefront of hurling's golden age of scoring.
Since 2010, 64 players have hurled for Cork in the heat of championship, representing a total of 32 clubs.
