This will be an epic battle
Cork legend Tomás Mulcahy insists the ‘Corkness’ tag cannot exist until the county bring back the All-Ireland title.
Cork face Dublin at Croke Park in Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final, with no hurling All-Ireland victory since 2005. Kilkenny or Tipperary, who face each other on Sunday in the other semi-final, await the winners on July 20th.
‘Corkness’ refers to a perceived mindset associated with the people of Cork, often described as a confident pride in being from the county.
Asked whether there is an innate Corkness in people, three-time All-Ireland winner Mulcahy says the tag depends on All-Ireland success, and admitted the county are “starved” of success after regular All-Ireland wins throughout the 20th century.
Mulcahy told SportsJOE.ie: “I grew up seeing Cork winning All-Irelands. There wasn’t a 10-year period where you didn’t see Cork win two or three All-Irelands. That has dried up.
“We can’t have any Corkness until such time we have a Liam MacCarthy back on Leeside.
“That has to be the ultimate goal. We won Munster this year, fantastic achievement after the defeat against Limerick, but it has to be winning at Croke Park at the end of July. Winning Saturday first, and after that looking after a final if we got there.
“Saturday will be a difficult game, let’s not fool ourselves. A four-week break without any activity, it’s give players a lot of time to recover as well.
“We’re craving it, we’re starved of success. The amount of young kids going to Cork matches now. They’ve taken the players to their heart, they’re playing a stylish and exciting brand of hurling.”
Captain Rob Downey and Declan Dalton return to the starting line-up for Cork, with Seamus Harnedy and wing-back Cormac O’Brien both out with injury.
Dublin have named two changes to their side that beat Limerick in the quarter-final.
Chris Crummey’s red card was upheld by the CCCC, so he misses the game, Conor Burke comes in to replace him.
Conor Donohoe returns to the midfield after serving his two-match ban for his red card in the Leinster championship.
