Opinion: Time for the Clare monkey to come off the back of Cork

By Dan Casey

Cork were finished, images of Davy Fitzgerald celebrating into the Blackrock end reverberating through the brain, he gave the Cork faithful three fingers, one for each Clare goal after he snatched one late on…but I’m sure he really meant it as two.

Others had the picture of Shane O’Donnell running into Sean O’Donoghue’s shoulder and doing the best ‘Del Boy falling through the counter’ impression he could muster, which resulted in O’Donoghue getting sent off in the process.

Cork’s captain, who hadn’t set the world alight by any means, was gone, Cork as a whole were gone and by Christ, manager Pat Ryan was gone. It was unacceptable for Cork not to get out of Munster for the second year in a row, and heads were about to roll.

But still, two weeks later the Cork crowd rose again, gluttons for punishment; filling that stadium to face the 4 in a row All-Ireland champions, and what came was the game that saved Cork hurling.

The night, that soulless bowl of a stadium came to life, and the night the Cork hype train left Kent Station. Perhaps the biggest butterfly effect for Cork hurling of the last 20 years was Kyle Hayes dragging down Shane Kingston looming large on goal, Hoggie sticking the penalty, Hayes taking it to the corner to finish it out.

But most importantly the pitch invasion that followed, the outpouring of emotion from the Cork public towards that team, I have never felt a stadium like that in my life and sadly probably never will. Even if the noise level is matched, the tangible ‘Corkness’ in the air certainly won’t be.

Two years on, and the picture of Cork hurling is looking a lot brighter, but unfortunately the glare from the Liam MacCarthy in the trophy cabinet isn’t adding to it.

Cork now face Clare in the last game of the Munster round robin already safe, three wins from three without being world beaters. Who wouldn’t be happy? But as the game draws ever closer and the Cork team has been announced, I still don’t know what way the Cork sporting public will be approaching this one.

The Rebels have been in the trenches and have had their sniper, sergeant and general shot in Joycey, Downey and Fitzgibbon.

Cork are not winning the All-Ireland war without captain Fitzgibbon, and for me the jury is still out on whether or not they can win it without an imperial-looking Ciaran Joyce.

Rob coming back into the team is slightly concerning, as if he gets injured once more, that could be curtains on Cork’s All-Ireland push. And I don’t think the Clare lads will be too concerned about throwing a few digs in, especially with Johnny Murphy reffing Cork versus Clare once more, why would they be concerned? After all, he let hell and fury from the Banner onto the Rebels in the 2024 All-Ireland; I don’t see why he’ll change now.

Manager Ben O’Connor certainly won’t be a man entertaining any ‘let Clare win' mentality; starting with Rob Downey proves as such for me.

Ben’s been brutally honest from the get-go about wanting to win everything, and so have his players, much to the dismay of the general GAA public, and let them dismay.

Dear God, will someone think of the children because a hurler and manager said they want to win an All-Ireland, the absolute goal of every young boy or girl who’s ever picked up a hurley and sliotar around the country.

I do wonder though, when Ben was recently asked by RedFM’s Ger McCarthy about his message to the Cork supporters ahead of this clash, the first three words out of his mouth were, "Keep expectations low.” Sounds like a bit of crowd control to stem a potential, and probable, ever so slight tide turn if Cork were not to get themselves into a Munster final.

The initial disappointment of losing out on a Munster final spot would be soon replaced by a certain buoyancy of not having to go through the rollercoaster of facing a vengeful Limerick coming to town in search of their Mick Mackey back.

A Munster final fixture last year that did absolutely no team any favours, as proved by Limerick’s dismal showing against Dublin and, for Cork, the worst defeat in an All-Ireland since the days of horse and cart.

The facts do remain though, Cork have failed to beat Clare in the Munster round robin since after the first year of its introduction in 2018.

Clare have had this Cork team's number, they know in their souls they might not be better hurlers skill-wise, but time and time again have shown they are willing to do what must be done to win a game of ball. Cork must break this worrying trend and show they are willing to go to the mental and physical well that has been dry on too many occasions now.

Sowing the seeds of doubt in Clare minds after they think they’ve it all figured it out with Conlon, McInerney and Stritch coming in, is more important to Cork than avoiding a Limerick backlash, but what’s far more consequential is the Cork players proving to themselves they will go to the depths needed to win a game of hurling and become the snarling winners we’ve so perilously lacked down the years.

Seventy minutes won’t decide either team's ultimate fate this year, but a win will give faith needed to kick on.