AT the top of their heart-breaking one level defeat to Ballyea final Sunday, the St Finbarr’s gamers and administration made their manner over to their band of supporters within the North Stand in Cusack Park to acknowledge their loyalty and vocal backing all through an absorbing contest.
All of the gamers and administration have been devastated however they have been all nonetheless visibly heartened and lifted from the burden of emotion and goodwill pouring down from the stand onto the pitch.
“What the gamers have executed for the Barrs this 12 months has been unbelievable,” stated St Finbarr’s supervisor Ger Cunningham afterwards. “They got here up right here to do themselves, the membership, the Togher parish and Cork proud. And I believe they died on their ft.”
Doing so in Munster in opposition to all the percentages – particularly having a person despatched off so early in opposition to a seasoned outfit away from dwelling – was much more satisfying contemplating how a lot of a wasteland the province has been for Cork golf equipment during the last decade.
Peter Casey of Ballyea in motion in opposition to William Buckley of St Finbarr’s. Image: Daire Brennan/SportsfileThe defeat signifies that, since Newtownshandrum final received a Munster title in 2009, the win price of Cork golf equipment within the provincial senior hurling championship has now plummeted to as little as 7.69%.
The typical dropping margin is a shade under six factors however the nadir was in 2017 when Blackrock have been hammered by Limerick’s Na Piarsaigh by 22 factors. That was the primary of three consecutive Munster campaigns the place the Cork consultant was the county closing runner-up after Imokilly received three in a row between 2017-’19.
Midleton put up an honest exhibiting the next 12 months in opposition to Ballygunner, whereas Borris-Ileigh dominated the primary half in opposition to Glen Rovers in 2019 earlier than finally profitable by three factors.
When the Glen have been county champions in 2015 and 2016, they have been crushed by seven factors by Ballygunner in 2015. The next season, the Glen beat Patrickswell (to report Cork’s solely win) earlier than dropping the ultimate to Ballyea by eight factors.
Of all of the Cork champions during the last 13 years, Sars have been by far probably the most aggressive within the Munster championship. They have been twice crushed narrowly by De La Salle from Waterford — by two factors in 2008 when the perimeters have been degree 11 instances, and after further time in 2010.
The 2010 defeat was particularly harrowing as Sars led by two factors in extra time when Bryan Phelan missed a late 65, however a Sars participant had run throughout Phelan as he was taking the shot.
A free was awarded 13 metres contained in the 65, which Phelan transformed, earlier than Kevin Moran tied up the sport within the 63rd minute with an enormous rating. De La Salle went on to win Munster earlier than dropping to Clarinbridge within the All-Eire semi-final with the final puck in extra-time.
In 2012, Sars have been undone by a late purpose in opposition to Thurles Sarsfields in Semple Stadium, whereas they misplaced to Kilmallock in Kilmallock after extra-time in 2014.
Though Sars solely received one sport in Munster (in opposition to Clonlara in 2008), they usually by no means even reached a closing, there’s something in the truth that they have been a seasoned outfit which received 4 Cork titles in seven years between 2008-’14. Much like Newtown within the 2000s, after they received 4 titles, Sars have been an bold group with hardened expertise in Munster.
Ben O’Connor battling Thurles Sars’ Johnny Enright in 2009. Image: INPHO/James CrombieThough the Glen received successive titles in 2015 and 2016, there have been 5 completely different Cork representatives in Munster within the intervening years. Examine that to this 12 months’s Munster finalists – Ballygunner have received 9 in a row in Waterford, whereas Ballyea have received 4 titles in seven years in Clare. That is Ballygunner’s fifth Munster closing look in a row.
Not having these skilled sides in Munster has been much more of a wrestle when Cork golf equipment have needed to go away so usually. Since Newtown have been final Munster winners in 2009, the Cork champs have had a house attract three of 13 provincial fixtures.
Though Thurles Sars dominated Tipperary for a lot of the final decade, having to go away so usually additionally contributed to the poor report of Tipp golf equipment in Munster.
One other principle why Cork golf equipment have executed so poorly in Munster is as a result of winter hurling doesn’t go well with their type, that they don’t seem to be bodily sufficient. But whereas that was very apparent final 12 months within the Midleton-Kilmallock sport, that accusation couldn’t be levelled in opposition to the Barrs final Sunday. An enormous, robust and bodily workforce is just going to get higher and stronger once more when their proficient younger gamers develop and mature much more.
For now although, none of that’s related for any Cork membership as a result of the county championship is so laborious to win. The Barrs have been good champions this 12 months, and excellent ambassadors for Cork in Munster. However getting out of Cork subsequent 12 months will probably be an entire completely different ordeal once more as a result of they’re the workforce to beat now.
But if the Cork championship retains bettering to the identical degree it has, and if the hurling turns into much more hard-hitting and bodily than it was this 12 months, the Cork champions will certainly be higher set as much as do higher in Munster than they’ve been doing.
