All Ireland Final Podcast Preview with Mark Kennedy, Niall O’Meara and James Mulcare.
Last year, Cork faced heartbreak in the All-Ireland SHC final loss to Clare. Now, they are seventy minutes away from securing Liam McCarthy for the first time in twenty years.
Hawkeye Sidekick reflects on Cork’s season to date. He also examines the key players. These players are pivotal for Cork’s All Ireland final challenge.
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
| Fixture | Date | Home Team | Score | Score | Away Team | Result |
| Round One | April 20th | Clare | 3-21 | 2-24 | Cork | Draw |
| Round Two | April 27th | Cork | 4-27 | 0-24 | Tipperary | Win |
| Round Three | May 18th | Limerick | 3-26 | 1-16 | Cork | Loss |
| Round Four | May 25th | Cork | 2-25 | 1-22 | Waterford | Win |
| Final (AET) | June 7th | Limerick | 2-27 | 1-30 | Cork | Win (Pens) |
Cork’s passage through the shark infested waters of the Munster round robin this season saw several keynote events.
An opening round fixture against their All-Ireland final conquerors was the proverbial game of two halves. Cork dominant in the first half before Shane Barrett’s red card.
Clare struggling for cohesion hit a purple patch when direct ball into Peter Duggan in the full-forward line paid dividends. Clare went ahead late on. Cork did not panic. They secured a share of the spoils when Declan Dalton scored an injury time free. This was set up by Ciaran Joyce marauding forward.
The opening round draw on the road increased pressure on Cork to secure a home win over Tipperary. A dramatic cameo with the dismissal of Darragh McCarthy.
Cork never looked back and used their middle third platform to devastating effect. Three early goals killed the contest off as fourteen-man Tipperary continued to compete until the final whistle. All roads now leading to TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Cork’s three-week layoff exposed as a fired-up Limerick produced a standout performance. Cork’s back line was pulled out of position to allow Aaron Gillane to wreck-havoc inside. Limerick never threatened. Cork’s lack of performance on the day raising questions on the side’s energy levels for the rest of the campaign.
The loss in Limerick effectively meant that Cork’s final round home game against Waterford was a winner take all contest.
Cork prevailed but not before Waterford threatened a comeback with ten minutes left. Nerves seen but Cork’s late surge enough to secure their provincial final ticket back to TUS Gaelic Grounds.
This final was where this Cork came of age. The fixture was perfectly setup for Cork to answer their critics and deliver a performance.
Mission accomplished. Cork met Limerick in the physical stakes. They showed resiliency when Limerick scored key goals at key times of the contest.
The bench impact huge for Cork as Kingston, Lehane and O’Connell were impressive in extra-time. Penalties are a lottery. Cork held their nerve as Limerick floundered. The Mick Mackey Cup was heading Leeside.
A final win was incredibly satisfying for the likes of Harnedy and Horgan. Both players provided stellar leadership. The Cork response to those who questioned Cork’s appetite for the physical battle well and truly answered.
All Ireland Series
| Fixture | Date | Team | Score | Score | Team | Result |
| Semi-Final | July 5th | Cork | 7-26 | 2-21 | Dublin | Win |
After Dublin’s stunning All-Ireland SHC quarter-final win over Limerick two weeks prior, Cork was on high alert.
Dublin’s risk and reward approach, which worked so well against Limerick unraveled. Cork’s inside full forward line unit created havoc.
Brian Hayes, Patrick Horgan, and Alan Connolly contributed twenty-six points during the seventy minutes. The run game, the variation of play to unleash Cork’s attack was a joy to hold. Dublin defensively couldn’t cope with the Cork attacking masterclass.
Team Scoring
The full forward line has reveled in the distribution and quality of service provided. Patrick Horgan’s experience coupled with Brian Hayes and Alan Connolly explosive speed and power has been impressive. The three players have contributed 52% of their team’s scores so far in the championship.
This is not to say that Cork is solely dependent on their inside forward line. Twenty-one players have scored so far in the championship.
Middle third contributions noticeable with Dalton, Fitzgibbon, Harnedy and O’Mahony prominent. There have been notable cameos from defensive areas with Robert Downey, Ciaran Joyce and Mark Coleman providing excellent attacking support.
| Player | County | Total Pts Scored | Pts Scored Per Game | Percent of Team Scores |
| Patrick Horgan | Cork | 59 | 9.83 | 29.65 |
| Brian Hayes | Cork | 23 | 3.83 | 11.56 |
| Alan Connolly | Cork | 21 | 3.50 | 10.55 |
| Declan Dalton | Cork | 15 | 2.50 | 7.54 |
| Darragh Fitzgibbon | Cork | 14 | 2.33 | 7.04 |
| Tim O’Mahony | Cork | 13 | 2.17 | 6.53 |
| Seamus Harnedy | Cork | 13 | 2.17 | 6.53 |
| Shane Barrett | Cork | 12 | 2.00 | 6.03 |
| Shane Kingston | Cork | 7 | 1.17 | 3.52 |
| Diarmuid Healy | Cork | 4 | 0.67 | 2.01 |
| Mark Coleman | Cork | 3 | 0.50 | 1.51 |
| Conor Lehane | Cork | 3 | 0.50 | 1.51 |
| Brian Roche | Cork | 2 | 0.33 | 1.01 |
| Robbie O’Flynn | Cork | 2 | 0.33 | 1.01 |
| Tommy O’Connell | Cork | 2 | 0.33 | 1.01 |
| Robert Downey | Cork | 1 | 0.17 | 0.50 |
| Cormac O’Brien | Cork | 1 | 0.17 | 0.50 |
| Damien Cahalane | Cork | 1 | 0.17 | 0.50 |
| Eoin Downey | Cork | 1 | 0.17 | 0.50 |
| Ciaran Joyce | Cork | 1 | 0.17 | 0.50 |
| Jack O’Connor | Cork | 1 | 0.17 | 0.50 |
Scoring Balance
Cork ability to score from open play to the fore in the table data below. Only 25% of their scores came from placed balls.
| Open Play Scores | Placed Balls Scores | Total Scores For | Placed Balls to Total Scores % |
| 149 | 50 | 199 | 25.13 |
Goals For and Against
Cork’s ability to score goals in the championship to the fore. Seventeen goals so far in the championship which is 2.83 goals per game. Cork scored eighteen goals in the Allianz Hurling League. This shows the trend in how the side have looked to score goals this championship season.
Cork have adopted a risk and reward approach defensively. Cork’s half back line attacking approach when in possession standing out. This creates team scoring opportunities. Nonetheless, this approach also gives opposition chances to score goals when Cork attacking moves break down.
Cork have conceded eleven goals in the championship with several other near misses noted. 1.83 goals conceded per game which gives Tipperary hope ahead of the final.
| Played | Goals Scored | Points Scored | Total Scores For | Goals Against | Points Against | Total Scores Against | Points Diff |
| 6 | 17 | 148 | 199 | 11 | 141 | 174 | 25 |
Closing Remarks
Cork enter this All-Ireland final as the form team and warm favorites to secure Liam McCarthy. Their head-to-head record with Tipperary this season is two wins and one loss. The two wins coming in the Allianz NHL final and Munster round robin fixture.
What happens if Tipperary hang with Cork late in the contest? Will the ghosts of 2024 come back to haunt the side? Cork will hope that the game is put to bed early. This final though may be the final hurdle for the side to overcome in terms of composure and resiliency.
Tipperary have progressed since the Munster round robin fixture. They will look for goals against this Cork full back line. This line have to cover significant ground given the half-back line forward focus mantra.
Pat Ryan and management will be confident but there are key choice calls to be made to the starting lineup. Does Seamus Harnedy come in for Diarmuid Healy? Can Shane Barrett create space in the middle third to influence the contest?
Cork’s middle third setup will be vital to stem Tipperary’s dangerous forward line. If Cork management get any middle third match-up wrong, Tipperary have a serious chance of causing an upset win. This final is not as cut and dry as some are predicting.