Madam, – Daithi Ó hÉachach (February 11th) is effusive in his praise for the 2009 Cork hurling team’s performance last Sunday. Let me say, firstly, with all due respect to the Dublin senior panel, that a Cork team losing to Dublin in Pairc Uí Chaoimh by nine points is nothing short of an embarrassment.
Secondly, if An t-Uasal Ó hÉachach is interested in seeing a tremendous effort of heart and determination I would refer him to last year’s Cork-Galway championship match when a 14- an Cork team played a second half that could only have been born of a pride in their jersey and a pride to be hurling for Cork.
Thirdly, I could agree with him on one point: the true hurling people of Cork have spoken. They spoke last Saturday when 12,000 people took to the streets of Cork in support of the 2008 panel. As one elderly gentlemen was heard to say at the march, “I have followed Cork GAA for over 60 years and I have never been so proud to be a Cork GAA man as I am today.”
Lastly and maybe most importantly, how any self-respecting Cork hurling fan could “look forward” to a night when the Tipperary senior hurling team will subject a team prising the 70th to 100th best hurlers in Cork to a hurling lesson and defeat of soul-destroying proportions beggars belief. The only thing whose birth An t-Uasal Ó hÉachach will witness this Saturday night will be a new national record margin of victory in a Division One National League match.
To the sporting public of Ireland who are bemused by, and apathetic about, the crisis in Cork, I would say this. Imagine if the Dublin footballers were striking because the one manager they could not work with was forced upon them by a county board intent on a showing them who was boss, regardless of the effect on the prospects of winning Sam. The Hill wouldn’t stand for it. Why should the Cork hurling public? Why should the Cork 08 panel? – Yours, etc,