IT WAS clear from even before the game began that this was going to be an unusual affair – not just because Dublin were favourites to beat Cork for probably the first time in the history of hurling, but because of the events of the preceding day.
With 10,000 people turning up on Saturday to support the heroes who had won back-to-back All-Irelands in 2004 and 2005, the question for many before yesterday’s National League game wasn’t so much the result as how many fans would turn up.
In the end some 2,013 hurling fans went down the Park – the vast majority of them from Cork – more much more than it would seem the county board had budgeted for as match programmes were quickly snapped up, leaving many fans empty-handed.
That said, many of the Cork faithful who thronged the covered stand seemed to have no difficulty identifying the neophytes selected by Gerald McCarthy to represent the county, as they shouted out their names with encouraging familiarity.
While the new-look Cork battled gamely, a poor first-half performance was to cost them dearly as they conceded three poor goals to a Dublin side whose woefully wayward shooting must at times have left new manager Anthony Daly scratching his head.
Gerald McCarthy didn’t look too perturbed as he urged on his new charges from the sideline, as if he wasn’t surprised by the way the game was unfolding. But he must have drawn some encouragement from a battling performance in the second half.
As for the Cork fans, their declaration of faith in the new saw them deliver two standing ovations to the young players, applauding them off at half-time and then rising again with an almost defiant fervour to acknowledge their efforts at the full-time whistle.
Among those at the game was former Cork great and All-Ireland medal winner Jimmy Brohan from Blackrock, who said he wasn’t too surprised by the result as the young team still lacked the physicality necessary at the top level.
“They gave a few soft goals but they tightened up a lot in the second half. They have plenty of hurling but they lack a bit of physical presence. I don’t expect much more from them at the moment, to be honest. I can’t see any resolution to the row at the moment.”
His view was echoed by Cork playwright Declan Hassett, who reckoned the youngsters had shown plenty of heart but lacked the physicality and maturity to match a fairly seasoned Dublin outfit.
“I had no hesitation in coming down, I’d always follow the red jersey,” he said.
“But I thought the standing ovations at half-time and at the end were quite emotional. People just want Cork to play hurling, but I think the city is kind of split down the middle at the moment.”
