A disappointing day for the Treaty County – but a great one for hurling.
Instead of witnessing history, we witnessed the rebirth of Cork’s blood and bandage culture, one that had been so badly compromised for two decades.
Because the real beauty for Cork was that they won not because one of the greatest teams that has ever played the game was a shadow of themselves, but because they rose to the challenge by out-fighting, out-running and out-playing the Champions.
And if Limerick had to choose how their winning run would come to an end, this would be it; carried out on their shield by a team who had to raise their game to an unprecedented level to do it.
Limerick are heading to the All-Ireland Hurling Final after an unbelievable win over Cork after extra-time in Croke Park! Check out the full-time highlights here on GAANOW! pic.twitter.com/Hpssrtzo1h
— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 29, 2018
Hand on heart, I did not see it coming. And even at halftime yesterday, I was convinced that Limerick were going to win because at that stage they had imposed their will on the game.
They had physically dominated the second quarter and Cork simply could not get the ball to stick in their forward line, but how they turned that around in the third quarter was stunning but also simple.
For two decades, Cork hurling has had an identity crisis, swapping the blood and bandage for the sticking plaster of tippy tappy hurling, slavish followers of laptop system-based hurling.
Much will be made that pretty much the same defense that got wiped by Limerick in the All-Ireland final three years ago stood tall yesterday and redeemed themselves, but the truth is that while the personnel might have been similar, their mindset was completely different.
Three years ago they took shelter behind a sweeper and got blown away, but yesterday they went out to play man-to-man hurling and won all the key battles, shutting down Limerick’s key forwards with the notable exception of Aaron Gillane, who was outstanding.
But when Gillane looked around him there was literally no support because the Cork backs were on top.
Earlier this summer, the Cork goalkeeper Patrick Collins got some heat because of his puck-outs but he was sensational in everything he did, including two match-defining saves.
In the third quarter, even though Limerick was not pressing up on him, he ignored the safety-first option of short puck-outs to launch missiles down on the Cork half-back line, in particular seeking out Brian Hayes, who had a height advantage on Mike Casey.
It worked a treat and the Cork forwards snapped up those chances.
The courage and conviction to take on Limerick in the air summed up the absolute belief of this Cork team.
As for Limerick, the county should be proud of these players. They have given this county unprecedented levels of joy and success and they will be back.
Much attention will focus on John Kiely’s future after he took just a one-year extension this year but I expect him to be back next year with Paul Kinnerk because there is still so much in this team.
If he has a regret about yesterday, it is that Limerick were too slow using the bench and Shane O’Brien, Adam English and Aidan O’Connor all had an impact after coming in.
True, that trio were also guilty of missed chances at the death which, had they scored, would have taken the game into extra time, but it said much that Limerick put themselves in that position, given they were seven points down at one stage but stormed back.
That is the kind of spirit that will see them come back again next year when perhaps Cork will be the team with the target on their back.
The key now for the Rebels is to remember they still have a final to play against Clare, and the sooner they get their feet back on the ground, the better prepared they will be for that game.
But right now, they will know that they are on the brink of something special.
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