Cats bag McCarthy Cup

Kilkenny 1-14
Cork 1-11
The first triumph for a group of players is normally the one that’s celebrated most; the second is more demanding and generates more satisfaction. So while Kilkenny were unable to put on the hurling master class that so many had forecast, there was still a sense of genuine delight and relief among the players at their achievement of back-to-back All-Ireland titles.
“If we lost, people weren’t going to question our skill,” manager Brian Cody said, “but they would have questioned if we had the heart for the battle and if we’d been able to dig in and fight our corner. All-Irelands are won with character and heart.”
With D.J. Carey held scoreless and with the previously stellar Eddie Brennan also a marginal figure, Kilkenny had to battle their way past stubborn Cork resistance. The victory, by a 1-14 to 1-11 scoreline, was the county’s 28th in all, which brings them level with Cork. But it was more charcoal sketch than sumptuous oil painting, but it proved to be just as valuable as last season’s.
For Cody and his players, this latest success means a double-double of league and championship triumphs, a testament to their desire and to their organization. Another Liam McCarthy Cup in the cabinet has installed the team as one of the greatest in the history of the sport, yet it could all have been so different.
When Cork spool back over a contest that was fiercely fought without ever reaching the heights expected of an All-Ireland final, there will be precious little satisfaction. A total of 18 wides, 11 in the first half alone, tells a story of crippling inaccuracy. As Kilkenny struggled to impose their direct, fluent style, Cork, as the statistics show, created plenty of scoring chances, but shot after shot drifted harmlessly wide. It wasn’t until the 36th minute that they managed a point from play, yet they were still well in the game, so sluggish was the champions’ performance.
“How do you explain it? I mean fellas weren’t shooting the ball wide on purpose,” was how captain Alan Browne rationalized his team’s failure to capitalize on so much possession. Cork were abysmal during the first half, but they trailed by just 6 points at the break. All they needed were a couple of quick scores and they’d be right back in the hunt. The points came, the fightback was on, and when Setanta O hAilpin surged through to smash home the goal he’d been threatening to plunder all afternoon in the 54th minute, the underdogs had their teeth firmly in Kilkenny’s hide.
Then Niall McCarthy put Cork ahead for the first time as chants of “Rebels, Rebels” echoed around the stadium with genuine confidence. But with dark thoughts of their 1999 final loss to the same opponent welling up, Kilkenny steeled themselves for one last effort. Henry Shefflin edged them in front before full-forward Martin Comerford, a relentless, barreling presence in the attack, broke free to bat the match-winning goal past Donal Cusack.
“It’s never about the way you play, it’s about the final scoreline,” said Shefflin, who contributed 6 points, including 4 from frees. “In 10 years’ time they’ll look back on this game and see that Kilkenny won and not what kind of game it was. It was tough, hard hurling, about getting in there with your body.”
While Noel Hickey at full-back delivered an awesome performance, Comerford probably shaded him for the Man of the Match award because of 4 points from play, and most of all that crucial goal. J.J. Delaney and Michael Kavanagh sealed their All-Star awards with magnificent displays in defense, but notwithstanding Comerford’s contribution, the Kilkenny attack was largely kept in check.
With Wayne Sherlock and Diarmuid O’Sullivan sealing the gaps at the back for Cork, ball after ball was played in toward Joe Deane and Setanta O hAilpin, but the losers paid dearly for their misses.
“Every game is different,” said manager O’Grady, shrugging. “In the Munster final we came back out against Waterford and everything we hit went over. A little bit of confidence drifted away from people who had long-range shots. They didn’t really have the conviction.”
Asked about Cork’s resurgence from a time at the end of last year when the players were on strike, Browne mentioned the progress of a first Munster title since 2000, but O’Grady could find little consolation in the outcome.
“It means nothing, to be honest with you,” he said. “Nothing, because the players are disappointed and it’s as simple as that.”
Cork’s day of swaying emotions looked for a while as if it was over before it had even started as pre-game injury worry Tommy Walsh came out of the blocks like sprinter Ben Johnson. Kilkenny’s star in the making fired over a wondrous point after just 7 seconds and by the 15th minute had scored 0-3. It wasn’t as if the winners had moved into top gear; it was just that Cork persisted in squandering the chances that came their way.
With Walsh and Comerford emerging as the main threats, there was little sign of Carey and Brennan, while Shefflin was being effectively marshaled by Sean Og O hAilpin. Cork’s self-destruction left Kilkenny in front by 0-9 to 0-3 at the break, but O’Grady’s halftime talk seemed to have inspired Cork, who came out with intent.
Still sluggish in attack, Kilkenny were gradually pegged back, and when Setanta O hAilpin made the most of a James Ryall error to score the game’s first goal, Cork were in the driver’s seat. Typically, though, the champions raised their game to pull another victory out the fire and they’re now hot favorites to make it three All-Ireland titles in a row next year.
Cody, however, was typically phlegmatic about the challenges ahead.
“Look,” he said, “the double-double is amazing. We never thought once of that setting out last year, but we’ve just had a good chat among ourselves and no one has mentioned the three-in-a-row. We’ll just go out again next year and see what happens.”
There’s a feeling already that the hurling community knows what’s going to happen.
Kilkenny: J. McGarry; M. Kavanagh, N. Hickey, J. Ryall; S. Dowling, P. Barry, J.J. Delaney; D. Lyng (0-1), P. Mullally; H. Shefflin (0-6, 4 frees), J. Hoyne, T. Walsh (0-3); D.J. Carey (capt.), M. Comerford (1-4), E. Brennan. Subs: C. Phelan for Walsh, 45 mins.; R. Mullally for P. Mullally, 61 mins.; A. Comerford for Ryall, 61 mins.; J. Coogan for Brennan, 70 mins.
Cork: D. Cusack; W. Sherlock, D. O’Sullivan, P. Mulcahy; T. Kenny, R. Curran, Sean Og O hAilpin; J. Gardiner, M. O’Connell; B. O’Connor (0-1), N. McCarthy (0-2), T. McCarthy (0-1); Setanta O hAilpin (1-0), J. Deane (0-5, 4 frees), A. Browne (capt). Subs: J. O’Connor (0-1) for O’Connell, 38 mins.; S. McGrath (0-1) for B. O’Connor, 66 mins.
Referee: P. O’Connor (Limerick).