Cork hurling generates a buzz like nothing else 

A rising tide lifts all boats and it couldn’t be more true on Leeside. 

Hurling is the number one currency down here in the People’s Republic of Cork and the buzz this Rebels senior hurling team has given not just the fans, but the Cork public, in this championship season has been special.

Every single possible emotion you could think of, the Cork faithful have been through it, from the despair of losing to Clare in the second round-robin game in Munster when the campaign was on life support to now possibly 70 minutes away from the famous Liam MacCarthy trophy coming down the M8. 

INCREDIBLE JOURNEY

It has been some journey with a massive All-Ireland final to come this Sunday at GAA HQ against Clare at 3.30pm.

This scribe maybe somewhat biased but Cork is a magical county, and when it comes to the small ball there is absolutely nothing that pulls at the heartstrings more. Despite Limerick being favourites to eek past the Leesiders in the All-Ireland semi-final eight days ago you got the sense in the week of the game that this was a different Cork team. Different mentality, more depth to the squad that lost after extra time to the Treaty County in that epic 2018 All-Ireland semi-final. That match can finally be forgotten about.

Cork did defeat Limerick in the third round-robin game in Munster this season which started off the revival and the pitch invasion that we witnessed afterwards gave energy to us all. Since then, the upward trajectory has gone in only one direction.

The buzz on Leeside has been massive, young kids all out wearing their Cork jerseys with hurleys in their hand over the past few months. 

It’s great to experience such electricity and the excitement over the past week has been marvellous with another six days to wait.

Cork were in the All-Ireland final just three years ago when they lost heavily to Limerick but the build-up and match was totally different as we were still in the midst of the pandemic. There was only 40,000 in Croker that day. You would have to rewind back to 2013 for the last time for an occasion that generated such interest when the Rebels lost to the Banner County in the All-Ireland final after a replay but that won’t have any bearing this weekend.

This current crop of Cork players have shown that they can get over any mental baggage and obstacles that have been put in front of them in this campaign. To beat Limerick not just once but twice in the same season is a great achievement. That will give them huge confidence going into Sunday’s final.

EDGE OF THE SEAT

The great thing about sport is you can change everything in the here and now. The 70 minutes plus that will be played this Sunday against Clare will have you on the edge of your seat. 19 years of hurt can come to an end.