For one reason or another I haven't seen much of cork since the league where they looked good early on but I expected a good league from them. The Cork backs have been slated for years but I was at Tipp cork games over the last 10 years and a cork forward rarely put in a tackle and that has been the main source of their defensive issues. It's a big ask for Dublin but I think they'll give cork plenty of it today. A lot will depend on Ronan Hayes and if he can run up a bit of a score as they defintely need more scores. To echo another posters statement, Cork will definitely be at the top again but possibly not this year. If any county can come from nowhere (so to speak) then it would be cork but I think a semi final would be progress from them this year..
On another note I read that Horgan is the all time top point scorer (not including goals I believe) from play. Fantastic achievement if true. Would love for someone to release a list like that.
Replying To tiobraid: "For one reason or another I haven't seen much of cork since the league where they looked good early on but I expected a good league from them. The Cork backs have been slated for years but I was at Tipp cork games over the last 10 years and a cork forward rarely put in a tackle and that has been the main source of their defensive issues. It's a big ask for Dublin but I think they'll give cork plenty of it today. A lot will depend on Ronan Hayes and if he can run up a bit of a score as they defintely need more scores. To echo another posters statement, Cork will definitely be at the top again but possibly not this year. If any county can come from nowhere (so to speak) then it would be cork but I think a semi final would be progress from them this year.."
Cork aren't good enough yet. I don't buy this coming from nowhere cliché. Comparatively speaking Cork have a much bigger population of players than most counties. Given the small number of really competitive counties in hurling Cork are never going to be that far away. Their recent record is shockingly poor at all levels. Their All Ireland win at U20 level this year was their first national title at senior, U20, minor, club or in the National League since 2005. Only Offaly and Wexford (who win nothing at national level) amongst the major hurling counties were waiting longer for a national title. Cork now seem to be producing good young hurlers and are starting to push at senior level. If they fail to win the Liam McCarthy this year it means that they will have been waiting at least 17 years for Liam McCarthy to return to the Rebel County. That will be the longest wait in their history. They might make a final this year but they are a long way behind Limerick yet.
Replying To Greengrass: "Cork aren't good enough yet. I don't buy this coming from nowhere cliché. Comparatively speaking Cork have a much bigger population of players than most counties. Given the small number of really competitive counties in hurling Cork are never going to be that far away. Their recent record is shockingly poor at all levels. Their All Ireland win at U20 level this year was their first national title at senior, U20, minor, club or in the National League since 2005. Only Offaly and Wexford (who win nothing at national level) amongst the major hurling counties were waiting longer for a national title. Cork now seem to be producing good young hurlers and are starting to push at senior level. If they fail to win the Liam McCarthy this year it means that they will have been waiting at least 17 years for Liam McCarthy to return to the Rebel County. That will be the longest wait in their history. They might make a final this year but they are a long way behind Limerick yet."
Not entirely coming from nowhere especially the talks to they have coming through but they haven't been getting close to real contesting all Irelands for 8/9 seasons and theyre never on anyone's top 2/3 so from that regard if they won this year they'd be coming from nowhere - kind of!!