Rebels give Premier crew hell by the Lee

GAELIC GAMES:THEY HAVEN'T gone away, you know. Cork, the most fractious, the most charismatic, the most controversial team of the last hurling decade exploded back into life yesterday with a convincing, nay thunderous win over the old enemy.

Summer began, as so often before, with Tipp and Cork hurling in earnest by the Lee but this one was different. A blood feud gone flat.

Tipperary, in everybody’s reckoning to repeat last year’s photo finish at national level, just slumped out of their corner in the second half. Cork riveted home their advantage in every sector of the field. The congregation of 36,827 drawn from both faiths just stood and gaped for long periods.

Cork’s 10-point winning margin was the biggest they had enjoyed over their neighbours since 1942 and was the biggest to divide the teams since 1965.

It was a day of red redemption. This was a Cork team which had put its very existence on the line last year in their epic and bitter strike. Denis Walsh took the reins at the end of that unrest but this summer was his first chance to put the maker’s mark on his team.

He experimented hugely through the league, using over three dozen players. But when it came to the summer it was the same old faces who had fought their way to the top. Yesterday they delivered for him.

In the past few weeks in particular, he had come under pressure to dismantle the legendary half- back line upon which Cork’s recent eminence was built. He declined.

“As regards the half-back line we had ample time to change that. I don’t think we needed to. Seán Óg was moving fairly well into the league final and to be honest, Damien Hayes would be a handful for any player.

“He troubled him for a while but he hurled ball after that. Look who would I be to doubt those guys?”

If the half-back line was under pressure from the ranks of the media punditry and from the experts out there in the blogosphere Aisake Ó hAilpín was being pummelled. The most common accusation was he wouldn’t be near the side if his surname was different. The surname suggests as much about his character and ability as the 6ft 7in frame does. The surname suggests genuineness and the complete lack of back doors.

Walsh knew what he was getting. Aisake was wonderful yesterday and RTÉ’s Man of the Match went home for his mantelpiece. Aisake scored a goal of his own in the second half but was instrumental in setting up the two before half-time which gave Cork all the momentum.

Two soaring catches produced first a penalty and then a ball broken into open space. Both were cashed in by Patrick Horgan.

“You can’t survive in championship if you can’t do it yourself,” said Walsh of his gangly full forward “He did it. What was the criticism about before?

“In the cold light of day there were chances that went wide the purists would say should have been in the back of the net. Is that a positive or a negative? He was out of hurling. For a long time. He knows his situation. It’s a team game. If we didn’t feel he had a contribution to make there are good players on the bench waiting.

“We weren’t putting two fingers up to anybody saying look we are going to play him regardless. We needed what he was going to give to the team. He is very genuine and very capable, with his physique and his fitness.”

There were positives all over the field for Cork. Donal Óg Cusack made some breathtaking saves. Eoin Cadogan had a sublime game, full of aggression and drive. Tom Kenny came through the doubts about his fitness.

Tipp were held to seven points from play. There were no struggles and no failures through the first 15. It was that comprehensive. And that surprising. This was a haymaker Tipp never saw coming.

“In fairness, the better team won,” said Tipp manager Liam Sheedy afterwards. “We can have no complaints. They created numerous goal chances and wanted it more all over the field. We were over-run. We were outplayed. All the credit is to Cork. We felt coming down that all the preparations had gone well. We never really got firing . . . the two goals in the first half . . .”

Cork play war-torn Limerick in the Munster semi-final. Tipperary head off onto the qualifier circuit hoping to rejoin the big dance in early August.