Cork 2-14 Galway 2-11: The footballers of Cork reduced the prospect of an All-Ireland double to a local affair as they reawakened their football fortunes with a game that deepened the legend of Billy Morgan.
The modern-day championship has become so notoriously cut-throat that the idea of any single county delivering the double seems fanciful but, with the hurlers motoring, the footballers yesterday confirmed they are once again in the mood. The year 1990 seems like a long time ago and there is, in this specialised age, no room for dual players a la Teddy McCarthy, but above all counties, Cork have the brio and inherent swagger to guide themselves to such high-wire single-season accomplishments.
The footballers, for a long time the unfashionable half of Cork GAA, overcame Galway with an eye-catching second-half performance that was part bullish determination, part skill. Cork kicked some beautiful scores yesterday, particularly during a surge of adrenaline and belief in a 10-minute period in the second half when Brendan Jer O'Sullivan's rocket of a goal turned the game unalterably in their favour.
O'Sullivan is one of those unorthodox, temperamental players who at times seems capable of anything and his finish to a smart build-up, featuring Conor McCarthy and Derek Kavanagh, will go down as one of the goals of the year.
In terms of morale, it all but ruined Galway, coming right in the middle of a scoring rush. Two frees by James Masters and John Hayes left Cork just two points down and after O'Sullivan's goal, thumped from distance through a crowded Galway goal area, Cork were suddenly uppity and perky in a way not seen since their great days of the late 80s.
Straight after the goal, Kevin McMahon landed a point and then Anthony Lynch - a player who simply refused to contemplate defeat - thundered up to land his second. He celebrated wildly as he retreated to his defensive position.
Finally, Phillip Clifford, a man whose career seemed washed up at the age of 24, danced inside two Galway defenders and kicked a sublime score from play. Tellingly, the Bantry man did not so much as blink, as if that score was no big deal. All of a sudden, Galway were in a black place.
It must have been a nightmarish experience for Peter Ford's predominantly young Galway team. In the first half, Croke Park was full of sunshine and sweet scores and there was a brief period when it looked as if the westerners were going to put on a football clinic comparable to that 2001 All-Ireland final deconstruction of Meath.
The young Galway midfield pairing was coping fairly well. Seán Armstrong, a late replacement for the injured Derek Savage, took to Croke Park as to the manor born, knocking over two first-half points. Pádraic Joyce looked capable of scoring every time he got the ball and Micheál Meehan terrorised the Cork full-back line, his speed and agility making two goals from nothing.
Cork will feel as if they shot themselves in the foot both times. Kevin O'Dwyer, perhaps blinded by the sun, dropped a high ball from Barry Cullinane which Meehan punched home after 22 minutes. Four minutes later, Paul Clancy sent in another high ball and Meehan dashed in front of Gary Murphy before neatly side-stepping O'Dwyer to roll in his second. While the Cork defence did not exactly cover itself in glory, Meehan's sharpness, poise and presence were admirable.
But it was during those tough moments that Cork won the game. Unlike last year when they fell to pieces against Fermanagh, they never stopped believing here. After Meehan's first goal, Masters landed a brave point. After the second, O'Sullivan walloped one of his long-range points and then Graham Canty thundered upfield before releasing Lynch, who inevitably pointed. It was full-blooded stuff by Cork and Galway, for all their glimmering play, went in at the break just four points up.
Perhaps they anticipated problems. Joe Bergin, after an impressive beginning, faded out of play, his long recuperation from injury catching up. Michael Donnellan simply could not get into the game. And once Cork dropped back on Meehan and Joyce, Galway had nobody left to score.
Kavanagh and Murphy moved up a class in the second half and Conor McCarthy and McMahon saw much more of the ball. Even before that 10-minute period of attacking fury, they were beginning to dominate Galway all over the field. Clancy played on injured, Donnellan chased back and tried to build from deep, Joyce begged for the ball. But it was not happening.
Trailing 2-13 to 2-10 with 10 minutes left, Meehan produced a point from nothing to half revive Galway. But then Donnellan struck wide a free that he might have landed on loftier days and two minutes later, Joyce elected to go short with a free that looked within his range. Cork sauntered upfield and Rebel forwards came looking for the ball like birds of prey at feeding time. Hayes nonchalantly supplied the killer point, a hooked right-foot shot that he made look easy.
It was a demoralising end to a tantalising day for the Connacht champions, but if Ford can keep the senior faces on board for another season or two, they will come again.
Cork, though, once again look close to the finished article and they will relish another run at Kerry. It is hard to imagine there was a happier man than Morgan in the deep south on Sunday evening. Kerry might just be getting nervous.
CORK: K O'Dwyer; N Geary, G Canty, G Murphy; O Sexton (0-1), A Lynch (0-2), N O'Leary; D Kavanagh, N Murphy; J Masters (0-3, two frees), C McCarthy, K McMahon (0-1); P Clifford (0-2, one free), BJ O'Sullivan (1-3), G Hayes (1-2). Subs: K O'Connor for Geary (half-time), A Cronin for Masters (60 mins).
Yellow cards: Geary (8 mins), Sexton (21 mins), Lynch (51 mins).
GALWAY: B O'Donoghue; A Burke, F Hanley, K Fitzgerald; D Meehan, P Clancy, D Burke: B Cullinane, N Coleman; S Armstrong (0-2), M Clancy, J Bergin; M Meehan (2-2), P Joyce (0-7, four frees), M Donnellan. Subs: N Meehan for Coleman (42 mins), K Comer for Clancy (59 mins).
Yellow cards: Cullinane (27 mins), D Burke (36 mins), D Meehan (40 mins).
Referee: M Deegan (Laois).
