The 16th Man

THE HISTORY books were re-written last Sunday as Cork won their sixth All-Ireland medal with a win over a Down team who tasted defeat in an All-Ireland final for the first time in their history.
It was Cork’s first success since 1990 and on the balance of play, it was well deserved.
The Mourne men can be proud of their performance at headquarters despite the heartache that invariably accompanied a loss of such magnitude.
Sunday was the first All-Ireland final defeat in Down’s history and in truth, the better team won in the end. The one-point difference in the score when the final whistle was blown told its own story. Down ran Cork all the way but in the end the Rebels celebrated while Down were left devastated.
It was a tale of two halves - Down dominant in the first, established a healthy and deserved lead and Cork resurgent in the second, were able to claw back scores on the back of their supremacy in midfield. In the end, Down were chasing the game and time got the better of the Mourne men.
The game was tense from the start and Down could have been a goal down in the first minute. Ciaran Sheehan was put straight through on goal but a super save from the magnificent McVeigh followed by a goal-line clearance kept the Rebels at bay, albeit momentarily.
Daniel Goulding pointed from a free before two minutes had elapsed to put Cork into an early lead. Goulding’s prowess from the dead ball was to prove instrumental throughout for the Leesiders but after their initial score Down began to take control.
A good passing move saw Marty Clarke pick Danny Hughes out 45 metres from goal. The Saval forward lashed over an equaliser for Down much to the delight of the huge Mourne following within the Jones’ Road stadium.
McComiskey and Coulter both fired wide before the former got his first score of the day thanks to a neat flick from John Clarke.
Goulding levelled matters on 12 minutes when Kevin McKernan was adjudged to have fouled Paul Kerrigan but it was a momentary reprieve for Cork.
Two points from Martin Clarke and one from his brother John gave Down some breathing space for the first time as the collective harrying from the Down players and the flowing passing moves began to reap rewards for McCartan’s men.
Poland found McComiskey who shrugged a challenge off before blasting over and when Danny Hughes cut in from the right win before fisting over Down were at their brilliant best. They led 0-07 to 0-02 on 26 minutes, denying Cork any scores for 18 minutes of the first half in the process.
That barren spell was broken by Donncha O’Connor when he converted a routine free. Goulding followed suit before Marty Clarke converted a free for Down on 32 minutes.
Just before the break a quick free released Donncha O’Connor and with time and space he sent the ball over the bar. It was the last score of a pulsating first half that Down had dominated.
On reflection, such was their dominance that Down should have led by more than 0-08 to 0-05 at the break, with the feeling that Cork were sure to offer more in an attacking sense in the second half.
Nicholas Murphy was introduced at midfield and made a telling impact. McComiskey got the first score of the second period but Cork had the bit between their teeth.
Goulding continued his fine vein of form from the dead ball to reduce the deficit to three points and when Cork captain Graham Canty was introduced on 41 minutes the morale boost to the Rebels was almost visible.
Goulding pointed once again before an outstanding score from Mark Poland made it 0-10 to 0-07 in Down’s favour on 44 minutes.
The momentum though was swinging Cork’s way and Donncha O’Connor and Goulding both pointed from play to narrow the gap to a single point.
When Ciaran Sheehan levelled on 50 minutes there was a palpable sense that Down were fighting a losing battle.
Cork’s midfield were utterly dominant with Walsh and Murphy lording that area and when Down had possession their options were limited by a defence shored up by the imposing figure of Graham Canty.
Down tried valiantly to push on and a McKernan point gave the Mourne men some hope but almost immediately O’Connor had levelled for the Rebels.
On 55 minutes, Cork took the lead for the first time since the opening minutes of the game. Paul Kerrigan’s fine individual effort pushed them in front.
James McCartan attempted to change things with Brendan McArdle, Ronan Murtagh and Conor Maginn all being introduced but Cork were like a feral beast who can sense when a wounded animal is there for the taking.
Goulding converted two 45s to put three points between the sides going into the last 10 minutes and no sooner had Peter Fitzpatrick reduced the margin to two than Donncha O’Connor looped a high effort over to put Cork three in front again.
Ronan Murtagh got his obligatory score on 66 minutes but only McVeigh saving and McKernan subsequently clearing off the line kept Down in touch during the last five minutes.
The game looked to be over when Goulding notched up his ninth point of the day but late scores from Benny Coulter and a fisted effort from Hughes gave Down an outside hope of a replay.
Cork though remained composed and used their experience to run down the clock in injury time. With seconds to go the Cork subs gathered on the line in anticipation and when referee David Coldrick whistled for the last time the Cork contingent of the crowd erupted.
Down had battled valiantly but ultimately they came up just short and congratulating their victors was a true mark of their class.
Having lost two finals in the last three years, it was a case of third time lucky for Conor Counihan and company, though, in truth, luck played little part in their victory.
There was as much an air of relief as there was celebration amongst the Rebels in Croke Park and with the All-Ireland shaped monkey now off their back they can look forward to taking Sam Maguire back to Cork on a more regular basis in the coming years.

DOWN: Brendan McVeigh, Dan McCartan, Dan Gordon, Damien Rafferty, Declan Rooney, Kevin McKernan (0-01), Conor Garvey, Peter Fitzpatrick (0-01), Kalum King, Daniel Hughes (0-03), Mark Poland (0-01), Benny Coulter (0-01), Paul McComiskey (0-03), John Clarke (0-01), Martin Clarke (0-03) (Subs) Conor Maginn, Ronan Murtagh (0-01), Conor Laverty, Benny McArdle
CORK: Alan Quirke, Eoin Cadogan, Michael Shields, Ray Carey, Noel O’Leary, John Miskella, Paudie Kissane, Alan O’Connor, Aidan Walsh, Ciaran Sheehan (0-01), Pearse O’Neill, Patrick Kelly, Daniel Goulding (0-09), Donncha O’Connor (0-05), Paul Kerrigan (0-01) (Subs) Nicholas Murphy, Derek Kavanagh, Fintan Goold, Colm O’Neill, John Hayes

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