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Wily Rebels secure second successive title

Sep 12, 2005

Sunday, September 11

GUINNESS ALL-IRELAND SHC FINAL:

Cork 1-21 Galway 1-16

For the 30th time in all, and for the second year in succession, Cork are Guinness All-Ireland SH champions, earning a comfortable but hard-earned 1-21 to 1-16 victory over Galway at Croke Park on Sunday.

The outcome may read according to the script, but there were plenty of tense moments for the pre-match favourites.

Though the challengers started rustily, and conceded a goal late in the first quarter, Cork could always feel the Tribesmen's breath on the back of their necks.

Galway were supposed to collapse under the pressure of the occasion, but the six-point advantage Cork gained courtesy of Ben O'Connor's 16th-minute goal was quickly cut to four and by the break, the Connacht side were staring down a two-point gap.

The difference then was composure and experience. Cork's mastery of those attributes suggests that a third crown might be on its way next year. They played crisply, were decisive, physically competitive and converted 0-12 from 15 attempts in a high-octane second period.

The statistics are something that John Allen can examine later, for now he can bask in the satisfaction that comes from a summer that ended as he would have surely hoped.

The squad he inherited as champions are still champions. The Munster crown was added to their haul and the stars of these past four years show no signs of dimming.

Signs of Cork's fate came early, of course. Ben O'Connor began his battle with Derek Hardiman on the right foot, pointing a free in the fourth minute and scoring another 1-2 in the course of the half.

Brian Corcoran enjoyed some time from Tony Og Regan to point in the sixth minute, and after Alan Kearins had finally opened Galway's account, Tom Kenny powered through a vacant midfield to add a third and each McCarthy brother punished defensive mistakes. With 12 minutes gone, Cork led 0-5 to 0-1.

Ger Farragher took some time to find himself in the swing of things, but narrowed the gap so that the margin was down to three, 0-6 to 0-3, by the quarter-hour mark.

What upset their progress was O'Connor's goal a minute later, but some will argue that it should never have been allowed. Diarmuid O'Sullivan had been making life difficult for Galway's young full forward, Niall Healy, when a ball shot towards the duo. O'Sullivan left the 20-year-old sprawled on the grass, before sending a clearance towards the other end of the field.

As Healy rose to his knees, his arms aloft in anger at the referee's decision to wave play on, O'Connor gathered on Galway's 21-yard-line and despatched an unstoppable shot beyond Liam Donoghue.

That score might have prompted a turkey shoot, but Galway got their heads, formation and discipline right soon after - helped in no short measure by Hardiman's growing dominance over O'Connor. Farragher (a free) and Niall Healy reduced the margin to 0-4 and after some tit-for-tat scoring, a three-point spree saw Galway trail by just two, 1-9 to 0-10, going into the dressing room.

Kearins halved the gap within minutes of the restart, but the Tribesmen would not come any closer to the defending champions. Kearins and Fergal Healy cancelled out efforts from Timmy McCarthy and Joe Deane and by the 46th minute, Cork were four points clear, 1-14 to 0-13.

Galway were still stubborn enough to believe that they could turn things around, and Damien Hayes' goal suggested briefly that they might. In a rare passage of incisive handpassing, David Forde fed Hayes, who found Richie Murray between two red shirts.

Murray's effort looked destined to scream past Donal Og Cusack, but instead the Cork goalkeeper expertly blocked his shot. Hayes, who had continued on his run, was well-positioned to nudge the breaking ball over the line.

Again, just a point separated the sides, 1-14 to 1-13, but Cork were in no mood to allow their work be wasted. Within three minutes, a three-point advantage was restored, and while Hardiman (from 80 metres) and Farragher did register further points for Galway, there was little question over which team would prevail.

By the time Ben O'Connor pucked over the final score of his 1-7 tally three minutes before the end of normal time, Cork fans were already at the gates waiting to spill onto the pitch and the stewards were conceding the pointless task of keeping them off.

A minute later, a red ocean was swamping the field, and the players on it. Then bars of 'My Own Lovely Lee', before Sean Og O hAilpin's grateful acceptance of the Liam McCarthy Cup.

Meanwhile, Conor Hayes and his squad watched on. Galway's All-Ireland woes continue, but at least the progress seen in their performances in this All-Ireland run can console them until the start of next year's campaign.

SCORERS:
Cork - B O'Connor 1-7 (2f), T Kenny 0-3, J Deane 0-3f, B Corcoran, T McCarthy, J O'Connor 0-2 each, J Gardiner (f), N McCarthy 0-1 each.
Galway - G Farragher 0-8 (6f), A Kearins 0-3, D Hayes 1-0, F Healy 0-2, N Healy, D Tierney, D Hardiman 0-1 each.

 

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