‘Pat is running out of time for a Celtic Cross’

THE last decade slid by without Cork winning a senior hurling All-Ireland – almost unthinkable. So, too, the idea that Patrick Horgan doesn’t have a Celtic Cross to his name, a Glen Rovers player who Mulcahy sees as the modern heir to Ring. ‘The longer it goes the harder it gets. Go back to Ring, he was involved in the three in a row [as selector] from 1976 to ’78. There was always a case in Cork that in any 10-year period, you were probably guaranteed to get two or three All-Irelands, if not more. ‘But you were definitely going to win within that 10-year period. As it’s gone on, yeah, it’s got more difficult. The opposition have strengthened all over the country as well. ‘Patrick Horgan is our ambassador. He is our brand man at this stage, our go-to man. An incredible character, on and off the field. We look at him as our Christy Ring in the modern era. Because he has exhibited incredible, incredible skill. ‘Look at his goal at the end of the game last weekend. ‘But it’s his love of the club, his love of the new jersey when he saw it. He was very complimentary when he saw it, said, “this is incredible”. And a joy to wear it. Which was important. ‘For the likes of Patrick, yeah, it would be a shame if he doesn’t go and win his All-Ireland medal but, as we well know, they’re not handed out easy. Cork have no divine right. ‘We’ve been close over the last number of years. There is a very good team there to give a good account of themselves before year’s end. ‘Everyone in Glen Rovers and Cork would love to see Cork win an All-Ireland and I’m sure Patrick Horgan is part of that. ‘It’s about Cork, rather than the individual. But he’s captain and you’d love to say he’s done what so many have done in the past and go up the steps of the Hogan Stand.’