Rebels on march for New Year
CORK captain Seamus Harnedy has predicted the 2019 hurling Championship will be as big a lottery as this year.
Munster champions Cork fell in the All-ireland semifinal to eventual winners Limerick, and only a stunning save from Nickie Quaid in the final attack denied the Rebels a match winning goal.
John Meyler’s side played some of the most attractive hurling of the year and Harnedy said it was a joy to be involved, but with just one champion in the end he knows how tough it will be to be in Limerick’s place in August.
“There is only going to be one team satisfied at the end of every year and that happened to be Limerick last year. If we can learn from 2018 and develop further I’ll be happy. The main thing is that we are developing,” said 28-year-old Harnedy.
The Quaid save was certainly one of the moments of the season, but earlier in the Munster Championship Tipperary’s season could have been transformed had Jake Morris hit the net instead of the post against Clare. On such tight margins do seasons change.
“I heard a few of the lads talking about the width of a post and they were referring to the Tipp-clare game,” said St Ita’s star Harnedy. “It’s small margins, there is nothing between the teams on any given day. I’m sure next year is going to be the exact same.
“Munster championship in 2018 will go down as one of the best in history. I think it’s going to be the exact same in 2019. We won’t leave any stone unturned in trying to get as far as we can.”