Diarmuid Sheehan

Takes a look back at a breakthrough season for the Cork hurlers, but one tempered by a change in management

ORK hurling is in the midst of a serious transformation at present with new management, new players and a serious level of optimism surrounding one of the traditional powerhouses of the game in Ireland.

Cork’s senior inter-county hurling squad have been through the ringer in recent years with far too many below par performances mixed in with injuries and some atrocious luck however 2017 looks to have reinvigorated this particular camp.

Some reports heading into the 2017 championship had Cork down as low as eight in the reckoning however that was probably a little on the harsh side. That said, Cork were favourites for nothing and many believed that a good run through the backdoor would suffice for Kieran Kingston and his charges.

Well, 2017 didn’t pan out like any of us thought and while the season would ultimately belong to Galway, it might be fair to say that this was every bit as much Cork’s year – the year that the Blood and Bandage rose again, the year the supporters backed their team and got something in return, the year that it all turned around.

Well time will tell if the latter will come to pass but perhaps the place to start is right at the end – and the sudden departure of Kieran Kingston and his backroom team.

The departure of Kingston took many by surprise and definitely put a cloud over what had been achieved in 2017. The reasons for his departure are as various and numerous as the expressions on his side kick Diarmuid O’Sullivan’s face all season, but he is gone and most remain still confused.

In Kingston’s place now is a man that many had been calling for well before Kingston’s appointment, John Meyler. A man that garners respect from all quarters.

Well 2017 started off with some cheer in the Munster Hurling League with Cork securing their first Munster hurling League crown – seeing off Limerick by the minimum 1-21 to 1-20. Names like Mark Coleman, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Luke Meade and Shane Kingston beginning to make a real name for themselves.

The National Hurling league was to follow with some very good displays against the likes of Clare, Waterford and the reigning All Ireland Champions Tipperary securing second spot in a hugely talented field.

The knock-out stages were a little bit of a damp squid for the men in red as they lost out in the quarter finals to Division 1B side Limerick.

So, there it was, two early competitions and the jury was still very much out on what 2017 was going to be like for the Rebels. Well, a few tweaks here and there and Cork headed into the Munster Championship to face a Tipperary side that still had the aura of All Ireland champions firmly wrapped around them.

May 21, 2017 would be a seminal moment in this season for Cork hurling. After failing to impress in the All Ireland series for a number of years, and facing up to the reigning All Ireland Champions – in their own back yard – Cork produced what can only be described as an epic performance that stunned hurling fans around the country.

Cork went toe to toe with the current aristocrats and beat them – not only did they win but they did it is style, battling through a breath-taking contest.

The first half alone was worthy of the entrance fee with the sides level on no fewer than twelve occasions, however, the second period brought Cork hurling back to its place in the sun. Cork won 2-27 to 1-26.

Rarely in the history of the GAA has there been a supporter’s pitch invasion for a first round win, but on this day the emotion seemed to be too much for many Cork supporters to take as they hurdled the gates at the home of hurling to heap praise and kisses on the heroes.

Of course, the management team attempted to play down the importance of the result but the importance of the win was there for all to see.

With no shortage of pre-game hype Cork went into the Munster Semi Final against Waterford full of the joys of life but wary of what the Deise would bring to the table.

This again was another classic encounter with both sides refusing or asking for quarter. Just four Sundays after seeing off Tipp, Cork had five points to spare over a highly rated Waterford side that ultimately would have the final say on Cork’s season.

An even larger crowd, 33,163, attended this one as Cork’s impressive supporting bandwagon began to get into full swing.

Well, few would have predicted that Cork would get to the Munster Final in 2017 and even fewer would have thought they would be favourites heading in but after beating the two pre-season favourites on their way to the show-piece game the favourites tag was justified. Clare stood in the Rebel way and while The Banner had their supporters, they were far out-gunned by 40,000 Cork fans.

Heading up the motorway from Cork it was hard not to think you were part of something bigger that day. Cork fans were everywhere and on every form of ground based transport known to man. That said there were plenty that flew in for the day that this Cork team would finally come of age.

A brilliant display from the