IN OFFALY, WE know that we were involved in one of the most famous conclusions ever to an All-Ireland senior hurling final.
1994 in Croke Park. Five minutes left. Offaly trail Limerick by 2-13 to 1-11. Then we hit 2-5 without reply and suddenly we were All-Ireland champions.
Being involved in the game it is difficult to determine was that the most dramatic finale to an All-Ireland decider. But I have never seen anything to match yesterday’s finale in Croke Park.
Domhnall O’Donovan fits comfortably into the category of unlikely All-Ireland final heroes and he showed great composure to land that point for Clare.
I was listening to his interview on the radio as I drove home last night and his explanation of why he went forward was incredibly interesting.
He displayed phenomenal intelligence as he spoke about how his job was done as a defender at that stage and he needed to run forward to join the attack. I found it astonishing that he had that clarity of thought at such a dramatic part of the game. He was rewarded in style and was the Clare hero.
Referee in the spotlight…
The game ended with Brian Gavin in the spotlight over the issue of the amount of injury-time played and there has been plenty debate about his performance in the game.
Some observers feel that he favoured Cork while the first friend that I spoke to after game thought that Clare benefited most from the decisions. Different eyes see different things. Brian didn’t have his greatest day but I still think he is a brilliant referee.
Looking at the reaction of the two camps, there was a marked contrast in their view of the referee during the game. JBM was a picture of tranquility on the sideline. His players never saw him panicking even though I’m sure he was unhappy at stages.
Davy was different. It is well-known in the GAA are if you give the referee a hard time, you cannot expect favours in return. Davy must start to show discipline on the sideline and cannot be questioning so many of the referee’s decisions.
If managers are not disciplined on the sideline, it is unlikely they can expect favours in return from the referee. It smacks of gross indiscipline and does not transmit well to the players on the pitch who are expected to show restraint themselves.
Clare’s early dominance…
Clare are brilliant at what they do and they showed extreme composure team for such a young team. They attacked everything from the start and played really intelligent hurling.
To be only two points up at the break will have disappointed them. For a team as dominant as they were, they should have bagged at least one goal.
The one chance they had in the first-half fell to Darach Honan but his shot was saved well by Anthony Nash. It probably should have been put to the net but the ground shot was not struck cleanly and Nash denied Clare.
I asked John Allen during the game was he surprised to see Clare were not playing a sweeper but the point was made that Clare had previously been trying to stop specific forwards. Cork had no one in the mould of Joe Canning that Clare needed to curb the threat of.
It was very astute by Davy and I felt they absolutely dominated the Cork forwards in the first-half. Davy won the tactical battle hands down, especially when you consider that Seamus Harnedy was Cork’s best forward and his performance was not exceptional.
Cork’s response…
How did Cork fight back? The goals all came at a critical juncture. The first two were met with a great response from Clare. But the third one was vital as it brought them level at a stage when time was running out.
Cork utilised deep running attackers effectively. Conor Lehane’s goal was a great individual effort while Stephen Moylan ran through to set up another. They showed great pace and that caused Clare problems.
Jimmy Barry-Murphy must learn to use these more and devise a specific plan to get the likes of Lehane running off his midfielders when in possession. Cork did not have a plan to hurt Clare and they must learn from that.
Clare have a potential weakness when forwards run at them that Cork could exploit in the replay if they can get their half-back line running back towards their own goal.
Cork have major scope for improvement. When thinking about the leading players in the game, there was not a single one from Cork that stood out for me.
The man-of-the-match contenders were all from Clare. Brendan Bugler was magnificent, Cork couldn’t handle Podge Collins all day, Domhnall O’Donovan owned his area of defence and hit the most important point of the game while Conor Ryan deserved to get the eventual award.
Replay…
There’s some complaints about the time for the replay and the fact that it is not on a Sunday. It’s certainly an unusual date and time.
But none of that will matter in a few weeks when we have a packed house in Croke Park excitedly awaiting the throw-in. It’s been such a unique and magical year, and that’s how it is all set to finish.
Pat Horgan deserves a mention.great display yesterday in a cracking game.
The replay should be even better.
Cork should have been down to 14 men and only for the ref Clare woulds have been 7 points or more up at half time with all the soft frees he gave Cork.
You should have gone to Specsavers.
@Pat,including all of the Sunday Game Panel. Me thinks you would benefit more from Specsavers a bit more than me Pat .
Seamus change that red jersey there to a clare one.
There is absolutely no question it should have been a red, that is a taken. However, I felt Gavin started to give a lot more of the 50/50 decisions to Clare in the 2nd half, and you referred to the Sunday Game panel who also agreed with this too (I’m a Tipp man so have no affection for either team) including the added critical 30 seconds after the 2mins of ET. There was not one iota of time wasted during those 2 extra minutes played so you have to be honest by saying Gavin SHOULD have blown up at that last Clare puck-out but he gave you that lifeline, and you took it brilliantly. I shouted with excitement when that equaliser point went over, was delighted to see the draw!
Do you not think conor lehane took a long time taking the sideline ball, at least thirty seconds??? In fairness though the gaa woll always look for a replay. I have no affiliation with either team either but would have been daylight robbery had clare lost. At least we have another game of hurling to look forward to!
Of course if Lehane had actually taken the sideline cut it would have been something, goes to show how attentive you were, dont even know who took the thing!
@ Daniel – that doesn’t constitute as a recognised stop in play unless the referee makes a specific point of holding his hand up to stop play, and I don’t think he did. Agree it would have been robbery if they lost but isn’t that why we love sport so much? :-)
@ Dave , yea i didnt see the refs actions but thought he may have. However the fact they announce at least two mins, you and I both know, gives the GAA the option of getting thst lucrative replay which they have done for years!!! Yea would have been really bad for such a wonderful hurling year had cork stole it as they were out hurled and outclassed all over the park.
Pathetic………
The ref has tools to discipline sideline management if he feels it appropriate. Should not effect, nor do I think did it effect, how he refereed the game. Davy’s a wild man, love him or hate him, he adds to the occasion.
Rebels Abú.
I wish the heads of the English FA could see how great the Irish national game is. Theres no passion like GAA passion!Clar Abu!
Why?
Lack of passion from a majority of Prem league players. All they are is a pack of merceneries
Good article except when on about man of the match, for me Nash should be up there too for his great saves+his leadership+ his rocket. Cork played not great and drew an all Ireland and came closer than Clare to winning it. As for those moaning about the time stay at home and give those who couldn’t get a ticket for yesterday a chance he greedy sods! ;)
Having listened on RTE radio the commentator had to be a Clare man as he was totally biast in his reporting. both sides played their hearts out scoring three goals in any other hurling game would be huge but Clares scoring was incredible right down to injury time but please please RTE be neutral next time and give both sides a fighting chance corcaigh Abu !!
Marty Morrissey is a Clare man, Everyone knows that.
The referee shouldn’t be doing anyone “favours” whether they are roaring or silent. He should do his job and be impartial.
So condescending to say Davy needs to learn discipline! Just because he shows more passion that JBM on the sidelines. Different styles that inspire their players in different ways.
Keep your soft spoken JBM and we’ll keep our Davy exactly as he is, and leave the ref to get on with his job regardless.
Davys effin and blinding which is always picked up on mic is great ya!!!
Two totally different characters. Both legends of the game but the top man for me yesterday was Anthony Nash. Fantastic interview after the game.
So he shouldn’t have given clare a favour by giving them a chance to draw it. Everyone saying the ref fancied cork, when if it was another ref, cork could be all Ireland champions..
‘I’ve never seen anything to match yesterday’s finale’
I have, Dublin v Kerry.
On behalf of the cork players and supporters I’d like to thank Brian Gavin for his great performance yesterday,and giving them another day out in capital city
The cork players would flatten you nelly ,but sure, it would give you another thing to whinge about.
Not whinging,just giving my opinion
Fair enough nelly but it ended 25 points all.You have to give cork some credit for their second half performance.i thought Clare were outstanding but they never killed the game.Which as I said,it should make a great rematch.
Yep totally agree it should be a good rematch.hopefully Both teams can come back and give as good a performance again.
Whatever sympathy there is for clare is going straight out the window with crybabys like nelly and davy fitz, man up !!
I don’t support Clare btw
Nelly a few neutrals INCLUDING Richie Hogan an intercounty superstar said the only county that should be thanking Gavin is Clare, but ya, you, a fella who has openly admitted knows nothing about hurling know better of course! Stop embarrassing yourself!
Someone that hasn’t a clue of hurling could see that the refs decisions where in corks favour.its just it very hard to get a cork person to admit that.was that a sending off in the first half?honestly be a man and answer it truthfully
I am not discussing hurling with you! It’s pointless, you know f all! I could point out to the fact that we should have got a peno after Kelly ran out when Nash was taking a 21 yard free, I could point out that 3 Clare players had to be pulled off Nash when he was trying to run up the pitch to take a 21 yard free and all should have been booked, but then YOU, who wasn’t there and didnt see anything and hasnt a clue about hurling would not understand the significance of these calls, just as always embarrassing yourself talking about something you dont understand cause some Cork fellas bullied ya when you were a child! Jog on fella, get a hobby!
@Nelly, Clare were robbed of that game in the first half. How on earth was Shane o Neill not sent off. All the panel members on the sunday game agreed it was a straight red. Plus they pointed out dubious frees Cork were given to keep them in the game. Cork should have been a lot more than two points down.
@Diarmaid, Corks rather rather dubious claim for a penalty would not have occured if the ref only 60 seconds earlier sent off Mr O Neill.
Why do people keep rising to Nelly’s comments?! He’s a complete wind up merchant and is having so much fun feeding off your responses. Ignore him – it’ll drive him mad when nobody replies!
Dry ur eyes nelly referees make bad decisions all the time, ur automatically assuming that if o neill had been sent off clare would have won sport doesn’t work that way all the time they have a replay to right the o so many wrongs u seem to think happened
Diarmud it’s a simple yes/no answer come on man up we know you want to answer it
Eamon course I’m automatically assuming that if cork went a man down that Clare would have won.sure thats how cork are in the final they played 2games against 14 men how else would they have made it to a final
The ref went to his umpire, and the umpire advised 2 yellow cards. It’s obvious they were belting each other, t.v only showed o neills belt, ref was acting on what he was told by the umpires who were only a couple of feet away
@Petr so have I, the 2009 final and I’m from Tipp.
We were near it too Denism and they were both at it! I wouldn’t even bother saying that to Nelly the jokeshop though!
Diarmaid was it a sending off yes or no?if you answer it honestly il leave the thread
If o neill was to be sent off so should honan. Honan belted first. Yellow card for both players correct decision. Its a mans game. And nelly my view was from the hogan stand not the highlights on the Sunday game.
@nelly how are you sure cork would have been beaten in both games? Have you a crystal ball?
Alan I don’t have a crystal ball but I’ve a crystal clock on the fireplace why?odds are they would’ve been beaten by one of them teams they were the stronger teams.who beat you in your provincial final again?
Kilkenny were 5 points down at the time of shefflins sending off. Were ahead too of the dubs at the time of dwyers sending off so how did you come to that conclusion?
34.
You need to look at the extra time cork got two line balls in extra time first one took 33 seconds to take the next one took 31 seconds . the ref picked up on this and added 37 seconds on it happens all the time .
Seems to be a lot of cork people on this thread, I’m a neutral but the reality was that the ref absolutely rode Clare the last day, plain and simple.
Diarmuid- a penalty for the keeper coming off his line?? You need to learn the rules mate. It’s actually meant to be moved forward 13 metres when the player is not back far enough, which obviously wasn’t possible in this case as it was on the 20 metre line already therefore it should have been retaken. That was the only call in Clare’s favour I remember.
O Neill should have been sent off. As plain a red card as you will ever see. That was the massive call in the game that was got wrong.
What about the chop on David mc inerneys hand in 2nd half- a free in for cork was the result?!
As for the added time, a non issue that wasn’t even discussed on the Sunday game. O donovans point came @ 2:28 secs into injury time, given it took Stephen Moylan 35 seconds to hit the sideline cut, and the ref had to play AT LEAST 2 mins of injury time (unlike soccer) the ref could have been justified if anything in adding on a few more seconds.
I am well aware of the rules joe, were you at the match yourself? Cause many neutrals at the match spoke of how unfair the ref was to cork and spoke of off the ball incidents by Clare!
Diarmaid you are been a bit biased.take the blinkers of buddy
I watched the game on tv, and every incident I described was clear for everyone to see. There were a few more soft frees too in the first half that I didn’t mention that went corks way, in fairness Clare probably got a couple of soft ones in the second half, so that balanced itself out, no differently to any other game really.
However there is no denying that Shane ONeill should have walked, the umpire/ref bottled it. It was the pivotal moment which had a massive influence on the outcome. Even Donal og cusack, your fellow countyman agreed it was a red card. What adds insult to injury is that because the ref dealt with the issue, he cannot be suspended for the replay.
If you know the rules so well why were you claiming cork should have had a penalty for Kelly coming off his line then?? For cork fans to be saying the ref was biased in favour of Clare is laughable, I’d have a lot more time for fans who can admit the ref was on their side.
Clare should have closed out the game, they were in the driving seat for a long time
It was a red card, rules state a striking offence was a red card! If it had happened later in the game, he would have been sent off
Well said Joe. Ref had a mediocre game but he is on balance and steady performance still one of the best. He does not get a chance to redeem himself. Even a small error he is a b@@@@x. He doesn’t intentionally set out to be biased and I really don’t believe any ref does. If a player makes a catastrophic error like Clare keeper if the line ball at the end was scored, unlikely, we would say sure he had a great game up till then, hard luck etc
etc. I love the passion Davy brings but his histrionics on the sideline look silly. I am a total neutral who saw hurling as the real winner. To be honest I am sick of punditry having a go every week at refs. They are human not robots and they don’t have a TV camera to watch 30 times to see how many steps a fella takes. Roll on the replay.
Joe you the man
Joe I was near the incident and there was two of them at it, the umpires were staring right at them and still only advised a yellow yet you looking at the Sunday game somehow know better do you than fellas that were 5 feet away? There is incidents you didn’t see where 3 Clare players tried to stop Nash from getting up to take a 21 yard free where they literally were pulling and wrestling him to the ground and the ref did nothing, is that fair? O Neill prob should have walked, I said to my Waterford mate at the time it didn’t look great, but I am s**t sick of hearing know it alls who weren’t at the game comment on highlighted incidents and weren’t there to see the off the ball stuff Clare were at!
Just accept that cork were dirty.Again and stop smbarrassing yourself…AGAIN!!
If you know the rules Diarmuid why did you think it was a penalty? You obviously dont know the rules so you opinions are based on fiction which is why you are so deluded into thinking you know anything at all about the game.
Ha ha, my comment was an interpretation of the rules, if you bring it in 13 what does that make it? Impossible to be a 21 yard free thats what! At least I know players anyway, bit rich of a fella who mixes up players to comment on my understanding of the game!
Diarmaid just admit it.you sound like you don’t know what your talking about now
If draw in final, then the play should have an extra time like soccer because fans wouldn’t return to Croke Park again. Once is enough.
If you’re not going so, can I get your tickets. Should be a full house again and tickets will be very hard to get.
Maybe it’s soccer where the fans wouldn’t go to a replay because its boring as shite.the replay will be a sell out
The FA cup has replays.
Pat dont think the tickets will be as scarce for replay, because there’s no minor match and that should free up 6000approx, and you wont have usa punters and probably a lot less neutrals as they wont be able to afford another trip and the same with supporters living in England
The hunt is on already Bob. Hopefully successful.
Did someone mention soccer, sorry just tuned out there! Next!
Taught first half was poor but second half was unbelievably exciting! Talking about tipp and kk? I have never seen the intensity in any match that compared with 2010 final with tipp and kk! It was f ferocious and I’m attending matches with donkeys years
@Diarmaid, for a cork man you are pretty biased, you need to take your blinkers off. At the end of the day Cork have been riding their luck all year and it has got them to a final where they were pretty comprehensively outplayed. But fair play to JBM, he was a great player in his day and a gentleman by all accounts. I had cork down to win that game as Clare are a very young team and firmly believed that Corks experiences of big finals would get them over the line. But the refs performance was nothing short of criminal in the first half. A clear sending off and Quite a number of dubious frees given to Cork to keep them in the game and that is the reason they were only two points down at half time.
Yes, he probably did give Clare a few soft ones in the second half , but maybe on reflection the ref knew he messed up in the first place. That is the second time this year that Shane O Neill should have had his marching orders. O Neill is clearly prone to lashing out with his hurl and one wonders what game are these umpires watching . It was as plain as day, a red card.
Ok dramatic finish but standard of hurling generally poor passing terrible he kilkenny team of the past decade or Tipp in 09 10 or 11 or the Galway team of last year
.Kilkenny Tipp or Galway of the past years would have hammered Cork or Clare on the day
Cork teams of the past would have hammered tipp,Galway and Kilkenny,remember the 04 final,cork dominated Kilkenny in the final and beat them well,cork beat Galway well in the 05 final,cork comfortably beat tipp in so many Munster finals over the last 30 yrs
2004. Tis 2013. KK dominated hurling for a long time. Last time I remember Cork beating KK in a final was the drive for 5 in a row. I seem to remember it was only by one point.
@John, 30 years is too far to go back, standards way higher now and judging by quality alone the highest standard was set between 2008 and 2012, with 2009 probably the peak
Siobhan cork beat KK in 04 by 8 points(0-17 to 0-9)and KK were going for 3 in a row that year.It was the mighty Tipp who stopped the so called rubbish “the drive for five”
Meow.
There is no doubt that the last 15 minutes of this game were brilliant, but up to then there was nothing remarkable about this game. Clare were well ahead everywhere apart from where it matters most on the scoreboard, and Cork were hanging on in there mainly due to silly frees and Clare’s inability to drive home their dominance. However from the time Anthony Nash scored his 21 metre free this game took on a life of its own, and there is no doubt that it would have been cruel on Clare to lose this game, although such is sport. There is no doubt that hurling is the greatest field sport in the world, although why some posters constantly feel like they have to slag off soccer is beyond me. Soccer/Football is the biggest and most popular game in the world by a mile, yes it looks a poor game when put up against a hurling match of the quality of yesterday, but in fairness any sport not just soccer looks very average when put up against that.
Does anybody know where ‘factual Frank’ went?? Or is it ‘nelly’???
im kk but in fairness to the ref, he (i think) didnt want to ruin a players maybe once in a lifetime all ireland appearance!
good game but it seems this year players,from all teams..kk included seem to be playing for frees…maybe something that needs to be addressed!
Anyone where would be good to see the game in Toronto?
Heading over with my girlfriend only on condition that we get to see it !!
I’ve a friend living out there and she watches all the GAA in either the Galway Arms or the Rose and Crown, says the atmosphere is always great in both.