Banner Banjaxed and Broken

28th Jul 2008

Cork 2-19 Clare 2-17
Alan Ger

Last Saturday it was Ger Loughnane's adopted county. This Sunday it was his native county that fell to the Rebel sword at Semple Stadium.

Timmy McCarthy: Cork hero whether the hurling G.O.W.Ls like it or not.

Leaving themselves a deficit of eight points at the break and after all the reports of last weekend's half point team talk, one could be forgiven for thinking that the players did this deliberately just to see Ger McCarthy and Donal Óg covering the walls of the dressing room in spit again.

The second half was another huge display of hunger, passion and intensitythat is fast becoming a hallmark of this regenerated Cork team. After the break Cork men were first to every ball, quickest to hook, hardest in tackles and highest in the air.

Ger McCarthy's competence as Commander-in-Chief was affirmed with some tough calls. Timmy on. Sully off. Gardiner back at base camp again.

Now the goals were at the Killinan End - much to the relief of those of us squinting in the Town End. Down there you never really know what's happening 120 yards away. A Cork jersey tearing in towards goal followed by a pack of wheezing defenders.

Thirty thousand hold their breath. You try to spot a Cork fan behind the goal for a reaction. He jumps. Then the vacuum of that whispery silence explodes into a deafening roar all around you.

Ah, those Thurles days of summer. The hot bake of the terrace, the wise craics, ball hops and put downs. There wasn't a Clare jersey to be seen behind Donal Óg's goal in the second half - they were at the loser's end, busy booing Ben O'Connor for being daycint.

Later around Bowe's bar when Curran, Gardiner and some of the team joined fans for a hard earned pint groups of inebriated Clare fans roared 'Up the Banner' as they passed. No need for ball hops now. Knowing smiles starred back contentedly - like those you'd offer a simlpleton having an 'episode' in pubilc or a stupid child shouting harmless nonsense.

Monday morning. It might be slashing down on us now, with floods pouring down Silver Springs, Summer Hill and Shandon Street, it's grey, dark and humid but the sun shone on us Rebels yesterday - enough for us to remember that it did appear at least once in 2008.

We are definitely having a summer now regardless of what Gerard Fleming says.

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