Munster Final Top 10 Moments

15th Jul 2014

The banter is mighty around town and on the internet this week as Rebels recall their favourite moments of Sunday’s thriller. We’ve compiled the top ten:

10. Run Forrest Run
After the nightmare of the previous Sunday dual star Aidan Walsh’s second half high speed sprint down the sideline in the shadow of the stand epitomised his workhorse performance. In previous outings these ‘Run Forrest Run’ moments might have lead to an embarrassing cul de sac and roars from the terraces of “for God sake just lob it into the square”. Walsh summoned a deft stick pass to Lehane who executed  a fantastic point.



9. Ellis’s Interception
Midway through the second half the walking wounded centre-back made a crucial interception just yards from the Cork goal from Paul Browne who was in full flight. Fans could feel the game turning in the Rebel’s favour as the Millstreet giant’s pass to Bill Cooper was knocked over the bar at the Blackrock End.  

8. Kearney’s Theft
That dinky little flick that unexpectedly dispossessed a Limerick player thundering through midfield was beautiful. Then to top it, a beautifully struck pass to Paudie Sull for his goal. Just, wow!

7. Seamy’s Net Rattler
The pride of St. Ita’s tractored his way through a sea of Limerick fouls to go one on one with their hapless keeper. His bouncy celebration was mirrored at the Blackrock end by thousands.

6. Shane’s Shield of Steel
Most of us initially thought that Shane O’Neill’s man had just misfired at the Cork goal but when Nash immediately went to literally batter the Bishopstown man’s back - to the point of nearly assaulting him in that lovingly old Irish way of a man showing affection to another man - we all realised that O’Neill had actually managed to block the shot. He’s back to his best.

5. Nash’s Point
Foul a Cork player within Nash’s monstrous range and you’re in big trouble. Many credit the Kanturk keeper’s whopping first point of the championship in the first half as a turning point in the game. We loved it.  

4. Bubbles’ Icing on the Cake
How Paudie Sull managed to gain possession in the first place from Daniel Kearney’s beautiful low delivery will require a team of forensic scientists to decipher but his supersonic strike to the net signed, sealed and delivered victory to the Rebels. His leg d’be well fixed now, boy!

3. Páirc Invasion
As William Egan belted the ball high into the air and the black whistle rang out, the thunderous Rebel roar rattled the foundations of the Páirc and nearly saved the county board a few bob on demolition. No mean looking Dublin bad boys in high-vis vests were going to stop the tens of thousands who streamed on to the pitch to bask in the glory.

2. An Corn a Ghlacadh
At last some silverware! It’s hard to believe it has been eight years since a Cork senior hurler walked up the steps of any stadium to hoist a cup in the air but finally Captain Cronin’s biceps broke the hoodoo and finally thrust one towards the sky.

For every fan who had winced their way through the football final the previous week this was redemption. And a very, very important win for a county as proud of its record as Cork. There are seven year olds who hadn’t seen Cork hurlers lift a trophy in their lifetime. Now they have.

1. De Banks
The Banks of My Own Lovely Lee ringing out around Páirc Uí Chaoimh is just something any Corkonian with even a hint of grá for his or her county has to experience at least once in a lifetime. That ‘where we sported and played’ line sends a shiver up the spine when it hits that high note on ‘sported’. The perfect end to a perfect day for Rebels everywhere.  

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Bad Buzz
Special mention for Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald. His undisciplined side wilted to Wexford on Saturday night and are out of the championship but instead of going out with the grace of a Jimmy Barry-Murphy, he embarrassed his supporters by citing the usual half-baked conspiracies and I-won’t-mention-the-ref-but-I-just-have old blather.

Why GAA pundits aren’t calling him out on his pathetic sideline histrionics and ratty post-match digs at amateur referees, we really don’t know.

Us Cork fans have a lot of time for Clare supporters and Clare’s young players have always come across well but they deserve better than these childish North-Korean-esque rants that would not be tolerated on Leeside. He has ten months to think long and hard about his position.