Pain in the Rain

16th Jul 2007

Pain in the Rain
Finbarr Barry

Cork 1-17
Tipperary 2-15

Watching Tipp fans pour on to the turf at Semple on Saturday from the main stand was a rare experience for dedicated Cork hurling fans. Most of us stood silently starring at the streams of young Tipp addicts swarming the pitch howling with joy, bounding like excited young rabbits towards their blue and yellow heroes - wondering to ourselves where it all went wrong.

It has been sixteen years since Tipperary beat Cork in a competitive championship match and all the signs were that the trend would continue. Many of the hysteric pitch invaders were so young that they would never have seen Cork beaten by their own county in the heat of the championship.

Cork goal scorer Neil Ronan walks away wondering where it all went wrong

Twas a strange day from the beginning. As both teams were already through to the quarter finals there was a noticeable lack of tension in the air. The pre-turnstile banter and ball-hopping that normally accompanies match day was barely evident and only a few hardcore flag sellers made the journey from Dublin.

Despite of thousand Rebels making the journey, traffic was surprisingly light and parking wasn't the usual traumatic experience of Sunday afternoon all-ticket affairs.

Many Cork fans were in the stadium up to three quarters of an hour before throw-in and would have heard the unusual PA announcement made about half six. A sincere and serious voice boomed over the tannoy with gripping authority.

"Can we have your attention please!", boomed a tone so serious that we feared we were about to be informed of a tragic road accident, "would the owner of car registration 01-C <something> please return to your car'