Kilkenny may have won Liam McCarthy but they featured in just one of our top five games of the year.
5. Cork 2-17 Offaly 2-16, Qualifier Phase 1
Not exactly a vintage year for either of these counties but they played out a thrilling qualifier back in June.
In front of just 7,569 in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork raced into an early lead with goals from Cian McCarthy and Luke O’Farrell, but Pa Cronin was sent off and Offaly started to edge back into it.
They should have led at half-time but they shot 11 wides in the opening 35 and a devastating 16 over the 70. Shane Dooley kept them in touch and it took some fine saves from Donal Óg Cusack to keep the Rebels’ noses in front.
Eventually Dooley got one past him from, of all things, a ’65 to narrow the gap to one in the last minute but referee Michael Wadding only allowed one minute of injury time so Offaly were denied any real chance to equalise.
An unexpected exciting game in the qualifiers. It was almost like watching the football.
4. Tipperary 7-19 Waterford 0-19, Munster final
A 21-point beating wouldn’t normally merit inclusion but Tipp put on a clinical display of goal-scoring on Munster’s biggest day. Four goals in six stunning minutes just before half-time killed the contest, with the Premier leading by 5-10 to 0-8 at the break.
In fairness to Davy Fitz’s side they never gave up and Pauric Mahony was heroic in defeat with a personal tally of 0-13.
But he was eclipsed by Lar Corbett, who bagged 4-4, a score more suited to games from the 1950s. An incredible, and chilling, display of hurling executioners at work.
3. Kilkenny 2-17, Tipperary 1-16, All-Ireland final
It was the rematch we all wanted, the decider in their best-of-three tussle, and Kilkenny won as underdogs.
Afterwards, those who had predicted the end of the Brian Cody era looked very foolish as two goals at the end of each half by Michael Fennelly and Richie Hogan sealed an eighth title for Cody and his fiercely determined team of Cats.
Tipp were brave in defending their title but with Lar Corbett kept scoreless by a virtuoso display by Jackie Tyrell, Declan Ryan’s side had to accept second place.
2. Limerick 3-14 Waterford 3-15, Munster semi-final
The most exciting game of the senior Championship and yet another kick in the face for the hard-pressed Limerick hurling fan. With no All-Ireland since 1973 they have contrived to lose some heartbreakers in their time but this ranks up there.
After emerging from an acrimonious strike, Donal O’Grady had his new-look/old-look side humming for the task of beating Waterford.
The Déise pulled ahead on a few occasions but each time Limerick found a goal to get back into it, two of them via Kevin Downes. Going into the final seconds they led by two and then this happened…
What a game.
1. Cork 1-27 Limerick 4-20 (aet), Munster U21 final
We make no apologies for including a 15-minute video with this. If it existed we would put the entire game up. And extra-time.
Many of us settled down on that Wednesday to watch the game more out of duty than anything else. Soon we were texting and tweeting our asses off to make sure everyone was watching. It was the most exciting thing on TG4 since they cancelled the Seoige’s oil wrestling show (we may have imagined that last bit).
Fifty-two scores were landed at the Gaelic Grounds in a truly epic contest. A half-time it was a fairly modest 0-12 to 1-7 in Cork’s favour but the second half was immense. Two Limerick goals put them in front. Then Cork hit back before Limerick led at the end of normal time only for Aidan Walsh to land a monster point and grant us another 20 minutes.
Cork started better and led 1-26 to 3-17 but Limerick came back this time, with a goal from Declan Hannon. Even then Limerick needed a super save from Aaron Murphy to deny O’Farrell from snatching victory for Cork.
An unexpected, and brilliant, midweek hurling treat.
