Shane Stapleton and Michael Foley of the Sunday Times preview Cork’s chances of hurling glory in 2020.
Don’t dare bring it up, but it is now 15 years since last Cork raised the All-Ireland title.
Back in 2006, there was the race for the ‘Rebel Treble’ but the Leesiders have never been able to regain a crown that they have now won on 30 occasions.
Michael Foley of the Sunday Times, a Cork native, joins Shane Stapleton to discuss what is a historically poor run for the county in terms of All-Ireland semi-final losses, and how they may soon enter the most barren run in their history.
The flipside is that the Rebels have beaten all of their Munster counterparts on different occasions in recent seasons, meaning there will be little fear on a local level.
Part of the discussion centres on whether some of the Leinster counties might break their hearts later down the line, should they make it that far.
Kieran Kingston is back at the helm after two seasons away, and has to begin the championship without defender Eoin Cadogan and midfielder Darragh Fitzigbbon, while Robbie O’Flynn is suspended.
All the same, the men is red have a star-studded forward line with Patrick Horgan, Conor Lehane, Shane Kingston, Seamus Harnedy and Alan Cadogan at their disposal.
Can they Rebels climb back to the summit of hurling?
Click play on the video at the top of the page to watch our preview, brought to you by OrgaRetro.com โ get 15% off al jerseys with promo code ‘OurGame’.
Manager: Kieran Kingston (1st year; 2nd term)
2019 Summary: 3rd in Munster; Lost All-Ireland quarter-final to Kilkenny despite 3-10 from Patrick Horgan
Ins: Alan Connolly, Daniel Meaney, Tadhg Deasy, Shane Barrett
Out: Daniel Kearney (retired)
Championship odds: Munster (11/4), A-I (13/2)
Last Munster title win: 2018 (54)
Last All-Ireland win: 2005 (30)
All Stars: Anthony Nash (x2), Mark Coleman, Darragh Fitzgibbbon, Seamus Harnedy (x2), Pat Horgan (x4)
2020 thus far: Lost Munster Hurling League final to Limerick; won two of five League games. Beat Westmeath and Cork. Lost to Waterford, Limerick and Tipperary.
First game: Munster semi-final v Waterford
Listen to Michael Foley narrate his brilliant podcast ‘The Bloodied Field’ here: https://twitter.com/bloodiedfieldp1
