Hickey heart of the matter

TWENTY points was the Cork target coming into this All-Ireland final. Twenty points was their average all season, and would have won them yesterday’s All-Ireland final and secured that sacred three-in-a-row.

That they fell short of that target, fell four points short, was down to defence, ferocious Kilkenny defence.

It neither started nor ended with those wearing No’s 1 to 7 (keeper is the most critical, remember) — the two midfielders, Derek Lyng and Cha Fitzpatrick, the six starting forwards, the two subs used (Willie O’Dwyer and Richie Mullally), all battled like gladiators, in a cauldron every bit as intimidating as anything ancient Rome every conceived.