‘The scent of victory was in the air at half-time’

Cork enjoyed a remarkable success against Kilkenny in 1966. But the Cats would have their revenge three years later, Michael Ellard reflects.

TO a much greater extent than 1999 when they triumphed and last year when they left the title behind them, Cork were given little chance of success when they met Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final of 1966.

Following the completion of a memorable three in-a-row feat, which culminated in Christy Ring winning his eighth All-Ireland medal in 1954, Cork hurling faced into it's leanest period in history.

For 12 long and frustrating years Cork languished in the doldrums.

According to wing back Tony Connolly, "the want for another All-Ireland became an obsession".

"We came close once or twice in breaking out of Munster but overall it was a sickening time of constant failure. Cork's cause was not helped by successive selection committees. A number of players chosen to play with the county during those dark years were not up to scratch, while better players were not given the opportunity to make their mark. It was during this time that the phrase it is harder to get off a Cork team than to get on one was coined," he said.

However, the introduction of young lions such as team captain Gerald McCarthy, Fr Seanie Barry and the other two McCarthys, Justin and Charlie worked the oracle.

"The scent of victory was in the air at half-time in the '66 final. After playing against the strong wind we were only two points in arrears at the interval. I will never forget coming out for the second-half. The crowd were singing 'The Banks'. I felt I was walking on air and I am sure the rest of the lads felt the same," he said.

The long wait was over. The Cork public paid a unique tribute to the heroes, thronging St Patrick's Street.

At the beginning of the decade, the lure of the sawdust ring proved too much of a temptation for a young Cork city lad. Roger Tuohy joined the world famous Chipperfield's circus.

When Cork were preparing to meet Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final of 1969 the majority of media attention and television cameras were focused on the ex-circus ring-hand, now playing at midfield with the Rebels, going through his acrobatic routine during the course of the team's press night at the old Cork Athletic Grounds.

But a few short days before the final the headlines were to dramatically feature another Cork player. Disaster had struck.

On the last night of training before the final there was no sign of star centre-back Justin McCarthy or his Passage team-mate Joe Murphy.

"We were not duly worried," recalled goalkeeper Paddy Barry yesterday. "We went through our paces and as was the norm gathered in a circle for a pep talk at the end of training."

"It was then that the late Jimmy O'Grady, father of current coach Donal, broke the news that Justin, who had been a pillion passenger on Joe Murphy's motorcycle, had been injured in a road accident on the way to training. It is hard to describe our feelings at the time. If you hear a player was injured in a match or while training you sort of took it in your stride. But this was a different scenario altogether. I suppose you could say it was one of disbelief."

Worse was to follow said Barry: "Our first feelings were for Justin lying in hospital and when it began to sink in that he would be unable to play a sense of foreboding swept over us. Remember Justin was one of our key players and we had previously lost the services of another star Con Roche.

"The loss of Justin affected us severely. It meant that Willie Walsh, who by then had established himself as the best centre forward in the business was brought back to fill the centre back position.

"As a result our attack was weakened we had been a very settled team but there was now a sort of hit-and-miss look about the side that took the field for the final."

Yet in the early stages of the 1969 final Cork looked assured: "Although we conceded a goal coming up to half-time we were still leading at the interval and we felt we were playing well enough. Then in the dressing room the selectors dropped a real bombshell when they announced that Eddie O'Brien was being replaced for the second-half. We were dumbfounded and as a result were shaking our heads going out for the restart."

When Kilkenny captain Pat Delaney received a head wound, Kilkenny's dander was really up. "It was an unfortunate incident and I don't really want to talk about it because people might feel it is a case of sour grapes where I am concerned. But there is no doubt in my mind that the other player involved, our full-back Tom O'Donoghue was a victim that day."

Barry smiled: "People say you have to lose an All-Ireland to win one. We did it about face. In 1966 we shed tears of joy in our dressing room. In 1969 we cried openly with disappointment."

And there was more anguish in store in 1972 when a disastrous selectorial decision to play injured captain Frank Norberg back-fired spectacularly.