Redemption in Cork’s tour de force

LET historians and statisticians fret over and parse the All-Ireland roll of honour.

This was all about Rebel redemption, about righting the wrongs of last year's hurling decider.

Cork's fear of another final failure yesterday drove them to the point of frenzy in pursuit of a 29th All-Ireland success.

Their desire to avoid a second final defeat in a row was manifestly greater than Kilkenny's three-in-a-row ambitions, and emphasised by a smothering second half display in which they outscored the Cats by eleven points to two.

"After the final last year we were totally gutted," admitted attacker Joe Deane.

"This was not about having 28 All-Irelands each. This was about 2003 and 2004," Deane said last night.

Amid the euphoria, the celebrations were thick with speculation of retirements. Would Donal O'Grady call it a day?

Will Brian Corcoran return again next season after yesterday's Croke Park tour de force?

The answers were as straight-forward as DJ Carey's in the crest-fallen Kilkenny dressing room a decision for another day.

"I now have a four month lay-off and I'm going to enjoy myself," Corcoran said last night.

"The setback from last year certainly stood to Cork. They were not prepared to go through that pain again," he said.

Coach O'Grady said: "The personal satisfaction comes from the team playing well and doing themselves justice, particularly in the second-half. Seventy minutes is a long time and you'll be in and out of the game, but the team knuckled down and fought very hard all through. That's all you can ask and that's where the satisfaction comes in."

Cork's All-Ireland winners are expected to arrive at Kent station in the city around 7.30pm, from where they will be paraded towards Coliseum Corner, over Clontarf Bridge and on to the City Hall Bridge.