United we stand, says Sugrue

It has taken three years for Mark Sugrue and most of this year’s Cork U21 squad to make it back to an All-Ireland football final. To atone for that day against Tyrone when they fell one, painful point short of ultimate glory.

Then, too, it was a game of the narrowest of margins.

Eight points had separated them from the Ulster boys with just ten minutes left to go at Croke Park in the 2010 minor decider and, though they had made a habit of leaving it late throughout that year, this was the day the clock would catch them.

It has haunted them since.

Five of the lads who featured that day have played in, and won, three successive Munster U21 finals since but two All-Ireland semi-final defeats had been their lot until last Saturday’s dramatic victory against a Cavan side coming off the back of their own three-in-a-row.

“2010 was a real kick and last year maybe as well,” said Sugrue after being handed the man of the match crystal.

“Maybe Dublin were a bit physically stronger than us last year but some of the lads were there the year before that as well and lost to Galway in the semi-final. Hopefully now we can go on and do it.”

Sugrue spoke of the fact that 80% of this year’s panel were on the premises that September day in 2010 — 13 of them saw action — and alluded to the unity that has bonded this group through an underage journey of contrasting fortunes inside and outside their province.

He talked about the endless succession of runs up and down the hills at Gougane Barra on New Year’s Eve and how they had built on past reserves of solidarity and stamina and they needed both approaching 5pm two days ago.

This time it was Cavan who launched the nothing-to-lose comeback with ten minutes to go and there was only the one point remaining of Cork’s six-point lead by the time Enda Reilly stood over that last-ditch, injury-time free.

“We were just thinking ‘please wind, please take it’. The wind was strong,” said Sugrue.

“We were up the far end at the start saying it wasn’t too bad but when you were down the other side it had a very big influence. That was a very difficult free for your man there and thankfully the wind took it.”

Cavan manager Peter Reilly stood over the decision to call his namesake ashore and then send him back in to the eye of the storm with that all-important free and admitted that, ultimately, the better team had won.

“We weren’t happy with our performance up until about the last 20 minutes. After that we did take off and play well but that’s football and Cork are a very good team. Cork are a big strong team but big, strong men have to be good footballers.

“They are a good team and they will be a big test for Galway in the All-Ireland final.

Sugrue and company know exactly how that feels.