Experience can swing it way of wily Rebels

Ask any of Cork’s long-serving footballers which All-Ireland final win ranks sweetest of the eight, and all will provide you with the same answer — 2009.

Not so much daylight robbery, but Cork rode their luck that afternoon. Outplayed for more than three quarters of the decider, Eamonn Ryan’s charges edged Dublin with a devastating burst at the death. It stands as Cork’s sole final victory where the player of the match award did not also return Leeside, as Dublin’s Mary Nevin got the nod.

Indeed, it is Dublin who have given Cork most grief in recent years and when the Rebels fell at the quarter-final hurdle in 2010, it was the Sky Blues who capitalised to lift the Brendan Martin Cup that September.