For focused Cork IT, the past is the only thing they can’t control

Theirs is a tale of near-misses and hard luck stories.

Stemming from Pat Mulcahy’s appointment in January of 2011, Cork IT have established themselves as a permanent fixture at the top table of third-level hurling. On only one occasion in the past four years have they been absent from the finals weekend. The finish line is unbreached, though — they’ve yet to breast the tape in February.

In his maiden season at the helm, Mulcahy’s side were edged out by eventual champions UL in the semi-final. 2012 brought extra-time heartache at the hands of neighbours UCC in the decider, the Western Road nursery inflicting further pain the following spring at the quarter-final juncture.