Everyone in Croke Park knew from early on that Cork were set to defy history

For the guts of an hour, 38 players, 10 odd officials, 82,000 live spectators and a million more elsewhere, knew, in the moment, they were part of something special.

RED ROAR: Cork’s Niall O'Leary celebrates at the final whistle. Pic: Ryan Byrne, Inpho

Code red. It is finally happening. This isn’t a drill. There really are cracks in the empire’s edifice. This semi-final is still in its infancy, but already everyone can feel the earth shifting beneath their feet.

Brian Hayes has beaten Nickie Quaid. Aaron Gillane is penalised for a throw and a distress flare ignites on the Hill. Bright red. Smoke billowing all over the big house. A determined steward swimming through a sea of bodies in a desperate effort at confiscation. Heebie-jeebies in the air. Meanwhile John Kiely is in deep conversation with his analysts at the front of the Hogan Stand, anxiously studying an iPad. The single sound they wanted to quench is bellowing around Croke Park: Rebels. Rebels. Rebels.