Cork's 'special' minors can spark football resurgence on Leeside

Decider could easily have gotten away from them but but Cork stuck at it - even when they were nine points down

REBEL ROAR: Cork's minor football All-Ireland winners celebrate after Sunday's final in Newbridge. 'If the people get behind them that’s the key', says mentor Maurice Moore. Pic Bryan Keane, Inpho

Cork’s All-Ireland minor winners have been praised as a “special bunch of players” whose dramatic decider defeat of Tyrone in Newbridge can act as a template for a football resurgence at all grades in the county.

Keith Ricken’s side found themselves nine points down with less than 25 minutes to go against the defending champions on Sunday, but outscored them 2-9 to 0-3 from there to the finish to capture a first All-Ireland at minor level since 2019.

Selector Maurice Moore, speaking just minutes after captain Joe Miskella raised the Tom Markham Cup, summed up the work the squad had put in since they first got together back in October.

“They have shown heart, they have shown grit and resilience: everything you need in a teenager playing sport. Hopefully this will turn everything towards Cork football. There are special people involved in Cork football and by god did we show it out there on the pitch today.” 

Moore explained how the dressing-room has been adorned with key words like ‘electric’ and ‘space’ and he heaped praise on their charges for bringing those buzzwords to life on a hot day against a top-class opposition.

“They did that. They splattered the words we have in training all over the pitch and if it’s a little template of what Cork football is about and should be well so be it. That’s what it will be.” 

This could so easily have gotten away from them. Tyrone were exceptional in both halves of the pitch and on both sides of the ball for the first 35 minutes of the hour but Cork stuck at it even when the deficit twice got to nine points with goals from Alex O’Herlihy and Eoghan Aherne doing huge damage.

“Last quarter nothing changed,” said Moore. “They kept going, kept going, kept going. They started to turn things in their favour: small little moments, small little things went their way and it forced the way it was going in our direction. By god, did we put guys with steel there.

“Eoghan Aherne: ‘Am I going to put it over the bar? No. I’m going to put it in the net.’ What a fantastic goal, what a fantastic player and he is a credit to his club, Carrigaline. All of them out there are special. Nothing more than pure heart and pure determination won that.

“We’ll enjoy that.” 

The final was played out in front of a huge Cork crowd, many of them having stayed in Dublin or the Kildare area on Saturday night after watching the senior hurlers fall to Galway in their All-Ireland semi-final.

The pitch invasion that followed this minor win spoke for the desire to see a Cork side go all the way this year after some close shaves and ultimate disappointments, and a fired-up Moore is certain that the county’s football graph is pointing in the right direction.

“The potential is there. I was talking to John Cleary as well and they have had a great year, a really strong year no matter what you say. There is belief in the GAA in Cork, both hurling and football.

“If the people get behind them that’s the key. Even when we’re bloody well losing, that’s what will turn it, what makes them special, turns them into strong personalities, and eventually we’ll get there. What a great day.”