Give the boys in red credit where due

HAS anyone else noticed the similarities between the Cork hurling team and Munster?

I don’t just mean the fact that they both wear red, that both are champions, or that both have their own loyal and good-humoured red army (Cork fans outnumbered Clare by at least four to one in Thurles on Sunday, a fact which should not be excused by the explanation that Cork’s population is four times that of Clare’s. In the good times, Clare would have filled Thurles all by themselves).

No, there’s more to it than that. For some years now Munster have been damned with faint praise. Half a great team, went the chorus, world-class from 1 to 10, but thereafter, well, watery. Even this year, when they finally won the cup, it was the same song — great pack, pity about the backs.