Cork defeated Galway on 11 September 2005 to win their second All-Ireland senior hurling title in a row. It was theRebel county's thirtieth All-Ireland hurling title.
Ben O’Connor scored a sensational 1-7 on the day, 1-5 from play, as they overcame a plucky Galway side 1-21 to 1-16.
A second half goal from Damien Hayes brought Galway back into the game, leaving just one between the teams with twenty minutes to go.
But Cork found another gear when the pressure came on, and their captain Sean Óg Ó hAilpín lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup later in the day.
With Donal Óg in the goals and ‘The Rock’ in front of him, the team was built on solid foundations.
Club-mates John Gardiner and Ó hAilpín formed a dynamic half back line with Ronan Curran while Tom Kenny and Jerry O’Connor were a fast midfield pairing.
Niall and Timmy McCarthy were the workhorses in the half forward line with Ben O’Connor and Joe Deane breaking off Brian Corcoran inside.
It was a brilliant Cork team full of icons. Little did anyone know they would go almost twenty years without winning again.
On Sunday, they look to bridge that nineteen year gap in the final against Clare.
Léigh an scéal seo trí Ghaeilge ar Liathróidí.ie brúigh anseo.
But first, we tracked down some of the class of 2005, to find out where they all are now.
Cork's 2005 All-Ireland hurling champions: where are they now?
1. Donal Óg Cusack
Needs no introduction. The legendary goalkeeper famed for his innovation is a charismatic hurling pundit and probably the foremost hurling voice in the country.
He has coached, working alongside Davy Fitzgerald in Clare in 2015 and 2016 - winning a National League in the second year - before managing the Cork minors in 2020.
Coaches underage teams for his home club Cloyne and is the president of the GPA. Works as a senior engineering manager for Johnson and Johnson.
2. Brian Murphy
Murphy was the last of the 2005 team to retire from Cork, doing so for the second time in 2016.
‘Corner forwards will sleep easy tonight,’ wrote Diarmuid O’Sullivan on Twitter.
He played with his club Bride Rovers’ first team up until 2020, when he was 38, and took over as their manager at the beginning of the year.
No way through. Sportsfile.
3. Diarmuid O’Sullivan
The Rock was a part of Kieran Kingston’s Cork senior hurling management team for two terms before winning a county championship with Sarsfields last year, as a coach.
He was a part of the Down senior hurling coaching team this year and works in the energy industry.
4. Pat Mulcahy
The Newtownshandrum legend retired from inter-county in 2006, having been the Cork captain as Kilkenny ended their three-in-a-row bid.
Like O’Sullivan, he was also a part of Kieran Kingston’s Cork coaching team, and has been involved in coaching with his club Newtownshandrum.
5. John Gardiner
The Na Piarsaigh club-man lived and worked in Florida for a few years after his inter-county retirement in 2012, but is now back in Cork working in finance.
6. Ronan Curran
Is the general manager at Mycro sportswear having worked full-time for the helmet maker since the early 2000s. Has also been involved in coaching with his home club St Finbarr’s.
Strong in the middle third. Sportsfile.
7. Seán Óg Ó hAilpín
Another who has been heavily involved in coaching, Séan Óg worked with the Cork minors during Donal Óg’s spell as manager in 2020 and was involved again last year, when ‘Fraggy’ Murphy was boss.
Managed UCC’s Fitzgibbon team this year and works as a National Sales Manager for Procure.
8. Tom Kenny
He is a primary school teacher who works as an occasional hurling pundit for TG4. Kenny was also a member of Donal Óg’s minor backroom team in 2020, having stayed playing until 2013.
The O'Connor twins with Tom Kenny and John Gardiner. Sportsfile.
9. Jerry O’Connor
One of the O’Connor twins, Jerry was Hurler of the Year after the 2005 final. The Newtownshandrum club-man works as a Garda in Bruff in Limerick and coached their senior hurling team which includes Sean Finn.
10. Kieran ‘Fraggy’ Murphy
The Sars man was a selector for John Meyler when he took over as Cork manager in 2018. Managed the Cork minor hurlers in 2023 as well as and works as a quantity surveyor.
11. Niall McCarthy
McCarthy competed as a boxer after his Cork retirement, winning an All-Ireland University Middle Weight title at the National Stadium in 2017.
He studied in UCC in recent years, hurling Fitzgibbon Cup at the ripe-old age of 33, and is now a PE and History teacher.
Has also worked as a coach with the Cork minor team.
12. Timmy McCarthy
Timmy was the only farmer on the All-Ireland winning team. He runs a dairy farm at home in Castlelyons as he did throughout his county career.
13. Ben O’Connor
Won an All-Star in 2005 like his twin brother Jerry.
Went onto manage a number of club teams before taking over the Cork under-20s, winning an All-Ireland with them in 2023. He left that post recently, and runs the family hurley making business in Newtownshandrum.
O'Connor hurley makers. Sportsfile.
14. Brian Corcoran
Corcoran retired for the second time in 2006, having previously walked away in 2001, shocking the hurling world in the process.
A legendary figure in Cork, he works in Pharmaceuticals and gives a hand coaching the youngsters in his club, Érins Own.
15. Joe Deane
Free-taker Deane hurled for Cork until 2009, having overcome a battle with cancer in 2006. He works for AIB and his son Cormac hurled for the Cork minor team this year.
11 September 2005; The Cork panel. Guinness All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final, Galway v Cork, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit; Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE
Subs:
Neil Ronan
The Ballyhea man retired from inter-county in 2009 but was still hurling for his club in 2022, at the age of 43, when he scored 2-8 in the Cork Junior B final.
Was a sub in ‘05 but was playing in ‘99 when he won the first of his All-Ireland medals for Cork.
Kieran ‘Hero’ Murphy
Retired from Cork in 2008 but was still hurling for the Erins Own senior team in 2022, at the age of 39. Works for AIB.
Manager: John Allen
The former dual player remained as manager in 2006, bringing Cork to a fourth successive All-Ireland final. But they were beaten by Kilkenny and he stepped down at the end of the year.
After a five year absence from the inter-county game, he became Limerick manager in 2011 and guided them to a first Munster title in seventeen years in 2013. They were subsequently defeated by Clare and Allen stepped down at the end of the season.
Allen is a retired primary school principal and had worked as a masseuse on the Cork team prior to becoming manager.
