In 2013, Cork played Clare in the All-Ireland hurling final. The epic two-match series capped off an incredible hurling championship. It was commented at the time that the match-up was a novel All-Ireland pairing. On July 9, the same two counties will contest the 2017 Munster final, in what has already been a fascinating summer of hurling. It is also a novel pairing for a Munster final. The two counties have not contested a Munster final since 1999.
Standing between the sticks for Cork that day 18 years ago, in his signature candy-striped goalkeepers top, was a 22-year-old from Cloyne named Donal Óg Cusack. He famously shocked the entire Clare team with his passionate 'We're Cork' chant during the parade. Cork would win Munster and Liam MacCarthy that year, and embark on a seven-year run of success.
Wearing the #3 shirt for Cork that afternoon was another Cloyne man, Diarmuid O'Sullivan. Ogie and the Rock became the spiritual leaders for Cork during those golden years, embodying the passionate, mysterious and uncontrollable tao of Corkness.
The blood brothers will be in opposing camps when insurgent Cork take on Clare in the Munster final next month. Speaking to Balls.ie at the launch of Centra's #WeAreHurling campaign for the 2017 hurling championship yesterday, Cork legend Seán Óg Ó hAilpín said it would be surreal to see his ex-teammates divided for the Munster final.
I mean how close to the bone can you get. I mean two lads who grew up in the same village in Cloyne, home of Christy Ring. Teammates for years, 'we're Cork', like, and then Donal Og gets involved in the Clare camp and Diarmuid doing a great job in the Cork camp.
I'd love to see them walking against each other. Will they smile? No one knows. They'll probably give each other a rap or something because when it comes to hurling with those fellas, it's full on, 100% serious.
Sean Óg also thinks Donal Óg will play a massive role in helping Clare deal with the upstart Rebels.
"Donal Óg is going to be crucial for Clare's preparations. If anyone knows the DNA and the way the Cork psyche thinks, it's him. We would have lead the brigade for a huge number of years."
Ó hAilpín also spoke glowingly about how Cork has been reinvigorated during the 2017 hurling championship, and the massive effect the team has had on the entire county.
"We lost that mojo for awhile. You take the rebels out of cork and we're half nothing. but it seems to be back."
Ó hAilpín's mother Emilie also said her two sons Setanta and Aisake were watching Cork beat Waterford from Melbourne and the whole family will be watching the Munster final with great anticipation.
"I'll be there cheering for Cork. Up the Rebels."
As a long-standing sponsor of the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship, Centra yesterday launched #WeAreHurling, which celebrates the passion displayed by all of those in Ireland’s collective hurling community. #WeAreHurling reinforces Centra’s commitment to local communities across Ireland by shining a light on the many people who devote their lives to the game – making our national sport a pillar of Irish pride.
