All-Ireland Final

Hurling games don’t come any bigger that next Sunday’s final. The Cork hurlers are bidding for a three in a row of All Ireland titles. When one reflects on the winter of discontent in 2002 ‘twould have been a brave man would forecast that Cork would contest the next fur hurling finals. That’s what has happened and now Cork are on the verge of making history. When Cork last won the three in a row in 1976, 1777 and 1978 we marveled at the heroes of that team. Now almost thirty years later we have a player on the team. Our very own Brian Murphy has been a star in this great Cork side and all of us in the club and parish are so proud of his achievements. Back in the 1980’s we gloried in the feats of St Catherines’ Denis Walsh and Cathal Casey and then in 1999 Timmy McCarthy burst on to the Cork senior team with some great displays which he has continued to produce in the intervening years. Brian Murphy served his Cork apprenticeship well, playing with underage, minor and u-21 Cork teams. In 2003 he won an Intermediate All Ireland medal and was on the Cork panel which lost narrowly to the Cats. Since then he’s been ever present on the Rebel defence. This is what makes the GAA such a brilliant organization. A player from any corner of the county regardless of the club or its records can be picked for the county team. Back in 1946 we had Con Murphy, twenty years later Seanie Barry helped end Cork’s 12 year famine and now 40 years on from that great win Brian wears the red and white of Cork with pride. Every man, woman and child in the parish of Bartlemy, Rathcormac and Kildinan wish Brian all the very best on Sunday. We know this will be a difficult fame to win – after all we stopped Kilkenny’s bid for a three in a row in 2004, so nothing would please the Cats more that to thwart us now. Down the years there’s been precious little between Cork and Kilkenny and often the hot favourites were beaten – remember in 1972? But Cork are well prepared for this challenge and hopefully they can again bring Liam home. Go for it Brian and of course we wish Timmy, Ciaran McGann, Fred Sheedy, Mick Dolan, Davy Pyne and all the Cork team the very best for Sunday.