Final Mirrored Cork's Tortured Road to Success

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Byline: MICHEAL CLIFFORD GAA agenda

IT MAY not have been the prettiest game in the world, but it was fitting that the game of ball that Cork won last Sunday mirrored their journey to that point. There were times in the first half when they were wretched, wasteful and witless, without hope and direction.

And there was a period, when Down stung them on the counter, playing intelligent, quick football, that Cork must have stared hard at those mustard and black shirts and wondered if their opponents were their old tormentors Kerry in disguise.

Could we not have forgiven them if, in those dark opening 30-odd minutes, they'd allowed the thought to slip through …