After last weekend’s action in Thurles, we now know the make-up of the 2013 All-Ireland semi-finals and if either game is half as entertaining as the Cork-Wexford semi a decade ago, we are in for a treat.
It is hard to imagine that 10 years have elapsed since we witnessed one of the most exhilarating games ever seen at Jones’ Road and it was entirely in keeping with the game that it should go to a replay in the dying moments of the game.
An Alan Browne point in injury time gave Cork a three point cushion on a scoreline of 2-20 to 2-17 and with the second of two minutes of injury time elapsed, the writing looked on the wall for a gallant Wexford outfit. However Rory McCarthy popped up with a magnificent finish to leave the Yellowbellies fighting for another day at the end of a truly remarkable game.
Coming into the game the Rebels were favoured to ease into an All-Ireland semi-final and with good reason. The Munster champions took provincial honours with wins over Clare and Waterford, while the Leinster men had recovered from an 11-point drubbing at the hands of Kilkenny to dispose of Waterford and Antrim en route to a semi-final showdown.
The Cork side featured many of the players that would become stars over the following All-Ireland winning seasons, plus the Young Hurler of the Year in Setanta O hAilpin. Wexford, on the other hand, were seen as something of an ageing side, with the likes of Larry Murphy and Liam Dunne edging towards the end of their stellar careers.
Larry Murphy and Diarmuid O’Sullivan battle for possession
The game was a free-flowing contest right from the outset, ebbing and flowing throughout the 70 minutes. O hAilpin was causing problems, as he was with every defence that summer, scoring 1-3, while Joe Deane was a constant thorn in the side throughout. John Gardiner pitched in with four points of his own as Cork at times looked unstoppable.
On the other side, Wexford were keen to rubbish their long odds, going toe-to-toe with their highly fancied rivals. Paul Codd was reliable at the frees, while also chipping in with a goal, while Michael Jacob had perhaps his finest ever game in the purple and gold and finished as the top scorer from play on the day. Adrian Fenlon gave another masterclass with two majestic points from sideline cuts, a dying art in the modern game.
With Cork edging ahead in the closing moments, the point from captain Alan Browne looked to have sealed victory for Donal O’Grady’s men, but the final chapter had yet to be written.
Rory McCarthy instinctively took the shot on from a tight angle, and though he had little to aim for and one of the best shot-stoppers around in Donal Og Cusack facing him, he duly buried the ball into the back of the Cork net.
Cyril Farrell summed up the goal quickly on TV. “I’d say this will go to a replay” he informed viewers.
Even the most ardent Cork supporter couldn’t deny Wexford the equaliser and every person in attendance was in agreement that it was one of the finest games ever witnessed at close-quarters and a game played in the right spirit.
Unfortunately Wexford failed to reach the same heights in the replay, but if the Cork-Dublin tie or all-Munster clash between Clare and Limerick scales anywhere near the heights of this encounter we will have a classic on our hands.
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