By: Kevin Corrigan
It is a tragedy in ways but one of Cork’s big heroes in their 1984 All-Ireland Senior Championship final win over Offaly would not survive for two seconds in the modern inter-county hurling game.
Cork 3-16
Offaly 1-12
Then 32 years of age, in the twilight of a great county career that had peaked in the mid 1970s, Cork corner forward Seanie O’Leary was carrying a few excess pounds and was a bit short of full fitness but he demonstrated the age old adage that ability, know-how and hurling intelligence can trump a lot as he delivered a masterful display in Cork’s comfortable 3-16 to 1-12 win. He stayed in close to the goal, was able to win ball and power his way past opponents as his contribution was one of the main factors in Offaly’s downfall.
There was a lot of hype about the 1984 All-Ireland final. It was the centenary year of the GAA and the final was brought to its birthplace, Thurles to commemorate this. Cork were one of the great hurling counties, yet new kids on the block Offaly entered that final as favourites. They had won their first All-Ireland senior hurling title in 1981, a year after making the provincial breakthrough and they were desperate to add to their collection, not to be one season wonders.
Kilkenny had ended their ambitions in the 1982 and 1983 Leinster finals – controversially in 1982 when a late Matt Ruth goal was awarded after the ball appeared to have gone over the end line. In 1984, Offaly had found their form. They had scraped over Wexford by a point in the Leinster final but were on fire in a 4-15 to 1-10 demolition job on Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final, also played in Thurles.
That victory ensured Offaly were favourites but it was a mantle that sat uneasily on their heads. Cork hadn’t won an All-Ireland since 1978 and the historical significance of the whole occasion affected them in a very positive way. Offaly got caught up in the whirlwind of hype and didn’t perform on the day, though they were more competitive than the final scoreline suggests.
O’Leary’s quality goal gave Cork a 1-5 to 0-7 half time lead and the stage was set for a titanic second half. Instead, little went right for Offaly, who conceded 3-10 and could only add 1-3. A Kevin Hennessy goal, contested by the Offaly defence who complained that it was a square ball, knocked the stuffing out of Offaly and Cork pushed for home. O’Leary got a second goal and it was all an anti climax as Cork had the game won from a long way out and Offaly’s late Mark Corrigan goal was purely a consolation one.
The scorers
Cork: John Fenton 0-7 (4f), Seanie O’Leary 2-1, Tony O’Sullivan 0-6, Kevin Hennessy 1-0, Tomas Mulcahy and Pat Hartnett 0-1 each.
Offaly: Mark Corrigan 1-2, Pat Carroll 0-4, Pat Delaney 0-4 (3 ‘65s; and 1f), Padraig Horan 0-2 (1f).
The teams
CORK: Ger Cunningham; Denis Mulcahy, Donal O’Grady, John Hodgins; Tim Cashman, John Crowley, Dermot McCurtain; John Fenton, Pat Hartnett; Kevin Hennessy, John Crowley, Tony O’Sullivan; Tomas Mulcahy, Jimmy Barry Murphy, Seanie O’Leary.
OFFALY: Damien Martin (St Rynagh’s); Liam Carroll (Kinnitty), Eugene Coughlan (Seir Kieran), Pat Fleury (Drumcullen); Aidan Fogarty (St Rynagh’s), Pat Delaney (Kinnitty), Ger Coughlan (Kinnitty); Tom Conneely (St Rynagh’s), Joachim Kelly (Lusmagh); Mark Corrigan (Kinnitty), Brendan Bermingham (Lusmagh), Pat Carroll (Coolderry); Delcan Fogarty (St Rynagh’s), Padraig Horan (St Rynagh’s), Joe Dooley (Seir Kieran). Subs – Paddy Corrigan (Kinnitty) for Bermingham, Paddy Kirwan (Ballyskenach) for Dooley).
Referee – Pascal Long, Kilkenny.
By Offaly Secretary Thu 18th Jun
