The classic rivalry between the Cork and Waterford teams of the noughties provided us with many an epic battle.
The famed encounters between the teams, led on one side by the likes of Donal Óg Cusack, Diarmuid ‘The Rock’ O’Sullivan, Séan Óg O hAilpín, the O’Connor twins and Joe Deane, clashing against the might of Ken McGrath, Tony Browne, Paul Flynn, John Mullane and Dan Shanahan provided fans with countless moments of magic and championship memories to cherish.
From the legendary 2002 and 2004 Munster finals to the 2006 and 2007 All-Ireland semi and quarter-finals respectively, these two great teams served entertainment in abundance when they went head to head.
The counties are set to meet again this weekend at the penultimate stage of the championship in Croke Park, with an All-Ireland final berth on the line. The Rebels have already dispatched of Derek McGrath’s side in the championship this year, en route to their first provincial title since 2014.
As Cork hurling appears to be an awoken giant, enjoying a renaissance in fortunes this summer so far, the Déise are showing signs of springing into their best form at the right time of the campaign, having overcome Kilkenny in the back door qualifiers and brushed aside the challenge of Davy Fitzgerald’s Wexford. All indications would suggest a cracking tie is in store at GAA HQ this Sunday.
In preview of the huge game this weekend, Seán Óg O hAilpín and Paul Flynn joined Newstalk’s Off The Ball to reminisce on the great encounters between the pair down through the years. What ensued was top class radio.
Seán Óg and Flynn looked back on the remarkable goal that the former Waterford free-taker stuck completely unexpectedly in to the top corner of the net direct from a placed ball from around 35-yards out in the 2002 Munster decider.
The Na Pairsaigh clubman then went on to recall the fiery exchanges he had with Dan Shanahan when tasked with man-marking the current Déise selector. O hAilpín brilliantly recounts a particular incident where he was ready to forget about the match he was playing and drop his hurley and helmet in order to box ‘Dan The Man’.
Check out the fantastic sequence of radio in the clip below:
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