Whats Another Year?

18th Sep 2007

What's Another Year?
Finbarr Barry

"A shambolic disgrace", "the worst football to come out of this county that we've ever seen", "absolutely humiliating".

Just a selection of some of the opinions on Kerry's performance against Meath in the All Ireland semi-final just six short years ago in 2001. That day the Royals put 2-14 on the Kerrymen with just a woeful 0-5 reply. A fifteen point drubbing that Kerry people are slow to forget and to top it all Eamon Fitzmaurice was red carded in the dying minutes. All this while bearing the heavy burden of 'hot favourites' as well as being reigning champions.

King Billy

After Kerry were trounced by Tyrone in 2003 by seven points in the semi-final some respected voices in The Kingdom were predicting a dark age for the county's single code. Big names like Dara Ó Sé and Mike Frank Russell hung their heads in shame leaving the field, their fans had deserted them long before the final whistle and Kerry's media didn't hesitate to stick the knife in deep.

Black clouds of misery were forecast to roll in from the Atlantic and bury the county under decades of sporting heartache - a veritable desert of failure, bereft of pride and success for years to come. Criticism of him sank to such depths (including a Kerry supporter invading the pitch and decking him) that manager Páidí Ó Sé finally passed comment on his own county men:

"Kerry people don't like to lose. Being a Kerry manager is probably the hardest job in the world because Kerry people,. I'd say, are the roughest type of fucking g animals that you could ever deal with. And you can print that."

A mere four years later this current Kerry team now stand pondering the prospect of a three-in-a-row. A far cry from much of the hullabaloo printed in the media in late 2003.

In the heat of the moment in Croke Park on Sunday, Corkonians were gutted and heart-broken. Six and seven hour journeys back to Cork for many supporters were spent soul searching whilst reaching some rather sensationalist conclusions to Cork's problems.

Massive overhauls, ruthless purging of the under performers or even the winding up of the sport altogether to concentrate on hurling were bandied about in the pubs on Dublin's northside, like frustrated toddlers trying to solve algebra.

Whats Anothe Year: Logan would approve.

Swapping James Masters and Ronan O'Gara was actually mooted at one point by one bearded Wescht Cork supporter - now wilting under the pressure of double figure pints. He was "deadly sherioush now like" before slowly collapsing against a row of stools, revealing a belly that could only have been constructed after a lifetime of supporting his local publican.

As the dust settles and supporters do the maths, our footballers have achieved far more than our hurlers this year including reaching a Munster final. We also had the pleasure of watching our boys make Graham Geraghty's Meath look like a bunch of Kerry hurlers down the Pairc.

The unexplained collapse of the best defence in the country remains a mystery. A puzzle only those with the footballing wisdom and experience of Billy Morgan can solve. Would it seem fair if Billy was shown the door having brought Cork to the final, while Gerald McCarthy remained hurling boss despite only bringing his team to a quarter final?

Someone like Larry Tompkins or Niall Cahalane might get away with tying his shoe laces but the majority of us aren't worthy enough to bend down and lick the dirt from Billy Morgan's boots. Anyone suggesting Billy should not be our manager next year must make sure they judge him on his lifetime achievements and not on a once-off defeat in an All Ireland final.

Like any experienced statesman King Billy refused to be drawn on speculation about his position as football bainisteoir. He's going to leave it up to the Cork County Board to decide.

We've been in an All-Ireland football final for the first time in eight years. What daring Corkman will be the first to raise his tenure when County Board meet? The forced or voluntary departure of Billy Morgan would herald far more concern than if he stayed on.

It won't be long til we see this again

Last year it was Mayo who were left reeling after a desperately one-sided All Ireland final. They lost 4-15 to 3-5. That's an 11 score deficit. Cork trailed Kerry by just five scores at the final whistle last Sunday. That might sound like positive spin but it's also a fact.

Had there not been the early second half mix up in front of the Cork goal and if Cussen had gone for goal after making a leisurely catch in the square just before half time who knows what might have happened?

Upon such possible and positive scenarios Cork's football sheikhs and oligarchs must now ponder before making a decision on who will lead the Rebels into next year's football championship. Not renewing Billy Morgan's contract will leave more questions to be answered than allowing him take the reigns again next season.

Following Kerry's 2003 slaughtering at the hands of Tyrone they entered the final again in 2004, Ulster football firmly on the back foot, and emphatically put eight points on Mayo to claim Sam Maguire.

Following our defeat on Sunday, King Billy defiantly said that he still believes this Cork team can win an All Ireland. He clearly has the respect of the dressing room and there are few men of his wisdom, worthy to replace him should the County Board decide to bring a permature end to his reign.

Here's to King Billy and the future of Cork football. Thanks for a great season feen.