Masters and Cussen were both brought on. But bringing them on made no difference to the scoreboard - we were 4 points down and we stayed that way. Whether or not bringing them on earlier would have made a difference in that regard, we don't know (I have my doubts, albeit some of those wides were very close and Masters was getting opportunities).
Very very few refs even these days with greater awareness of impacts to the head, without the benefit of a video playback, would have given a red card for the accidentally-on-purpose Kennelly strike on Murphy's head in the first seconds of the game. Yes, Cork were considered the form team coming into the 2009 final, but I'd argue not as much the form team as many suggest (e.g. the Limerick match, a replay to beat a poorer-at-the-time Kerry team in Munster, difficulties with Tyrone after Kavanagh came on). As galling as it is, Kerry were better in the final. Matchups of our backs and their forwards has been debated, given how Kerry used that to pull some Cork backs out of their best positions, but it's impossible to know how things would have gone if we reacted differently.
In 2010, nobody considered us the form team. But we did just about enough to make it to the final (not unlike Kerry in 2009). And we were the best team in the final - but yes of course that is a matter of opinion, and Down no doubt have massive regrets. I think our team, so well led by Canty and other elders on the team, also showed great class as winners in 2010.
That Cork team from 2005 to 2012 was a well-led great team. But for most of that period it was also up against some other well-led great teams. Could have won more AIs, but at the same time might not have won any. One could argue that two AI wins would have been a fairer distribution, and it's a pity we didn't get to beat Kerry in Croke Park, but at least we got one.
It would be great to be competing at that level again. What occasions!
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