CORK'S NEW MEN OF '98

Downey and Rebels on brink of ending 27-year title wait

- KARL O'KANE

THE last time Cork won a National Hurling League title, their current skipper Robert Downey wasn't even born.

It's not something that the 25-year-old financial coordinator has ever thought about, though.

The Rebels last Division One League triumph came back in 1998, when they defeated Waterford in the final at Semple Stadium with Diarmuid 'the Rock' O'Sullivan skippering the side.

In the meantime, they've lost five finals, the most recent being 2022.

In that time Kilkenny (10), Galway (five), Limerick (three), Waterford (three) Tipperary (three), Clare (two) and Dublin (one) have carved up the 26 titles on offer.

The 2021 title was shared between Kilkenny and Galway during Covid.

This looks like as good a chance as Cork will ever get to break their League duck.

They've hit 10 goals in their last two games and are bang in form.

"I think as a player you want to win everything," says Downey.

"Every time you go out you want to win the game you're playing in. Every time you're training, if you're playing a game you want to win that game too.

"Definitely, it's (League title) something that we'd love. But I suppose Cork not winning a League in my lifetime has never really entered my head to be honest. It's not something that we really think of.