Ryan staying grounded but Cork stand on the brink

THE Factory of Misery has shut down its production plant.

- By GARRY DOYLE

Or so the Cork people pray.

Having suffered repeatedly over the course of the past 20 years, the last thing they need is another sorrowful mystery attached to their rosary beads.

They've been through enough. Four times, from 2006 to last year, they've felt like gatecrashers at a party they intended hosting, watching Kilkenny, Clare (twice) and Limerick celebrate their All-Ireland triumphs, all the while wondering when, or if, their turn will come.

That question appeared to be answered in emphatic fashion on Saturday when they humiliated Dublin in the semis, scoring seven goals, all of them stunners.

"Ah, but we left a few points behind," said their manager Pat Ryan, his way of reminding everyone that semifinal victories are meaningless.

"That (kind of decision-making) won't be good enough to win an All-Ireland."

Yet while we can see the logic of Ryan's words, in reality a repeat of Saturday's display will be enough because only one side in Ireland could cope with the pace and panache of Cork's forward line and that's Limerick - who are still nursing their wounds following their shock quarterfinal exit.

So the door to a 31st All-Ireland is not just ajar but wide open - the only team who can stop Cork is a complacent Cork.

Yet with Ryan at the helm you just don't expect this to happen.

A modest, quietly-spoken man, he spoke on Saturday about the importance of remaining calm, saying he intends to stick to his normal routine for the next fortnight.