THE GLEESIDERS

Rebels in seventh heaven as Alan and Co show Keane edge in HQ massacre

- BY GARRY DOYLE

TTHE last time a Corkman came to Dublin and landed a knockout blow like this was when Roy Keane took out Marc Overmars.

hat was the infamous 2001 World Cup qualifier between Ireland and the Netherlands when Keane's early-doors tackle turned winger Overmars into the flying Dutchman.

Yesterday, it was hat-trick hero Alan Connolly and his relentless Rebels who took flight. An All-Ireland final against the winners of today's clash between Kilkenny and Tipp awaits. Neither team stands a chance. Not if Cork play like this. Not if Hayes, Horgan and Connolly are on the field. And certainly not if they face a side who abandon the idea of defending.

Because that was what Dublin did yesterday.

In the end they coughed up seven goals; there could have been more.

Three-goal Connolly was Cork's biggest hero but not their only one; Brian Hayes (left) raising two green flags; Pat Horgan raising concern for Tipp and Kilkenny defenders with his deadly accuracy, while at centre back, Robert Downey was imperious.

Why stop there because Cork never stopped? Eoin Downey shored things up at full back, which was vital as Niall O'Leary was having serious issues with Cian O'Sullivan, who had chalked up 1-3 by halftime.