Cork subtly altered its approach at the start of the second half. In contrast to the first half, where most long puck-outs were directed towards a group of players beyond Limerick’s 20-metre boundary, leading to intense reactions whenever the ball hit the ground, Cork decided to clear the receiving area on resumption of play. They relied on Brian Hayes, positioning him at the highest point of the D, who instantly became their target.
This strategy was fruitful, earning them two points within four minutes. Even if Hayes was unable to gain control of the ball, he made an impact, directing it to break to the front. Traditionally, Limerick would claim possession of the field beneath the descending ball, conceding to no one. Yet, this marked the second occasion in the summer where Cork had posed a serious challenge to Limerick’s fortress.
Cork accumulated a score of 1-11 from their own puck-outs; including 0-9 from long ones, executed straight down the throat of their opponents.
Hayes seemed to be the game changer Cork had been lacking. While they’ve had forward lines blessed with speed, creativity, and flair for years, they’ve been susceptible to aggression and intimidation, requiring a tactful approach to deliver the ball. This is where Pat Ryan’s strategy came into play: a Cork forward armed with the ability to attack mid-air balls, manoeuvre menacingly even with the ball, and maintain decorum when the rival team turned aggressive. Still, not everyone recognised the value in Hayes.
Ryan, prior to managing his first league match against Limerick 17 months earlier, shared an intriguing insight. He noted the value of attributes like skill, speed, and finesse in Cork’s psyche, but insisted that it also needed an element of physicality and aggression. He argued that players who may not control the ball perfectly could indeed prove valuable. He contested the assumption that his slow-paced game wouldn’t hold up in inter-county play – countless players, he pointed out, had proved such prejudices wrong by lending their teams valuable service.
Ryan didn’t specifically state who he was referring to, yet it was clear that Hayes fit the description to a T. During club matches, Hayes often fumbled his first touch, or had difficulty retaining ball control. Yet there was something remarkable about him. His contributions were instrumental when St Finbarr’s ended a 31-year wait to lift the Cork title in 2022. With 4-16, he was the highest scorer from play and the championship’s top goal scorer.
His play style lacked refinement, and Hayes appeared as a work-in-progress throughout the previous year. As a multipurpose player in the age-grade Cork teams, Ryan inherited Hayes in the senior football panel when he became the Cork manager. The two had seen success together with Hayes winning two under-20 hurling All-Irelands under Ryan. The new manager’s decision to approach Hayes came with its risks, but it was a challenge Hayes was willing to accept.
In the summer, Hayes’s role was limited, but influential. In a game against Tipperary, it was his score that sparked a comeback for Cork. Despite his appearances being fleeting, they highlighted his evolution: a player who was developing but sometimes appeared a bit clumsy, unsure or off-balance. This year, however, everything fell into place: his scoring, his dominance of the ball, his craft, his self-belief, and his force on field.
The archaic system of forwards being either scorers or collectors has faded; Cork proved to be the last county to acknowledge this. Ryan was instrumental in dismantling these established divisions.
This past Sunday, Hayes put on a prodigious display. Leading Cork with 1-4, he was the highest scorer from play. A disallowed goal, due to an incorrect ruling by referee Thomas Walsh that Alan Connolly had violated a hand pass, didn’t dampen his performance. Hayes’s goal was a harmony of power and precision: a reverse smash into the net’s corner, carried out seamlessly without hesitation or an attempt to manage the ball setup first. Only a player brimming with confidence could have accomplished such a feat.
Minutes after, he had another opportunity on goal, but his stretching strike soared over Nickie Quaid and the crossbar.
In the initial half, Cork relied heavily on Hayes, when contributions from Patrick Horgan were limited, and Alan Connolly struggled for ball possession. Hayes had previously proven his substance and threat as an intercounty forward, against Limerick in May, but this performance outshone that. Despite having several months to develop a strategy to contain him, Limerick failed to restrain Hayes, who took charge of Cork’s offensive. He was the leading figure among his fellow players.
Connolly’s game improved significantly as the match progressed, and his performance was particularly impressive towards the end. Like his contemporaries, Connolly had a standout season showing off his well-known skills, despite his appearance on this stage being somewhat delayed. Connolly and Hayes both featured on a victorious under-20 All-Ireland team, but Hayes, unlike Connolly, was not faced with high expectations.
This turn of events was unexpected by everyone. But now, everyone can clearly see it.