*Clare selector, Ken Ralph. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
KEN RALPH made a prediction in April that the team to overcome Cork would win the All-Ireland senior hurling championship.
Speaking ahead of the All-Ireland SHC final which pits Clare against Cork, Ralph revealed a prediction he made following the opening round of the Munster SHC which saw Limerick defeat Clare and Waterford overcome Cork.
He recalled, “after the first round robin game I said the next team to beat Cork will win the All-Ireland and we are getting there”.
Reaching the All-Ireland final has “been a relief,” he admitted. This comes following defeats to Kilkenny at the penultimate stage in 2022 and 2023, “we have gone a step further which is positive,” he explained of reaching the next step and the county’s first All-Ireland SHC final since 2013.
Knowing their place in the decider was secure allowed Clare to study the other All-Ireland semi-final where Cork ended Limerick’s drive for five and eliminated the four in a row champions. “Having watched the other semi-final on the following day brought us back down to earth when we saw what is ahead of us. Look, it’s great to be in the final and we will prepare as best we can for the game”, the Clarecastle clubman commented.
Looking back to April 28th when Clare emerged from Páirc Uí Chaoimh with a two point win over the Rebels to save their season, Ralph acknowledged it was a decisive moment in their year. “At the time if we didn’t win we probably wouldn’t be sitting down here with you all right now. Because of what had happened the previous week (Clare’s loss to Limerick), it was a huge day for us. We had to win and, in fairness to the lads, they came up trumps. It seems a long time ago now and we are facing a whole new ball game”.
“Cork are a far different team now from then. They have had a few close scrapes but they have got through. For a few of us, it’s no surprise that they beat Limerick, we thought they would. They bring a whole new set of problems to us, different to Limerick. They are formidable opposition. We will be hoping to get everything right on the day,” Ken continued.
Replying as to why he was so confident they would beat Limerick the Tipperary native said, “I felt when they beat them the first day the penny dropped for Cork. I felt they had figured it out how to beat Limerick. We think we know how to beat Limerick but thinking we know how and doing it are two different things. We did it once and came close a few times. Cork have all the tools in the toolbox to do what needs to be done, they proved it the first day. It was very close, but they learned from that and showed up a few cracks”.
