Triple Crown-chasing Diarmuid Healy can be Cork's lucky general

RTÉ News​

16-07-2025

You have been down,
But you'll be coming back,
To wear your crown,
So don't you be like that.
Plenty Times – The Frank and Walters
The Frank and Walters' album 'Beauty Becomes More Than Life' was released in the summer of 1999. It had been nine long years since Cork had won a hurling All-Ireland – an almost unprecedented famine in those days when Cork sat on the throne, top of the roll of honour, the real home of hurling.
But oh what a beautiful summer that was for Cork hurling. The phoenix from the flame… after a decade of disappointment.
The messianic figure of Jimmy Barry-Murphy rolled the dice and went with the kids… a talented group of unknowns who had won back-to-back Under-21 titles the previous two years. They would sweep all before them that summer, beating Kilkenny in the final in a rainstorm. Later they would win two more and become household names as well as starring figures in the soap opera that was Cork GAA over the next ten years.
And then they were gone.
There's a famous photograph of Barry-Murphy back in his playing days, at Cork training, wearing his 'Barr's jersey, deep in conversation with one of the Cork selectors – a man by the name of Christy Ring. All that was missing from the photo was the Holy Spirit.
Neither man's record – on or off the field – could ever be questioned.
But.
Christy famously used to exhort Cork teams with the phrase – 'We are Cork!'
A rallying cry of superiority – superior history, superior skill, superior pedigree, and superior success.
Superior arrogance.
Superior pride.
What comes before a fall?
Cork's fall has been superior too.
That team of '99 that went on to win again in '04 and '05 only papered over the cracks. As other counties invested in development and structures 'We are Cork!' became a hollow echo of better days - amounting now to 'not good enough'.
No senior title in 20 years.
None at U21 in the 20 years from the turn of the century.
From 2001, sixteen years without a minor win.
Promising young crops arrived, played minor, played U20, and retired from senior without ever reaching the mountain top.
Eventually, Cork GAA got around to developing the structures and systems at underage level needed to grow the players capable of competing in the modern, professionalised world of inter-county GAA. It took many years to bear fruit, there were many critics... but the tide turned first at U14 and U16, then minor and U20.
This Sunday one young man embodies that change like no other.
Completing the set.
Don't even whisper it.
Even in the most traditional hurling counties it is a big deal.
The senior medal might even be the easiest part. You might only get one chance at minor. And maybe one chance at U20.
Ask King Henry. The most successful player in history never won minor but didn't allow it hold him back.
If you're good enough, and want it bad enough you might get seven, eight or even 17 or 18 years at senior. Ask TJ. Ask Hoggie. Neither of them has a minor medal. Hoggie has no All-Ireland medal at all despite 21 years playing for Cork through all the grades.
Horgan first played minor for Cork in 2004. That was the same year that Diarmuid Healy was born into the village of Lisgoold.
Where?
No – G-O-O-L-D.
Just a few miles out the road from Midleton the small junior club, in the heart of hurling country, has always been overshadowed by its larger neighbours.
Overshadowed, even, by smaller clubs in the good years. There were shiny new medals rattling around down the road in Killeagh. Landers and Deane. St. Ita's had no medals but they've had Harnedy through all the years that Healy was learning his trade.
There weren't many inter-county role models for a young hurler from Lisgoold. There were medals in the family… but a long long way back. Black and white photos aren't great inspiration for a young fella when there's colour TV.
No vivid memories in the club either. Willie Moore was, and is, Lisgoold's only All-Ireland winning clubman. That was in the 1950's.
In 2021, Healy was 17.
Good enough, and lucky enough to play minor as the long process of rebuilding Cork's underage structures was bearing fruit. He was there when Cork claimed just their second minor title in almost 20 years.
In 2023, Healy was 19.
The U20s who had spent two decades in the wilderness couldn't stop winning for a few years at just the right time. Two years after his minor success he had another medal to go with it.
It's 2025, and Healy is 21.
It's almost his entire life since Cork last won a senior all-Ireland.
Cork hurling history is strewn with the names of the next big thing – the underage superstar, the saviour to rise from these streets. Many were given the mantle. For many it didn't fit.
A promising substitute appearance against Tipp in the league.
Time to sink or swim.
Healy's first start was against Kilkenny – a nice easy one - on an emotional night for Cork hurling. Pat Ryan's brother had died that week. Ray Ryan had hurled for Cork too. Life's short. Make the most of it while you can. Even at his young age Diarmuid Healy knows that all too well.
Midway through the first half the ball broke from Pat Horgan…Healy was in the right place to collect and tap over for his second point. Or at least that's what he should have done - the sensible thing for a young fella on for his first start. Two points from play in a half against Kilkenny. That'd be fair enough no matter how the rest of the match went.
Healy was having none of it. Already at an angle, moving away from goal with a forest of legs between him and maybe the best keeper in the country, Healy didn't hesitate. He rifled a sweet strike into the far corner. Cork won by three. Healy scored 1-05. From play.
Wrapped back up in cotton wool – he didn't start again in the league. He came on as a sub in the final, nicked a couple of points, and Cork won their first league title since last century.
The Munster Championship.
Pat Ryan started him in the final – another easy one - against Limerick. We know what happened in the cauldron of the Gaelic Grounds when the 'Drive for Seven' was derailed. Three points from play and still on the field long into extra-time. A first Munster title for Cork since the year Healy played Féile.
Another start in the semi-final against Dublin. A couple of cameos… a sweet pass in the build-up to the first Hayes goal, a lovely point in the second half. But when a team scores 47 points and a starting forward scores just one of them it can't be deemed a great day out.
So here we are. Diarmuid Healy might not start on Sunday. That decision is Pat Ryan's to make. Whether he does or not, or even plays or not, the good timing and good luck that has travelled with him through all his hurling life will be wanted more than ever by Cork this Sunday.
Napoleon famously wanted lucky generals more than he wanted good ones. Cork hurling could do with young Dudsie being both this weekend. Otherwise the long wait goes on for the Cork hurlers and the tens of thousands of fans that will travel with them this Sunday.
We both had enough
Just waiting