Pat Ryan pinpoints reason behind Cork's shock collapse in All-Ireland final as he admits ‘our energy was terrible'

The Irish Sun

5 days ago

FOR Pat Ryan, the second cut proved the deepest.
His Cork side suffered a one-point loss to Clare after extra-time in the 2024 All-Ireland SHC final.
2
Pat Ryan revealed the reason behind Cork's collapse against Tipperary
Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
2
Cork went from winning by six at half-time to losing by 15
Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
But the Rebels manager insisted that
He said: 'Of course it is. You want to perform. Last year, we came away with a good bit of pride in the way we performed and the epic game it was. In fairness, that second half petered out and that was disappointing.
'Our momentum and energy was terrible in the second half. They had all the momentum, they had all the energy, they working the hardest. That's disappointing from our point of view.
'Obviously it's the second All-Ireland in a row that we've lost. Just really, really disappointed with that second half. We didn't represent ourselves the way we should have represented ourselves.'
Read More on GAA
Ryan admitted that Cork were in 'a great position' after Shane Barrett's goal
Yet they capitulated in the second half of their bid to end the county's 20-year wait for a Liam MacCarthy Cup.
Asked to explain the 21-point turn-around after the interval, the defeated gaffer said: 'We just got out-worked really.
'They got great momentum, got a few scores and got the crowd behind them. They got a couple of breaks of the ball, a couple of the goals they got, and then obviously the sending-off.
Most read in Sport
'Look, credit to Tipperary. They came out and worked really, really hard. We were in a good position at half-time but we got blown away in the second half.
'Once momentum goes against you, it's hard to get it back.
Liam Cahill speaks to RTE after Tipperary GAA win All-Ireland final
'We just didn't wrestle it back and unfortunately Tipperary were in the ascendancy. Like really, really good teams do, they put us to the sword.'
During a second half that saw them score just 0-2, Cork struck the woodwork four times. They also had Eoin Downey sent off and Conor Lehane had a penalty saved by Rhys Shelly.
But Ryan said: 'Luck had absolutely nothing to do with it.
'The harder you work, the more breaks that come for you and the more balls that fall into your hands.
'They worked really hard, used the ball really well and put us under pressure on our puckout, especially in the second half, and put us under big pressure on their puckout in the second half.
'Goals change games and they gave them great momentum.
'And then Eoin getting sent off, you're chasing the game a small bit as we lose our plus-one at the back whereas they can keep their plus-one at the back. You're chasing the game an awful lot.
'We're just disappointed, with our reaction. To only score two points in the second half isn't good enough for us.'
Downey was shown a second yellow for a foul on John McGrath, which earned Tipperary a penalty that was converted by Darragh McCarthy.
There was a hint of a push in Downey's back by McGrath beforehand.
However, the Cork boss said: 'It's hard to see from where I am. I'm not going to complain about the referee after the beating we got today.'