Relive 1999 win all over again
It was a decade that started and finished in perfection on Leeside, with All-Ireland wins in 1990 and 1999. Now, a one-hour documentary on how hurling redefined itself in the 1990s will be screened on TG4 next week.
‘Réabhlóid GAA’ digs deep into an extensive archive of classic GAA shows, from ‘Breaking Ball’, ‘Road to Croker’, ‘Committee Room’, ‘Championship Matters’ and ‘Thank GAA It’s Friday’, the documentary also includes archive interviews with unforgettable action from some of the greatest games of all time.
For over a century, the hurling spoils were shared among the traditional three superpowers of Cork, Kilkenny and Tipperary and as the decade began there was no sign of the aristocracy being unseated with Cork securing another Liam McCarthy Cup in 1990.
Then, in five minutes in 1994, the hurlers of Offaly sparked a revolution and along came a collection of upstarts to upend the old order. From Offaly’s astonishing comeback, Biddy Early being banished in the Banner, the Boys of Wexford marching across the border, and the outrageous trilogy of ‘98, all played out in a rapidly evolving social and cultural landscape.
All-Ireland winners and managers, including Davy Fitzgerald, Ger Loughnane, Brian Whelahan, Johnny Dooley, Johnny Pilkington, Liam Griffin, Martin Storey all feature. Furthermore, the documentary shows Jimmy Barry-Murphy heaping praise on Brian Corcoran for his performance during the 1999 All Ireland Championship.
JBM, as he’s fondly known in his home county, oversaw a campaign which would see a young Cork side crowned All-Ireland champions after a victory versus a hotly favoured Kilkenny side in the final.
“Brian was nearly man of the match on every occasion we played. The performance he gave in the final versus Kilkenny was superb, for me it was the highlight of his career,” said Barry-Murphy.
“He gave super-charged performances that really were an inspiration to the other players and gave great leadership as well.”
Relive Cork’s All-Ireland glory and the best of 1990s hurling with ‘Réabhlóid GAA’ which will be shown on TG4 on Wednesday 16 December at 9.30pm.