'Cork fans would follow you to the end of the world': Connolly keen to deliver on expectations

The inside forward is not alone. There are plenty more in Pat Ryan’s 37-man panel in the same medal-less boat.

Go back to the 2017 and ‘18 Munster final successes. The survivors are easily counted. 

Seán O’Donoghue, Damien Cahalane, Mark Coleman, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Luke Meade, Conor Lehane, Shane Kingston, Patrick Horgan, Seamus Harnedy, and Robbie O’Flynn are the 10 current panelists to see game-time in either provincial decider. 

They are in the minority. The majority want in on the act.

Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh offers the opportunity to correct such. Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh carries significant importance before we ever go near the county’s 27-year League famine.

“It’d be big for us because since I've been there, we haven't won anything, from Munsters, All-Irelands, Leagues,” Connolly begins.

“It’d be important for us as a group just to win something and then drive on for April 20, which is the main focus. The League final is great preparation for that and hopefully we can get a win.” 

Páirc Uí Chaoimh is indeed a perfect tune-up for Cusack Park. But the former venue didn’t sell out in less than a day just so Cork hurling supporters could see their team sharpen the collective blade for a battle two weeks over the hill.

There are two Cork hurling famines. This is the famine of lesser importance. But it still needs addressing. And ending.

“When you are in Cork, there is always an expectation, and that is a good thing. We just need to carry that ourselves, and hopefully we can,” Connolly continues.

“The support is unbelievable since last year, at least. Cork fans would follow you to the end of the world. The crowd will be behind us and hopefully we can get them even more behind us with a win. There'll be a good championship feel to it. There won't be any shadow boxing.” 

The 23-year-old caught the last 20 minutes of the win over Galway the Saturday before last. It was his first sighting since the draw with Limerick on February 1. 

The goal-scoring exploits that others got up to during the three games he was absent means he is unsure of his place for Sunday and the battle two weeks beyond that.

Connolly being unsure of his place, even allowing for the constantly talked-about depth in this Cork panel, is a scarcely believable scenario such was his hat-trick habit of last year.

Three of them in total, just in case you’d forgotten. The chastened Offaly, Wexford, and Tipp defenders certainly haven’t.

The green flags didn’t always flock to him, mind. During his minor and U20 days in red, there wasn’t a single goal registered.

The buses quickly arrived at senior level. In his first League appearance, against Waterford in May of 2021, and despite being introduced as late as the 65th minute, the Rockies kid smashed in a pair. He bagged another brace two weeks later against Westmeath. The 10 green flags of last year has him at 19 altogether - for now.

“You have to try and do it again, and do it better,” Connolly says of trumping his 2024 exploits.

“Below at training, you are trying to win every sprint, you are trying to get your touch better, your striking better. Everyone is trying to do the same, and that is driving everyone on. You need to constantly improve as a team, and if we do that, we can do great things.

“I was happy with [my 2024 campaign], but you are never going to get the perfect performance or the perfect year. My form probably dipped towards the All-Ireland series, but got it back up again. 

"I was carrying a bug for five or six weeks. I actually only got healthy the week of the Limerick semi-final. It probably did [affect my form], but I wouldn't make excuses. Even if I am at 50%, I still expect to be 100% myself.

“Obviously my form might have dipped, but it wasn't anything to do with me with a big head or anything like that, it was purely down to inconsistency.” 

He last hit the net for Cork on May 19 of last year. If he doesn’t again terrorise Tipp, it’ll have been 11 months by the time the bus points for Ennis. 

Rediscovering last year’s consistency and edge, as well as picking up a medal, are on Sunday’s shopping list.

Sunday, of course, represents the first League final meeting between the great rivals since 1960. Alan’s grandad, Mick Cashman, was in goals on the losing Cork side. The grandson is hoping for better fortunes 65 years later.

“And even if I did win one, Tom and Jim [Cashman, his uncles] would probably still laugh at me because of the amount of medals they have between them.” 

Still, you gotta start somewhere.