MARK CRONIN SAYS that his last county medal feels “tainted” because Nemo Rangers didn’t back it up in the Munster club championship.
The Cork kingpins reclaimed their crown with a 1-19 to 2-12 victory over St Finbarr’s, snapping a streak of three consecutive final defeats.
That run felt like a “famine” for a club that has now claimed 24 titles in the past 54 years.
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They will begin their Munster campaign at home to Loughmore-Castleiney on 8 November. It’s a fixture that put their 2022 loss to Tipperary champions Clonmel Commercials in Cronin’s mind.
He said: “If you think back to 2022, we probably left ourselves down in the next game in Munster, so enjoy this until tomorrow night, Tuesday morning, and then it is boots back on and ready to go for the weekend after the next.
“It is exciting times. A Munster Club isn’t to be taken for granted.
“I remember in 2019, I thought every year is going to be like this when we got to the All-Ireland semi-final. Didn’t get back there again.
“2022, in my head, is a bit tainted because we didn’t back it up two weeks later. At the end of the day, who cares if you win the county if you don’t back it up in two weeks’ time?”
Cronin agreed that those three final defeats made this victory taste all the sweeter.
He explained: “It makes you value it a small bit more.
“I hadn’t lost a final until 2023. I didn’t know what it was like. Losing a final is that bit different, and it made me value 2022 a small bit more.
“And now three years of hurt built up is what you see out on the pitch there. It almost felt like a famine for us. You question yourself after a loss and what it’s all for. Days like this is what it is all for.”
Cronin in action on Sunday. DAVID RIBEIRO
Cronin still feels their consistency in reaching five consecutive finals is the biggest marker of this group’s success.
He added: “That’s five finals in a row. That’s the strength of the group, really.
“The strength of the group isn’t winning today. The strength of the group is coming back in January knowing that last October was tough and that we are going again, and we are going as far as we possibly can.
“I wouldn’t say it is difficult coming back. We look forward to it. New blood coming in every year gives us that bit of a jump.
“The core group has been on the road a long time, probably since 2018. We’ve been there, and we’ve seen where we have lost on other days, and don’t get me wrong, a long ball could have been kicked in there, and they could have flicked in a goal, and we’d have lost, and then you’d question everything.
“It is fine margins. We have a confidence in ourselves that we are a good side. Anything could happen on the day, but it is up to ourselves to perform.”
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'Who cares if you win the county if you don't back it up?' - Nemo's Munster focus
MARK CRONIN SAYS that his last county medal feels “tainted” because Nemo Rangers didn’t back it up in the Munster club championship.
The Cork kingpins reclaimed their crown with a 1-19 to 2-12 victory over St Finbarr’s, snapping a streak of three consecutive final defeats.
That run felt like a “famine” for a club that has now claimed 24 titles in the past 54 years.
They will begin their Munster campaign at home to Loughmore-Castleiney on 8 November. It’s a fixture that put their 2022 loss to Tipperary champions Clonmel Commercials in Cronin’s mind.
He said: “If you think back to 2022, we probably left ourselves down in the next game in Munster, so enjoy this until tomorrow night, Tuesday morning, and then it is boots back on and ready to go for the weekend after the next.
“It is exciting times. A Munster Club isn’t to be taken for granted.
“I remember in 2019, I thought every year is going to be like this when we got to the All-Ireland semi-final. Didn’t get back there again.
Cronin agreed that those three final defeats made this victory taste all the sweeter.
He explained: “It makes you value it a small bit more.
“I hadn’t lost a final until 2023. I didn’t know what it was like. Losing a final is that bit different, and it made me value 2022 a small bit more.
“And now three years of hurt built up is what you see out on the pitch there. It almost felt like a famine for us. You question yourself after a loss and what it’s all for. Days like this is what it is all for.”
Cronin still feels their consistency in reaching five consecutive finals is the biggest marker of this group’s success.
He added: “That’s five finals in a row. That’s the strength of the group, really.
“The strength of the group isn’t winning today. The strength of the group is coming back in January knowing that last October was tough and that we are going again, and we are going as far as we possibly can.
“The core group has been on the road a long time, probably since 2018. We’ve been there, and we’ve seen where we have lost on other days, and don’t get me wrong, a long ball could have been kicked in there, and they could have flicked in a goal, and we’d have lost, and then you’d question everything.
“It is fine margins. We have a confidence in ourselves that we are a good side. Anything could happen on the day, but it is up to ourselves to perform.”
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GAA Munster SHC Nemo Rangers October Rebel Roar