YET ANOTHER sad chapter in what is becoming a familiar story, the one time big three of city hurling, the Glen, the Barrs and Rockies are as far away as ever from regaining lost glory in the senior championship.
Although they didn’t exit as tamely as the other three, you might include Na Piarsaigh in that category too after their exit at the hands of Ballymartle.
You certainly wouldn’t include Bishopstown in it after their splendid win over Douglas and as a result they are standing alone in keeping the city clubs flag flying in the quest for honours.
The Glen had already left the building prior to the weekend’s games and in 2013 it will be 24 years since they last lifted the old trophy. The Barrs haven’t taken possession of it since 1993 and the Rockies haven’t celebrated since 2002.
Of what you would term the big four in the city, Na Piarsaigh were the last winners in 2004.
It does not make for pretty reading and the manner of some of the exits was most disconcerting, particularly the Rockies and the Barrs, the Rockies 19 points worse off than Sars and the Barrs 14 behind CIT at the final whistle.
In both instances the margins of defeat could have been significantly greater, because it’s fair to state that the opposition had the deal delivered at the interval and the second-half in both games resembled nothing more than practice matches.
There is absolutely no pleasure to be derived from those type of statistics and it cannot be good for the game in general in the county.
Last season the final eight did not feature one city team, this time the final seven has one, Bishopstown.
We could be here until the cows come home coming up with reasons why the landscape has changed so much and why the old order is changed, maybe forever.
In Blackrock’s case there is some room for optimism given the age profile of the squad but, at the same time, there are no guarantees either.
Without doubt the two most impressive displays over the weekend were given by Sars and Cork IT, but again the resistance offered by the opposition was very little.
There is no doubt that if you are talking about the depth of your squad, then Sars and Cork IT have an advantage over the rest, Sars introducing players like Rob O’Driscoll, Gavin O’Loughlin, Craig Leahy, Ronan Murphy and Gary O’Kelly-Lynch during the course of the game.
Cork IT are in a similar situation and if they had everyone available on a given day they would have some squad from which to choose the starting 15.
Sarsfields and Carrigtwohill are up next in a quarter-final next weekend and what a mouthwatering prospect that is.
At the time of writing it’s scheduled for headquarters or Pairc Ui Rinn but would it not have made far more sense to play it as a stand alone fixture in Midleton and what’s more, play it on Sunday night after the All-Ireland final on TV.
Of course that wouldn’t happen but whatever.
Bishopstown’s victory over Douglas was impressive, all the more so because it was achieved through a well balanced team effort.
Defensively, there was much to admire with centre-back Ian Jones marshalling the forces superbly.
The manner with which the defence, as a unit, performed their duties was admirable and the blocking and hooking was a feature of the day.
The attack functioned very well too with Patrick Cronin, Michael Power and Ger McGlacken contributing most of the scores, Power, in particular, catching the eye.
Douglas were a disappointment and once again it begs the question about the lengthy period of championship inactivity.
Bishopstown had the extra game, beating the Glen in round two and, despite the fact that it was a treacherous night for hurling in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, that win was massive for them and was a definite energiser before last Sunday.
Now it’s Midleton next weekend, the third meeting of the teams in 12 months with MIdleton leading 2-0.
In both instances the pendulum could, quite easily, have swung the other way and the ‘Town will have vast quantities of belief entering this game.
Ballymartle can relax next weekend waiting for their semi-final opponents from that game.
They deserve huge credit for reaching the last four and they certainly deserved to come through against Na Piarsaigh.
The progress that they have made under coach Eddie Murphy has been remarkable and with shrewd hurling men like Anthony McCarthy and Ger Cummins on the line, this is a very well constructed side that will make it very difficult for any opposition.
They too will believe that anything is possible now and they will use Carrigtwohill last season as an example of what can be accomplished.
We have said it before and we’ll repeat, it’s a wide open county again with Sars and Cork IT looking the best bet on paper at this point in time. But nothing was ever won on paper and one might say without any great fear of being contradicted that any of the seven remaining candidates could emerge with the trophy in a few weeks time.
Whilst the absence of the big city clubs is bemoaned because hurling in the county needs these teams challenging and offering material for the Cork team, it must also be said that it’s great to have such an open race to the finishing line.
It’s a changed landscape now to what it used to be and it’s a near certainty that gone forever are the days when the title race was confined to the Glen, Barrs and Rockies.
Now with Midleton, Bishopstown and Ballymartle on the same side of the draw, there’s the possibility of a brand new name appearing on final day.
Midleton, of course, have won the title six times but it’s been 1991 since they played in a final.
If the ‘Town defeated Midleton it would mean Eddie Murphy, coaching Ballymartle, coming up against his home club, the club he played for and coached to premier intermediate and under-21 titles.
It certainly makes for a very interesting time.