By Declan Rooney

Cork hurling captain Seamus Harnedy has predicted the 2019 hurling championship will be as big a lottery as this year, but that if the Rebels cannot win their first All-Ireland since 2005 it won’t be the end of the world.

The Munster champions fell in the All-Ireland semi-final to eventual winners Limerick, and only a stunning save from Nickie Quaid in the final attack denied the Rebels a match winning goal.

John Meyler’s side played some of the most attractive hurling of the year and Harnedy said it was a joy to be involved, but with just one champion in the end he knows how tough it will be to be in Limerick’s place in August.

“Not at all it [not winning the All-Ireland] wouldn’t be a let-down. There is only going to be one team satisfied at the end of every year and that happened to be Limerick last year. If we can learn from 2018 and develop further I’ll be happy. The main thing is that we are developing,” said 28-year-old Harnedy.

“Obviously the goal of any team in the All-Ireland hurling championship is to win Liam MacCarthy but only one teams gets to claim those spoils at the end of the year. As long as we can learn from 2018 and we’re developing as a whole I’ll be happy, but it would be great to get the number one honour.”

The Quaid save was certainly one of the moments of the season, but earlier in the Munster championship Tipperary’s season could have been transformed had Jake Morris hit the net instead of the post against Clare. On such tight margins do seasons change, and the St Ita’s club man knows how close Cork came.

“I heard a few of the lads talking about the width of a post and they were referring to the Tipp-Clare game. It is small margins there is nothing between the teams on any given day. I’m sure next year is going to be the exact same.

“Munster championship in 2018 will go down as one of the best in history in my opinion. I think it’s going to be the exact same in 2019. No one could have foreseen Waterford or Tipperary getting knocked out of it last year.

“God knows what it will throw up next year. There will definitely be a few shocks on the way. The five teams in Munster will be right there. Waterford were right there the year before as well. 

“Look, the lads down below (in Cork), we won’t leave any stone unturned in trying to get as far as we can and trying to reach that ultimate objective. We’re looking forward to it.”

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