'We just had enough' - Steely Rebels ready for final push

With Cork's longest Liam MacCarthy drought now in it’s 19th year, there is a buzz right around the county that Seán O'Donoghue will this weekend follow in the footsteps of his childhood hero Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and walk the steps of the Hogan Stand as an All-Ireland winning captain.

The dethroning of champions Limerick and the Treaty’s drive for five has ratcheted up expectations, with Munster rivals Clare now standing in their way of ultimate honours.

The journey to the showpiece has been eventful to say the least, something O’Donoghue himself acknowledges days out from the biggest game of his career.

Two defeats from two in Munster left them on the brink of provincial elimination before a grandstand finish saw them overturn Limerick in their own backyard.

Victories over Offaly and Dublin were relatively low-key affairs, but after blitzing Limerick again to race seven points in front at one stage, the reigning champions started to whittle down the lead with the game in the dying embers.

Pat Ryan’s side held firm, the Rebels delighting the majority of a sold-out Croke Park to bounce their way into a first final since 2013.

"We seemed to just have enough of it," O'Donoghue tells RTÉ Sport when addressing the team’s upturn in fortunes.

"We’ve lost so many games over the years, been on the wrong side of one and two-point games. We have driven it on this year. There has been a bit of a shift in the mentality. Rather than have the fear of losing, we are just going out there to do our best to win it."

He’s describing the team, but he could just as easily be analysing his own performances to date.

One of Ryan’s first decisions upon his appointment was to name the Inniscarra man as captain.

A noted footballer – he picked off four points