A Munster side have never made it to the All Ireland T20 cricket final before. But can they do the business in the final on Sunday.
After achieving one of the biggest results in your history, how do you then put it all behind you in the wake of the ultimate prize and silverware that awaits?
One might ask Mayo’s GAA footballers this question after beating the Dublin juggernaut in their All Ireland semi-final last Saturday. How do they then face down Kerry who await them in the final.
Tomorrow, Cork Harlequins may have an answer for the senior footballers of the maritime county when they line out against Brigade in their All Ireland T20 final in Observatory Lane, Rathmines.
Some may say the Munster club have achieved everything they wanted by beating Merrion in their semi-final. The Dublin side included three former Irish internationals, and Harlequins who also play in the Leinster leagues currently top Division 4, albeit four grades below the team they have just beaten.
Does this all mean that their opponents Brigade from Derry will be feeling more confident coming into the crucial tie?
All the talk so far has not been about the North West champions which may let them quietly go about their business but they will know that Cork Harlequins cannot be taken lightly after putting a side of the calibre of Merrion to the sword.
Brigade currently sit fourth place in the Longs Supervalu 40 Over League, and will face New Buildings in the North West Senior Cup the day before this crucial All Ireland tie. Will this frequency of fixtures tire the Derry side or embolden them?
The shorter T20 format is supposed to be known for the possibility of upsets, however increasingly at franchise and international level it has shown itself to be almost a completely different form of the game compared to longer traditional cricket with different skill sets on show.
After their stunning semi-final victory, Quins coach Ted Williamson was quick to characterise the result as “a little bit of a shock” as opposed to a major one, which some will, and praised the work of ten years of youth development which now appears to bear fruit.
As Cork’s hurlers chase glory on the same day against Limerick in their All Ireland clash, can Williamson’s young charges cross the last hurdle?
Cork Harlequins vs Brigade will be streamed on the Cricket Ireland Live YouTube channel