'Lower Than Low' - Backlash To Cork WhatsApp Rumours As Selfless Rob Downey Act Revealed
Cork are a wounded animal this week after the debacle of last Sunday's All-Ireland hurling final.
The Rebels went into the decider as favourites but somehow conspired to turn a six-point half-time lead into a 15-point full-time deficit as Tipperary ran riot in the second period.
The inquest into the second-half collapse has dominated hurling spheres this week, while Tipperary rightly take their plaudits for one of the greatest 35-minute spells of hurling Croke Park has ever seen.
Two years in a row, now, Cork have come home from the All-Ireland hurling final empty-handed, and the manner of this year's defeat will only have deepened their heartache.
As Corkonians attempt to find answers to the monumental second-half collapse, rumours have spread on WhatsApp around the county's GAA circles, suggesting a major fall-out in the dressing room at half-time.
Amid all the noise, Cork captain Robert Downey was praised this weekend for attending a kids' GAA camp, as a hurling company co-owned by Rebels great Ben O'Connor lashed out at those spreading "ignorant" rumours.
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Cork's Robert Downey pictured at kids' GAA campA lovely photo was shared to Instagram by ex-Cork hurler Tom Kenny from the Grenagh GAA Cúl Camps this week.
Two-time All-Ireland winning midfielder Kenny revealed that current captain Robert Downey had come down to the camp to coach the children in attendance and chat to the young hurlers of tomorrow.
View this post on Instagram
One particularly heartwarming photo showed Downey in conversation with a small group of kids, hurleys in hand.
It was a selfless gesture for Downey to attend the camp - at a club other than his own - after a week of such disappointment and fallout.
Kenny said as much in the caption of his Instagram post:
Another great year @gaagrenagh Cúl Camp @officialcorkgaa again for all the boys and girls. Thanks to Rob Downey for calling after a tough sporting week for him. Well done boys and girls. Thanks to all the coaches, assistants and volunteers.
The post was shared on the Instagram stories of O'Connor Hurleys, a company co-owned by Ben O'Connor, who played alongside Kenny in both of those two All-Ireland victories of 2004 and 2005.
O'Connor Hurleys chose a far more pointed caption, calling out the "ignorant" WhatsApp rumours that have been circulating about the character of this Cork team.
"To anybody ignorant or stupid enough that helped spread a rumour this week, what have you done to promote the game this week?" the caption read.
"This is what Rob Downey did this week after the heartache of losing an All-Ireland final.
Shame on anyone that promoted those horrible stories about our young men this week. You're not supporters, nor are you good opponent. You're lower than low.
No punches pulled, though it must be said it is unclear who handles the social media accounts of O'Connor Hurleys.
Regardless, it was a brilliant gesture from Robert Downey to come down and speak to the young hurlers of Grenagh in a week filled with such heartbreak for Cork hurling.
No doubt it is a day that the kids in attendance will not forget in a hurry.
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