Amy Lee is the Cork captain for this season. Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Tough test for footballers this weekend

As the hurlers, who are top of Division 1 A after two wins, have the weekend off the footballers make the long trip to Owenbeg to play unbeaten Derry, while there’s also big games for the Cork ladies football and camogie teams.

Allianz NFL Division 2

Cork v Derry in Owenbeg

There was contrasting fortunes for these two sides in their opening games. Derry two wins for two, while Cork have just one point from the draw with Clare in the last round.

That performance was much improved on their showing against Roscommon but they will have to go up a notch or two if they are going to get anything out of this game.

Derry are hard to beat at the best of times but at home and protecting an unbeaten run will make it harder again.

In the last round they went to Tullamore and ran out comfortable 2-13 to 0-7 winners over an Offaly side that many expected to make an impact this year on the back of winning the All-Ireland Under 20 title last year, but it was no contest even in difficult conditions.

Shane Mc Guigan top scored with 1-6, while others to impress were Conor Glass, Ciaran Mc Faul, Niall Loughlin, Brendan Rogers, Conor Doherty, Emmet Bradley and Paul Cassidy.

Rory Gallagher, their manager, has them playing with confidence even if the emphasis is on retaining possession with the intent of frustrating the opposition and then breaking quickly, so Cork will know exactly what to expect.

After the draw with Clare, Cork manager Keith Ricken said: “I can’t fault the effort of the lads they showed a bit of character, they fought for everything which they have been doing all year, even if it’s not reflected on the scoreboard.”

“You are coming off the field with mixed emotions, because obviously you would like to win, but a little bit of naivety crept in and we have to learn how to close out games, but that will come we are a work in progress and that will continue in the build up to the Derry game.”

As for the build up, the two weeks will have helped and in that period they played Wexford last weekend and it was very good workout with plenty of players getting game time.

Including a number of St Finbarr’s players who following their club campaign rejoined the panel, although a slight injury rules Brian Hayes out of this game.

If Ian Maguire and Stephen Sherlock, who impressed in that game at the weekend, are named for this encounter it will certainly strengthen the side and give the management a few more options.

The composition of the starting 15 will be interesting, Micheál Aodh Martin should retain the goalkeepers jersey while in defence Tadgh Corkery, Sean Powter, Mattie Taylor and Kevin O’Donovan have settled well.

Maguire in midfield would be a boost his ability to win ball and his surging runs can trouble any defence.

The attack is also an issue, a clear over reliance on Brian Hurley for scores and to be fair the joint captain has so far delivered, but he will need more support to ease the burden.

Blake Murphy kicked 0-3 against Clare, Mark Cronin worked hard as did Fionn Herlihy, while Eoghan Mc Sweeney and John O’Rourke made important contributions.

There is no doubt this is a tough ask for Cork to get something out of this game and right now the odds favour Derry making it three from three. The match is on Sunday at 2pm.

Lidl Ladies Football National League

Cork v Dublin in Croke Park

In a four team group, one defeat could end your interest in the competition, two would be fatal and that’s the prospect facing Shane Roynane and Cork after their two point loss to All-Ireland Champions Meath last Saturday.

Similarly Dublin’s win over Waterford gives them a slight edge when they renew rivalry in HQ on Saturday.

Cork were a bit unlucky in Navan, Orla Finn spent ten minutes in the sin-bin, while goalkeeper Martina O’Brien left the field injured, and in the aftermath Shane while disappointed at the loss was pleased with the effort and said “the league is all about finding players for the bigger test’s ahead.”

For the game last Saturday, Cork opted to rest the Mourneabbey players in light of their long season, given that this is a must win game those very experienced group of players may very well come into the equation.

The O’Sullivan’s, Elle Jack and Laura Fitzgerald would add greatly to the depth in the team and given that Mellissa Duggan, Erika O’Shea, Meabh Cahalane, Emma Cleary and Sadbh O’Leary all played well against Meath, Cork could be in a good position going into this clash.

Dublin were comfortable 4-7 to 1-4 winners over Waterford with Caoimhe O’Connor, Jennifer Dunne, Siobhan Killeen and Hannah Leahy with the goals, while Hannah Tyrell was also prominent.

It’s a big ask for Cork to win especially in Croke Park equally it could very well bring the best out of them and they might get the win needed to keep their league ambitions alive. The match takes place on Saturday at 5.15pm.

Littlewoods National Camogie League

Cork v Clare in Cusack Park

It’s a touch ironic that with Davy Fitzgerald now coaching Cork that the first game of the league should be against his native county and at a ground where he played many a game, it should certainly add a little bit extra to the encounter.

Of course it is Cork’s first competitive outing since the All-Ireland defeat to Galway last year and with Matthew Twomey now the Manager there is some members of the backroom team still in place and that will help, but there is no doubt that the acquisition of the charismatic Fitzgerald has added a new dimension to the overall group.

Cork have retained the majority of the squad that were in action last year, Hannah Looney is available while Libby Coppinger and Meabh Cahalane will be in Dublin with the ladies football team on Saturday.

Clare will be missing the Scarriff-Ogonnelloe contingent but have good players in Claire Hehir and Niamh O’Dea but in all probability will lack the depth to test Cork.

Amy Lee is the Cork captain for this season and she has really grown into a quality custodian and it was never going to be easy replacing Aoife Murray but she has.

The league panel also includes a few of the younger players that enjoyed success at under-age level among them Molly Lynch, Emma Murphy and Fiona Keating and this might be the ideal match to give them game time as you learn very little about players unless you see them playing at the highest level.

Whatever 15 starts Cork look to have enough depth to get off to a winning start. The match is on Sunday at 2pm.

Cork play Kildare in Division 2 on Saturday at 2pm in Hawkfield, and having lost their opening game to Wexford can ill afford another loss or their league aspirations will be over after just two games.

In that loss there was an overdependence on Joanne Casey for scores and will certainly need to improve in that area.

There is a lot of experience within the squad and that should help, with Leanne O’Sullivan, Lauren Homan, Fiona Neville, Hayley Ryan, Katie Walsh, Rachel Harty and Kelly Falvey all capable of getting a result similar to last year when they recorded a good win.

Kildare though are now managed by Joe Quaid, a very experienced coach, who will relish the opportunity to put one over on Cork.