Vital leagues games for Cork trio

Having had the weekend off, the hurlers face their toughest test to date with a trip to the Gaelic Grounds to play a Limerick side that will be keen to get back to winning ways having lost their opening two games, while the footballers will seek to get their first win of what is turning out to be a difficult campaign.

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Cork v Galway at Páirc Uí Chaoimh Saturday at 5pm

With just 1 point from their 3 games, it’s safe to say that Cork are in a very precarious position in Division 2 and in a real battle to avoid relegation, which could have serious ramifications come championship time.

If the team is relegated and they fail to beat Kerry in the Munster semi-final, then it’s the much maligned Tailteann Cup for Cork, which would be a serious setback to football in the county.

Galway are unbeaten after 2 games and even though their game v Offaly on Sunday was postponed, they have impressed in their games and Padraig Joyce seems to be building a nice squad, with Cian O’Neill who was with Cork last year among his backroom team.

After the loss to Derry, manager Keith Ricken while disappointed said: “Days like this will shape us and this is not just a one year project - it’s long term”.

Keith also reflected on not taking the opportunities that might, although unlikely, have changed the direction of the game.

Sean Meehan who was excellent on his first game back after injury, which might explain his hesitancy when he found himself in front of goal in the first half, equally Stephen Sherlock’s shot in the second half was well saved by the goalkeeper and in a flash Derry had a goal at the other end to effectively put the home side in control.

Cork worked hard all through the game, kept possession well at times, but the scoring return was very poor; 0-7 won’t win any game, just two forwards scored from play, with Kevin O’Donovan who had a good game got an excellent point.

Galway had wins over Down and Meath who failed to score in the first half, following on from their outright success in the Connacht League beating Roscommon in the final, so they are playing with confidence right now.

Players like Robert Finnerty, Shane Walsh, Cillian McDaid, Tomo Culhane and Owen Gallagher are showing their quality and Cork will need to curb these lads if they are to get anything out of this game.

What starting 15 Keith Ricken names will be interesting. As mentioned Sean Meehan was excellent against Derry and the game time will bring him on, Tadgh Corkery and Rory Maguire impressed as did Billy Hennessy on his debut.

Ian Maguire brings a degree of leadership to the midfield and his ability to drive forward is a welcome addition.

The attack as a unit did not function as a unit last time out and will need a considerable improvement in the scoring stakes if they are to get that elusive and vital win.

Steven Sherlock and Brian Hurley are key players, while Colm O’Callaghan and Fionn Herlihy worked hard, but scores win games and Cork did not get enough of them.

Galway will travel in confidence and look set to make it 3 from 3 unless Cork produce their best display of the campaign to date and finally get the win they crave and badly need.

Full commentary is on C103.

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Cork v Limerick in TUS Gaelic Grounds on Sunday at 3.45pm

It’s a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland Final in which Limerick won convincingly; in fact the sides met 3 times last year and John Kiely’s men triumphed comfortably in all 3 outings.

Cork go into this game having won with ease against Clare and Offaly and whatever the outcome on Sunday, Kieran Kingston and his team on and off the field will know exactly where they stand, even if it is only a league game in February.

Cork’s first outing in the round-robin phase of the Munster Championship is against Limerick on 17 April, a mere seven weeks away.

Limerick have lost their opening two games in the league to Wexford and Galway and Kiely will be anxious to get back to winning ways. He admitted after the last game that he was “disappointed to lose, can’t fault the effort but we are not yet where we want to be but were getting there”.

Of course they have been without a few key players, among them Cian Lynch who was very harshly sent-off in last weekend’s Fitzgibbon Cup Final; it will be interesting to see if he starts on Sunday.

One player who will not play is Gearoid Hegarty following his red-card in the Galway game.

There is still a lot of quality in the champion’s side whatever 15 is named, Aaron Gillane, Cathal O’Neill, Tom Morrissey, Seamus Flanagan, Nicky Quaid, Diarmuid Byrne and Kyle Hayes among them.

After the facile win over Offaly, Kieran Kingston expressed himself happy with the depth in the squad on a day when a number of regulars were not started.

He also said in relation to Sunday’s game: “We haven’t even thought about Limerick yet, we are just going week by week and getting the work done but so far happy with the attitude and now that the third level games are over, we can look at those lads.”

Kieran was also conscious of not overloading those players: “In the lead up to this game (Offaly), we had a lot of lads playing midweek so our team selection reflected that and we will look at all these aspects before the Limerick match.”

The composition of the Cork team will be interesting. Damien Cahalane is carrying a slight knock and might not start, Ger Mellerick might come into the equation as should Robert Downey, while Mark Coleman, Niall O’Leary and Sean O’Donoghue will feature in defence.

Darragh Fitzgibbon has shown a very welcome return to form and has been excellent in the games, while Ciaran Joyce was very good against Clare and was rested for the Offaly game.

Sean Twomey had a very good Fitzgibbon campaign, Shane Kingston, Robbie O’Flynn and Jack O’Connor are shaping up well while not having started in the two games to date, the expectation is that Patrick Horgan will start on Sunday.

Limerick will be anxious to get back to winning ways and also to maintain their dominance over this Cork team.

Cork will be very determined to make it 3 from 3 and produce a performance that shows they are heading in the right direction.

A win would put them in a very good position to make the semi-final with Galway and Wexford to come.

It has the makings of an intriguing encounter and it’s live on C103.

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Cork v Limerick in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday at 3pm

Having got off to a winning start in dreadful conditions last Sunday against Clare in Cusack Park Ennis, Cork will be expected to continue on in a winning vein when Limerick arrive on Leeside.

They do so on the back of a heavy defeat to Kilkenny in their opening game and another loss here will end their interest in the league.

By contrast, a Cork win will almost certainly result in a winner takes all clash with Kilkenny - also at home in a couple of weeks - if Kilkenny beat Clare.

It’s strange that the Camogie Association have opted against semi-finals this year; one more weekend to play them would not have impacted greatly on the schedule of fixtures and would also give counties one more knockout game before championship.

Hard to believe that championship is due to get underway in a few weeks time and neither draws nor fixtures have yet been released, it’s not exactly ideal from those at the top.

Now the focus for Matthew Twomey is Limerick on Saturday.

The manager, while pleased with the win over Clare, had reservations about the game being played given the conditions.

“I was surprised it actually went ahead as it was pretty scary out there, to be fair the pitch was in good condition but the wind and rain had it bordering on dangerous for the players.”

“It was important to win and overall it was a good enough display but plenty to work on in the weeks ahead.”

Clare did make it hard for Cork but once the goals went in from Amy O’Connor and Sorcha McCartan, the outcome was never really in doubt.

Cork have had the upper hand over Limerick in recent games and that should continue on Saturday and it might even allow the management team an opportunity to give squad members an outing.

It’s also great that the game is being played in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and hopefully that is something we will see more often.

Congratulations to Sarah Ahern and Emma Murphy on being selected on the All-Star Camogie team following their outstanding displays with UCC in the Ashbourne Cup.

Congress

This is now just a one day event in the dome in county Mayo where the main focus will be on a number of motions down for discussion.

The format of the All-Ireland Football Championship is one; the Green Option looks set to pass with several counties now backing it, including Cork and Kerry. Integration of Camogie and Ladies Football into the GAA will certainly evoke plenty of discussion. This is been put forward by the GPA, how delegates respond to this will be interesting.

There are a number of motions around the age grades with some counties notably from Ulster calling for the restoration of the minor to under 18, while HQ are going for the 17 and 20 age groups to be retained.