Top of the table clash set for Páirc Uí Rinn
Old rivals Cork and Meath meet in a big clash on Sunday while both the camogie and ladies football teams have important games in their respective leagues.
Allianz NFL D2
Cork v Meath on Sunday in Páirc Uí Rinn at 2pm
The two remaining unbeaten teams in this very competitive division go head to head and barring a draw, one will be table toppers around 4pm on Sunday.
Between them they have been 19 years in the 2nd tier of the league, Cork 10 and Meath 9 and both make no secret of their desire to get to the top division.
The winners of this game will take a major step to get there but in Cork’s case they must play Derry and Tyrone away and Kildare at home, and there is nothing easy in those encounters.
It’s a 1st Cork league match at the venue in a number of years and their last big game there (excluding the McGarth Cup final two years ago) was a qualifier against Donegal which they won.
These two sides have met on a regular basis over the years, and it’s been more or less honours even, so expect another lively clash this weekend.
Meath have won their last two games by the narrowest of margins against Cavan and Louth in a cracker.
In both cases Jack Flynn was the match winner but they have a good spread of scorers among them Ruairi Kinsella, Joey Morris and Jack O’Connor. Sean Rafferty, Brian O’Hallloran, Matthew Costello and Jody Morris are also pivotal players for Robbie Brennan’s side.
For Cork two of their three wins have been away from home, creditable enough but John Cleary did say they were games they were hoping to win given the standing of the opposition.
After the game in Tullamore, John expressed himself happy with the win, but “disappointed with certain aspects of the 2nd half, maybe we felt we had it won when the 3rd goal went in but we allowed Offaly back into the game”.
The 1st half was excellent: “Very good - especially when you consider the strength of the wind we were against.”
The goals were important, he agreed. “They were well worked and Colm (O’Callaghan) finished both brilliantly.”
It is fair to say that O’Callaghan has been one of the team’s most consistent players in all 3 games to date and he is very pleased with the win, “yeah that was the main objective today but there’s plenty to work on for the Meath game.”
Just like the manager, the Éire Óg player was not happy with the 2nd half. “Very messy a lot of silly turnovers and we left them in too easy for some of the scores they got.
“We must take confidence from the wins so far and it’s lot different to recent years so we take the positives and move on for bigger games.”
Injuries caused a bit of disruption to the named 15 with Brians O’Driscoll and Hurley not risked with slight strains while following his exertions with UL in winning the Sigerson Cup, Tommy Walsh was rested.
Goalkeeper Patrick Doyle left the field with a knock that looks like keeping him out for a couple of games but Micheál Aodh Martin will not weaken the side. Defensively Walsh will return while Daniel O’Mahoney, Luke Fahy and Mattie Taylor are in good form.
Ian Maguire started in Tullamore and was his usual efficient self; good work rate and excellent distribution.
In attack Mark Cronin was top class took his goal well and clipped over a couple of neat points, Steven Sherlock likewise, while Dara Sheedy on his 1st start worked extremely hard as did Sean Mc Donnell.
The impact off the bench was also important with Ruairí Deane, Sean Walsh and the returning Cathal O’Mahony all contributing to the win.
Meath as John Cleary acknowledged are a step up in quality. “They are and our 2nd half display won’t be good enough but look we won and we are happy with where we are after 3 games. Now it’s a case of getting the prep done for a big game next week.”
There was a nice Cork crowd in Tullamore and John hopes they will get big support on Sunday. “You saw it against Cavan the first day when the crowd came in, they got behind the team and that would be important in Páirc Uí Rinn. We like playing there, hopefully the supporters will be there in good numbers.”
It’s a big game and defeat won’t be the end of the world but with only 1 more home game, a win would be a huge boost with tough tests ahead.
A consistent 70 plus minutes is required to get that and Cork should win but as always with Meath, it will not be easy.
The match is live on C103.
Centra National Camogie League D1A
Cork v Antrim on Saturday in MTU at 2pm
“Obviously we wanted to win but happy enough with the overall effort and the way some of the newer players performed,” said manager Ger Manley after the loss to Waterford last Saturday in their opening game.
In the end there was 6 points between the sides but at one stage it was a 3 point game and a Waterford goal put the home side back in control and they saw the game out. It must be put in perspective though that Cork had only 4 of their All-Ireland Final team on duty. Orlaith Cahalane did come on and looked lively, while Waterford had 11 regulars and were always likely winners.
Cork hope to have a few a more players available for Saturday as Ger explains. “A couple of little knocks are keeping a few players out and we have a look at them in training this week and see how they go.”
As he reflected on the opening game, there was a lot to take out of it. “First of all Waterford are a good team and have a bit more work done and that was clear in the early exchanges.”
“But we kept at it and while we missed a couple of chances and then the goal took away a bit of momentum and that was the turning point.”
Antrim are next up and Ger is expecting another tough game. “They lost to Tipperary but they have very good players as we saw in the club championship semi-final against the ‘Barrs, so we will take nothing for granted.”
Cork are the league champions and while they would like to retain the title the championship remains the priority. “Ah it does but we will want to win a few games as well and see how players can develop because before you know it the championship will be on you. We have the Munster Championship as well, so the next few weeks will be busy.”
The Ulster side were well beaten at home by Tipperary scoring just 0-9, with 0-5 from Nicole McAtamney, while Maeve Kelly, Clare McKillop, Katie Molloy and Caitrin Graham all played well.
The Cork 15 will be interesting if as expected a few more key players are available. Ashling Thompson, Meabh Murphy, Emma Murphy, Libby Coppinger and Orlaith Cahalane all played well in Walsh Park.
Niamh Mac Nabola hit some neat points, Millie Condon worked hard, Keeva McCarthy, Aoife O’Neill and Isobel Sheehan all made important contributions and could all see game time again.
Even with the absence of some experienced players, this is a game Cork should and probably will win.
LIDL Ladies Football National League D1
Cork v Kerry in Austin Stack Park Tralee on Sunday at 2pm
It’s been a very encouraging start to the life back in D1 for Cork and they sit in 2nd place unbeaten after 3 games with 7 points, and the win on the road to Armagh last Sunday set’s them up nicely for another road trip - this time across the county bounds with old rivals Kerry waiting.
Kerry themselves are just one behind on 6 and with a week’s break, they will be refreshed and keen to get one over on the neighbours.
Cork manager Joe Carroll is delighted with the start they have made. “Without a doubt the main objective was to retain our place in this very competitive division and while we still have some tough games to come, we are delighted with the attitude and application of the girls.”
On the win last Sunday Joe added: “We had a bit of work to do in the 2nd half against the wind but we battled away and in the end we got what I felt in the end was a deserved win.”
Kerry though will present new challenges but Joe is looking forward to it. “Look Kerry been one of the top teams of the last few years and playing them on their home patch is never easy, but it will be a very good experience for the new players on our team and we will go there confident that we can win.”
Kerry have lost just once - that was also at home to table toppers Waterford but they bounced back with a good win over Meath in the last round.
Goals were key in that game with Siofra O’Shea (1-6), Leah McMahon with 2 and Mary O’Connell the scorers, while they have quality players in Cait Lynch, Anna Galvin and Rachel Dwyer and they will relish the opportunity to end Cork’s unbeaten run.
Cork though are travelling in confident mood, Emma Cleary as captain has been leading by example, Aine Terry O’Sullivan’s experience has been crucial, while the goal scorers in Crossmaglen Rachel O’Regan and Rachel Leahy will look for a repeat performance.
Katie Quirke, Aoife Healy, Abigail Ring, Aimee Corcoran and Mellissa Duggan are all playing very well.
It’s not going to be easy in Tralee but Cork are well capable of winning and maintain the push for a top two spot and a place in the final.