Limerick and Cork go again
Given the intense activity of recent weeks this one is somewhat quiet but no less important for the Cork teams in action for differing reasons.
The hurlers are on the road again to renew rivalry with Limerick, while in camogie, there’s a huge game for Ger Manley’s side as they bid to finally get a win.
Allianz NHL Division 1A
Cork v Limerick on Saturday in the Gaelic Grounds at 7pm
“Delighted with the win especially the way we battled in the 2nd half - not an easy place to come. We don’t win down here too often, that makes it all the better.”
Ben O’Connor after the win over Kilkenny as they maintained their unbeaten start to the league, and in a very strong position to reach the final.
The fact that they made 9 changes from the Tipperary game - even Ben admitted he didn’t even realise there was that many. “The lads that came in did very well, Barry and Alan (both Walshs but no relation) got good goals and Hugh (O’Connor) worked hard.”
Conditions were also a factor with driving wind and rain for long periods. “That makes the win more credible, we might not have been enough ahead at half-time but 10 minutes into the 2nd half we still had a 6pt lead and that was important.”
With so many changes Ben said the depth of the squad is being used. “We have players chomping at the bit to get in, and we go back training on Tuesday and the attitude will be just as competitive and that drives lads on.”
As for Limerick next week: “Well we will look at today, review what we need to do and then go again. It’s a big game and we are looking forward to it.”
Defender Niall O’Leary who was outstanding again made the point about the squad: “It was great to see the lads come in and do so well. We see it every night in training and it will be the same when we train this week again.”
One player who was delighted to get into action after an injury lay off was Ciarán Joyce. “Glad to get a game - it’s frustrating not playing especially when the team is doing well but it’s great to play and win here.”
It was a game in which Cork had they converted the goal chances they created they would have won comfortably, although in fairness Kilkenny goalkeeper Aidan Tallis made some great saves.
Over the 70 plus minutes Cork only scored 4 points from play, and that would be a slight concern but then the wind was a factor, equally the wides tally was low as well, just 1 in the 2nd half.
The newcomers all did well and playing them in a tough game like that will have benefitted them far better than playing in a one sided encounter, in which very little will have been learned.
What 15 will start on Saturday will be interesting. Injuries might once again come into play, while Shane Barrett should feature.
They might opt to give Brion Saunderson a run out in goal, Rob Downey may be fit to start while in attack Brian Hayes once again showed his value to the team with another top class display.
Tommy O’Connell also impressed, Sean O’Donoghue was excellent and as Ben said, “telling lads you are not on the 26 is not easy”, and that is encouraging as the season evolves and bigger tests await.
The other factor will be that Cork’s place in the final is all but guaranteed given that apart from Limerick they are the only team that can reach 10 points, currently on 8 and with Offaly at home in the final round, that should be achieved.
Will that influence the team selection or will Ben do what he always said and try and win every game.
Limerick apart from the opening day loss to Waterford, have been impressive with comfortable wins over Kilkenny, Tipperary and Offaly and it is noticeable that John Kiely has picked strong teams for every game.
Darragh O’Donovan’s long term injury is a blow but the likes of Kyle Hayes, Aaron Gillane, Shane O’Brien, Nicky Quaid, Cian Lynch and Aidan O’Connor have featured regularly and the tip by many to be the team to beat this year.
There is no doubt last year’s failure to win any of the big honours, for the 1st time in a good few years, hurt them and there is a strong desire with Kiely and his group to rectify that this year.
There’s a healthy rivalry between the teams. Cork foiled their bid for 5 in a row of All-Ireland wins and then last year in the penalty shoot out stopped them doing 7 in a row in Munster titles.
Limerick did hammer Cork in the round-robin phase of the Munster Championship but incredibly it was the last game they won for the rest of the championship, and that hurt.
Once again the level of support this team is generating is huge and they outnumbered the home crowd in Nowlan Park, indications are that another big crowd will be in the Gaelic Grounds for this game, both stands are sold out I understand.
“Incredible and you could hear them again today absolutely brilliant for the lads,” said Ben after the game.
A lively 70 plus minutes is in prospect with a bit more at stake for Limerick who have made no secret of their desire to get to the league final, as they have a bye in 1st round of the Munster Championship. A defeat would bring others into play, and that might just give them a slight edge.
But this Cork team are playing well and will want to maintain their unbeaten run and head off on a warm weather training camp on Tuesday in good form.
The match is live on C103 and the Onic Player.
Centra Camogie League D1
Cork v Kilkenny on Saturday at St Lachtan’s ground at 2pm
Kilkenny are top with 2 wins from 2 against Cork who have lost their opening games to Waterford and somewhat surprisingly to Antrim last time out.
After that loss manager Ger Manley was disappointed but quick to give Antrim credit. “They wanted it more than us which, is a worry. Okay we were without a number of players but that’s no excuse, we missed a few goal chances and that could have changed the result.”
Ger accepts now they are in a real battle to avoid a relegation battle, with Tipperary and Galway to come after Saturday.
“We are and it’s something we don’t want but it’s a reality and while it would not be the end of the world, but we will do everything to get a few wins in the remaining games which are not easy ones.”
The injury situation might improve though: “Well, we have a couple of weeks off now and hopefully get a good bit of work in a few players back and we see where that takes us.”
Regulars Emma Murphy, Ashling Thompson, Orlaith Cahalane, Libby Coppinger and Meabh Murphy have played well in the games and among others Niamh Mac Nabola, Millie Condon and Claire Kingston impressed as well.
It’s been a tough few years for Kilkenny but they appear to be moving in the right direction and with home advantage look well capable of inflicting another defeat on Cork.
On Sunday the under 23 team head to Cappamore for a Munster semi-final against Limerick with a 2pm start, and having battled to a good win over Clare in difficult conditions last week, will hope to repeat that performance in a bid to retain the title they won last year.
Orlaith Cremin, Laura Dunlea, Ciara Golden, Rose Murphy and Ava McAuliffe are important players for Jerry Wallis’s side and with a match under their belts, they might have enough to make the final.
Football loss
The defeat and the scale of it made for a long trip home from Derry on Sunday evening and as they are currently on a warm weather training camp in Portugal, John Cleary and his management team will be working hard to get them back on track.
One loss does not make them a bad team and they are still in with a chance of promotion but it might be just out of their own hands.
The priority now is to win the next game at home to Kildare in Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday week and then they can head back north for a meeting with Tyrone still in hunt for a top two finish.
Ladies football
It’s been some return to the top division for Joe Carroll’s side and the latest win over a highly rated Waterford side puts them top of the table and unbeaten.
Not bad for a team that many felt would struggle to retain their place in Division 1, by my reckoning looking at the table, one more win will see them seal a place in the final in April.
Meath at home on 21 March and Dublin 8 days later, are their last two games and both are not exactly setting the world on fire. Dublin are actually bottom of the table and in a relegation battle.
Cork and Galway met in the Division 2 League final last year, what odds they could contest the Division 1 Final in a few weeks time?
County hurling leagues
Despite the poor weather the majority of games in the County Football Leagues got played last weekend and with an improvement this week, let’s hope the same applies to the hurling which gets underway this weekend.
There’s anteresting one on Friday night with defending league champions and of course county championship winners Sars against Glen Rovers in Riverstown at 7.30pm.