Footballers face crucial tie

After the defeat to Derry followed by a week’s training in Portugal focus on the footballers this weekend, while the camogie team bid for back to back wins.

Allianz NFL Division 2

Cork v Kildare on Saturday at Páirc Uí Rinn at 2pm

“We dealt with it on the first day of the training camp and quickly moved on and our sole focus now is on Saturday,” said manager John Cleary on the loss to Derry.

The four days in Portugal were “very beneficial and I suppose the timing was perfect, even though it was planned with a while, but coming after a hectic period of matches it worked out perfectly”.

“We got a lot done in terms of training, video analysis and other works that you can do when the whole group are together.”

Injuries were also a factor in recent weeks and John gave this update. “It looks like Tommy (Walsh) and Brian (O’Driscoll) could be available for this week, Patrick (Doyle) might be a bit too soon, while others like Mark (Cronin) and Brian (Hurley) are back training so we will see how they go.”

The fact that Ian Maguire only received a one match ban following his appeal was also welcome. “While I did not see the incident on the day, when I looked at it later, a two match ban would have been very harsh.”

The ‘Barr’s man value to the team was emphasised by John. “He’s our captain and our leader and has been for the last number of years; you saw how important to the team he was in the Meath game, he was dominating midfield and his presence was missed in Derry.”

As for Kildare even though they are at the bottom end of the table they will be tough opponents. “No doubt about that, they have picked up a few injuries, they won the Tailteann Cup last year and have some very good players and still have a lot to play for.”

Meath were 1-21 to 0-10 winners over them in the last round but like Cork they will have benefitted from the two week break and will be refreshed for the trip to Leeside.

Brian McLoughlin, Ben Loakman, Colm Moran, Darragh Kirwan, Ryan Burke and Eoin Lawlor were among the better performers for the Lily Whites in the loss to Meath.

How Cork react to the heavy defeat in Derry and what 15 will start in this important encounter.

Micheál Aodh will be in goal and if Brian O’Driscoll and Tommy Walsh are fit, the defence will be altered but expect Luke Fahy and Daniel O’Mahony start as they have been very consistent.

Colm O’Callaghan has been one of the side’s best players in all the games to date and he, just like the team, will benefit from the return of Ian Maguire and that should give them an edge and an important one in midfield.

The return of just 10 points in Derry will be a huge concern and it goes without saying that total is not going to win any match, never mind one of this importance; that said, Kildare only got the same amount in their loss to Meath.

Mark Cronin’s work rate, distribution and ability to kick 2 pointers would be a loss if injury again rules him out.

Steven Sherlock, Sean McDonnell, Chris Óg Jones and the impressive Dara Sheedy will hopefully deliver this time round.

In the win over Meath an important factor was the Cork support in Páirc Uí Rinn, hence the decision to take this vital game back there, it was originally fixed for Super Valu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The manager’s request was acceded to. “Obviously our games will be in the Páirc, but you saw it yourself the last day coming down the stretch, especially when we were down to 14, how the crowd got behind us and that helped get us over the line. We train here all the time and anything that will help the team is important.”

The loss in Derry pushed Cork from top to third but John is still hopeful that they can get enough points to gain promotion and into the final.

“We have a big few weeks ahead us and while we might need other results to go our way, all we can do is control what we control win our two games and see where that takes us.”

There is no easy game in this very competitive division but given what’s at stake and the desire to show the result in Derry was a one-off, Cork to win and then maybe results elsewhere might fall their way.

The match is live on C103 and on the Onic player.

Centra Camogie League Division 1

Cork v Tipperary on Saturday at Páirc Uí Rinn at 1pm

A welcome and very important win for this team last Saturday against unbeaten Kilkenny, helped by the return of a few very experienced players as manager Ger Manley explains.

“Look when you get 4 All-Stars back into your team, you are bound to be better and that is exactly what happened and we got the win that we needed.”

Ger though was also fulsome in his praise for the younger members of the panel. “We are trying to build up a strong panel and the girls that played in the earlier games gave their best and will be better players as a result.”

The sides were level at the break and having played with the wind he was a bit concerned. “Then when Kilkenny got level we looked in a bit of bother but the response was top class and we were comfortable after Orlaith’s (Cahalane) goal.”

There is also the possibility of a few more players returning for the Tipperary game. “Yeah we could have and that will help as well, must mention Izzy O’Regan back after a very long lay-off and delighted for her, big player for us.”

The downside though is the injury to Ashling Thompson. “It is and it looks very serious and Ashling has been brilliant in all the games so far - a real leader on the field, it was a pure accident and it’s unlikely we will see her in the remaining games in the league, a big loss.”

Tipperary were beaten by Galway last weekend and the winners of this game will go a long way to avoid the dreaded relegation play-off.

Eimear McGrath, Celine Guinan, Mairead Eviston, Grace O’Brien and Karen Kennedy played well for Tipp in that defeat on their home ground the Ragg.

Laura Hayes, Emma Muphy, Hayley Ryan, Orlaith and Meabh Cahalane, Libby Coppinger and Sorcha McCartan are all quality players on the Cork side and boosted by their victory in Freshford, they should win this one.

It’s actually very tight in the group; Waterford are the only unbeaten team and look like making the final, and while the league might not be a priority for Ger Manley and his group they might yet come to regret the 2 points dropped at home to Antrim.

Hurlers one game from final

Given the respective teams lining out in last Saturday’s game in the Gaelic Grounds, a Limerick win always looked likely and while they did win by 9 points in the end, Cork will have been pleased with the overall display.

Ben O’Connor said as much in his post match interview. “Disappointed with the result but delighted with the effort; we conceded 2-5 there without reply and we looked like heading for a heavy defeat but we came again and finished strong.”

“We learned a lot about our lads tonight, got valuable game time into a lot of players against a good team and that was important as well.”

“Every one of the panel are working hard in training and they all deserve a chance to show what they can do; we still have a few guys with knocks and we look at that this week.”

And this week they are in Portugal and Ben just like John Cleary says that will help. “Get a good block of work done and then get ready for Offaly in two weeks time.”

The expectation is that Cork will win that game and make it to the league final, and that is the objective: “be nice to get to the final - great preparation for the championship.”

The permutations for the final could very well be shaped by the outcome of the rescheduled Tipperary v Waterford game on Sunday next.

If Tipp win, they will be back in the mix with Kilkenny to play in their final game, while Galway are also contenders if they beat Limerick in the last round, they could also make the final.

The general consensus though that it will be a Cork v Limerick final on Easter Sunday, and if such is the case, the Gaelic Grounds will be once again be the venue.

It will make for an interesting Saturday evening in two weeks time when all 3 games will have 7pm starts.