Footballers are Ballybofey bound
After the disappointment of last Sunday, focus this weekend is very much on the footballers as they play Donegal in Round 2A of the Championship, while there are also important games for the minor hurlers and camogie and ladies football teams.
All-Ireland Football Championship
Cork v Donegal on Saturday in Ballybofey at 3pm
“Once the draw was made, we parked it and moved on with our preparation for the match,” manager John Cleary said on the tough draw his team were handed.
“They are the form team, one of the favourites for the All-Ireland having already won the league and the manner in which they beat Kerry last time out is a sign of their quality.”
John says the lads are really looking forward to the game. “We have had 3 weeks since the Meath game, our longest break all season and that has helped and we got a bit of work done.”
“They can cause you problems if they turn you over, so we will need to be spot on with our efficiency and not be wasteful in possession.”
All season though, the bigger the challenge the response has been excellent. “No doubt about that. We lost a couple of games and always came back and won the next one and we had plenty away, to Tyrone and Louth in the league are good examples.”
The win, and more importantly the way it was carved out against Meath has given them a huge boost. “We felt our 1st half wasn’t that bad but the quality of the 2nd half and some of the scores were just top class and that is what we are capable of on any given day.”
The injury update is mixed. “Brian (Hurley) and Dara (Sheedy) are back training and will train again tonight (Tuesday), but unfortunately David Buckley picked up a knock and we will see how it goes later, but he is probably doubtful.”
John also was fulsome in his praise for Matty Taylor who picked up a season ending injury in a club game. “Huge blow, great competitor and a big loss but knowing his determination he will be back stronger than ever.”
Colm O’Callaghan lost his appeal against the harsh red card received against Meath and he is a loss.
“I thought the sending off was harsh and his presence will be missed as he has been one of our most consistent players all season.”
At stake on Saturday is a direct route to the QF and another break before you play again.
“The other downside is you could be on the road again next weekend, but look we are ready to go and we have every belief we are good enough to win.”
The starting 15 will obviously be different particularly if Buckley is ruled out. Sean Walsh will probably partner Ian Maguire in midfield.
Defensively they will not want to allow Donegal build a lead, as Meath did so a big onus on Luke Fahy, Daniel O’Mahony, Brian O’Driscoll and Tommy Walsh to try and contain the quality McGuinness’s side has up front.
Equally Cork will hope that Steven Sherlock, Mark Cronin and Chris Óg Jones can deliver at the other end.
It will be interesting to see if Cork will risk the 20 year old Sheedy is this game given his lengthy lay off.
It is not a knockout game of course but obviously the direct route is the preferred one, but the odds favour Donegal winning given the absence of a couple of key Cork players.
When the odds were against them in the past they have delivered they are well capable of doing it again.
The match is live on C103 and the Onic Player.
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Semi-final
Cork v Tipperary on Saturday in the Gaelic Grounds Limerick at 2pm
It’s a rematch with the team that beat Cork in round two of the Munster Championship and went on to become champions, a final that was played over 3 weeks ago. Will the lack of championship activity hinder Tipperary?
Cork finished 3rd and faced a preliminary QF and looked on the verge of defeat as Wexford led with just under 10 minutes remaining but they turned it around with 2 goals.
A week later Cork were comfortable winners over Kilkenny in the QF.
So the long route to get to the last four and there is no doubt the games have brought the team on as has the return from injury of a few big players.
In the round robin game, Tipperary were clearly the better team with their centre back Oisin Kennedy a dominant figure. They had goals by KJ Dunne and Chris Dunne who bagged 1-6 on the night.
Cork led at one stage but missed a few chances to extend the lead and were punished by a strong finish by Tipperary who got the last 5 points to win 2-17 to 0-16.
Cork have improved and this game being on neutral ground will help.
Cork will not want to allow Kennedy dominate as he did in Thurles and they will look to their excellent captain Eoin Considine, Bobby Power, Dave Nolan, Sam McCarthy and the Coffey brothers Nathan and Callum as they bid to reverse that result.
A tough ask as Tipperary are one of the favourites to win the title, but if they display the qualities that have seen them reach the semi-final, Cork could win.
TG4 Ladies Football Championship
Cork v Waterford on Saturday at Walsh Park at 7.30pm
It’s a must-win game for Joe Carroll’s side on the back of a 10 point defeat to Armagh in Páirc Uí Rinn last Saturday.
The reality is another defeat and Cork’s championship ambitions are over and they could even be dragged into a relegation battle to preserve their senior status.
Given that they are the league champions, this would be the worst possible outcome for a team that on the back of that win would have faced the championship in confident mood.
That confidence was obviously dented by a poor Munster Championship which saw them lose all 3 games including to Saturday’s opposition.
Since then they have lost one of their key players Emma Murray to AFL, just like Cork’s Aoife Healy.
It is their 1st game in the series but they will be confident that they can win this one especially on home soil with Kelly Ann Hogan, Laura Cusack, Katie Murray and Aine O’Neill in good from.
Cork were poor in the loss to Armagh but they do have very good players in Emma Cleary, Katie Quirke, Aine Terry O’Sullivan, Leah Hallihan and Grace Murphy. A huge improvement is needed on recent displays, if not well it’s the end of the championship for a team that would benefit from extra games at the top level.
Glen Dimplex Senior Camogie Championship
Cork v Tipperary on Sunday in Semple Stadium at 3.30pm
A rare but well deserved win in Athenry for Ger Manley’s side has put them in a strong position to make the semi-final and they will head to Thurles on Sunday in confident mood.
“We played very well but looking the training over the last few weeks, I could see it coming and of course we had big players returning as well.”
Ger was also looking forward to Sunday: “Tipp are a good team; we drew with them in the league and they beat us in the Munster Championship and playing in Thurles is important - a big open field that will suit both sides.”
The win in Athenry was achieved with a solid first half having played with the wind. But also crucial was the start of the 2nd half when “we didn’t allow Galway to build any momentum and the goal came in the last minute when the match was won”.
Injuries are still an issue. “Meabh (Cahalane) and Ashling (Thompson) are still out but getting there and hopefully another couple of weeks and they will be back.”
Tipperary lost to Waterford last Sunday and they will be anxious to get the win particularly as they are playing at home and with All-Ireland champions Galway in their last game they certainly won’t want to be heading west on the back of two defeats.
They were missing a couple of players last Sunday and they will hope that Eimear McGrath, Caoimhe Stakelum, Karen Blair, Eimear Heffernan and Laura Leenane can recapture the form that saw them win the Munster Championship.
As for Cork, Libby Coppinger, Meabh Murphy, Laura Hayes Saoirse McCarthy, Orlaith Cahalane and Emma Murphy all delivered big displays in Athenry - a repeat performance will be enough for another win.
Munster Hurling Final
A one point defeat was hard to take but Cork will know they did not play well enough to retain the title, but the season goes on and it’s Offaly next in the All-Ireland QF.
Cork will be expected to win but Limerick were strong favourites to beat Dublin at the same stage last year and they didn’t so. Offaly had a great Leinster Championship and will see this as a free hit with nothing to lose and that will see them play with a freedom that will make them dangerous.
Forewarned is forearmed will be the message to the Cork lads though.
Denis Coughlan RIP
“We will lay shortly to rest one of the greatest hurlers and footballers of all times.
A decent and honourable man who I had the privilege of knowing as a loyal friend.”
The words of former county runaí Frank Murphy in is his tribute at the funeral mass on Tuesday.
How true; Denis’s record with Cork, Glen Rovers and St Nick’s is unrivalled and he was one if not the club’s most decorated players.
The attendance at his funeral, which included GAA President Jarlath Burns reflected his standing within the game as so many of his former playing colleagues bade farewell to a legend.
On a personal level I worked with Denis when he was chairman of St Nick’s and as manager of our teams and that was an honour and a pleasure I will cherish and our friendship endured over many years.
As so many have said since his passing, ‘he was one of nature’s gentleman and he was a pleasure to meet be it at a match, training session on the golf course in the Island (Cork Golf Club) or anywhere for that matter he always had time for a chat’.
Sincere sympathy to his family at this very sad time but they will be consoled that Denis has left a legacy that they should be very proud of.
Rest in peace Denis, we will all miss you.