Cork face crucial Munster championship ties
There are three very important senior games this weekend, along with a continuation of underage championships as well.
Munster Senior Football Championship SF
Cork v Tipperary on Saturday in Thurles at 2pm
“That 2nd half display was just not good enough and against stronger opposition we would have been punished and it is something we need to rectify,” Cork football manager John Cleary said after the QF win over Limerick.
It is not the 1st time that there was a 2nd half fade out, in the wins over Offaly and Kildare it happened and you could probably say the same about the league final loss to Meath.
Mention of Meath and their surprising loss to Westmeath should put Cork on their guard heading to Thurles on Saturday, that championship is once off and every team has a chance.
Midfielder Colm O’Callaghan says they will give Tipperary the respect they deserve. “Of course we will because if you don’t, you could very well end up losing and that is something we will be drilling into ourselves ahead of the match.”
Colm is happy the way the season has gone to date, league final apart. “It’s been very good; a tough campaign winning big games and that has hardened our resolve for the championship - we also know we have to be more consistent and the season evolves.”
Back to the 2nd half against Limerick, given they were so far ahead, did a degree of complacency set in? “Maybe,” said manager John Cleary “but we need to keep the foot on the pedal for 70 minutes - that is what the better teams do.”
Tipperary might be a Division 4 team, but they have troubled and beaten Cork in the past. “Playing at home will help; they might be going in as underdogs but just like Limerick it’s a free hit and if we are not focussed we won’t win.”
It’s the 1st meeting of the sides since the Covid Final in 2020 when after beating Kerry in the semi-final, Tipperary came to Páirc Uí Chaoimh and in an empty stadium won their 1st Munster title since 1935.
They have endured a tough few months with the passing of their manager Philly Ryan, with Niall Fitzgerald taking over in difficult circumstances.
Their league campaign saw them finish with 8 points and one more win could have put them in the promotion place, which given their issues would have been a fair achievement.
In their QF they had a good 2nd half to eventually see off Waterford, with Sean O’Connor getting 0-6, with Charlie King, Glen Power, Aaron Ryan, Shane Gartland and Eoin Craddock making their C’ship debuts.
Both their minor and under 20 teams failed to make their 2nd phase of their championships and the departure of key players in the last couple of years has not helped.
Cork with the expected absence of U20 player Dara Sheedy - he missed the game with Waterford last night (Wednesday) - the starting 15 won’t differ much from the win over Limerick.
It will be interesting to see who replaces Sheedy, will they go with the experienced Brian Hurley or Ruairí Deane, or give Conor Corbett the nod to start?
There is a consistency in the selection in recent weeks and expect that to continue, Micheál Aodh in goal with Daniel O’Mahoney, Tommy Walsh and Brian O’Driscoll in defence.
Ian Maguire and Colm O’Callaghan in midfield with Mark Cronin, Chris Óg Jones and Steven Sherlock in attack
Whatever 15 are chosen they should win and will want to deliver a solid 70 minutes ahead of the expected Munster Final showdown with Kerry in a few weeks time.
The match is live on C103 and the Onic Player.
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
Cork v Limerick on Sunday in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 2pm
“Delighted with the win and especially the performance in the 2nd half we upped our work rate and got some great scores against the All-Ireland champions playing them at home,” Ben O’Connor said after the important win in what was always going to a tricky opener.
Next up it’s “the best team in the country for the last ten years, we will review today and then get ready for another huge test.”
Ben was fulsome in his praise for everyone but mentioned the displays by championship debutants William Buckley (0-6) and Barry Walsh (0-4). “Two great lads who showed what they are capable of today, but everyone we used did their job and that’s all you can ask for.”
The key to the win in Thurles was the period in the 2nd half when Tipp were outscored by 0-11 to 0-1 with a great spread of scorers and a defensive unit that did not yield an inch. All 6 were awesome but in particular the half-back trio of Mark Coleman and the Downey brothers Eoin and Rob, the latter dominating every high ball with top class distribution.
Pace and energy were other factors in the win and now the trick is: can they repeat that display next Sunday?
Limerick have been excellent all season and in the two big meetings with Cork, they were were comfortable winners and while this is the 1st championship outing, they have enough experience on and off the field to cope with that.
In the league final they scored at ease on a day when the Cork backs struggled; they will need to be as good and better than they were in Thurles if they are to contain the likes of Gillane, Hegarty and O’Brien.
You need to deny them a supply of quality of ball for that to succeed, so the onus is on everyone further out the field to ensure that does not happen.
The Cork attack flourished on Sunday but this time they are coming up against a rearguard that will have Byrnes, Hayes, Casey and Nash, but I am sure Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes and Shane Barrett will relish and rise to the challenge.
Giving game time to Hugh O’Connor, Padraig Power and Alan Walsh who clipped over a nice point strengthens the depth of the squad. It was also good to see Diarmuid Healy make a welcome return.
A concern would be the wide count, 14 in total, 7 from frees with Tim O’Mahony, Alan Connolly and Mark Coleman failing to convert even if some were long range, certainly that will be worked on.
How will Sunday pan out? Limerick will bring intensity and power that Cork will have to match, equally will Limerick be able to deal with the pace of the Cork attack who will need good quick quality ball to do what they are capable of?
Goals have been scarce in recent games, will Sunday see that trend reversed?
A good start is vital; if Limerick build a lead they might be hard to reel in. Cork though will no doubt take a lot of confidence from the win over Tipperary, it takes a little bit of pressure off.
It’s a fascinating contest in prospect, Limerick will start as favourites but Cork’s championship record against them is good; 3 wins out of the last 4 meetings, Sunday could see that stat tilt even further in their favour.
The match is live on C103 and the Onic Player.
Munster Minor Football Championship
Cork v Clare on Monday in Clarecastle at 7pm
A first outing in this championship for Keith Ricken’s side against a Clare team enjoying home advantage who are also playing their 4th game having had 3 outings in phase 1.
In that they lost to Waterford and had narrow wins over Limerick and Tipperary, with Thomas Dillon getting the goal against the latter that saw them progress while Tristan O’Donoghue, Steven O’Neill and Liam Keane 1-4 against Tipperary impressed.
Cork had 2 teams in the Leinster Development League and it was a worthwhile exercise for all involved where they mixed and matched their teams and got game time into a lot of players.
In the final they defeated Louth by 1-12 to 0-13 with Riley O’Donovan, Rian Coakley, Kieran O’Shea and Joe Miskella all featured in that win and will backbone their championship challenge which hopefully they can get underway with a win.
Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship
Cork v Clare on Wednesday in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 7pm
As I write this column, Cork are joint top with Clare and Tipperary on 4 points but that will have changed as they were playing last night (Wednesday).
Cork kept their season alive with a great win in terrible weather conditions against Waterford without senior player Barry Walsh who should barring injury be available for this game.
The permutations are somewhat complicated but if Tipp won last night, they would almost certainly top the table leaving Cork and Clare then fighting for 2nd spot and the carrot here is a home semi-final, which is important.
Cork showed enough resolve in Dungarvan to win and if they repeat that form, they are in with an excellent chance of securing that crucial 2nd place.
Darragh Heavin, Michael Tadgh Brosnan, Colm Garde, James O’Brien (0-9 in that win) Johnny Murphy and Barry O’Flynn have led by example throughout the campaign and will hopefully do so again.
Munster Senior Ladies Football Championship
Cork v Tipperary on Saturday in Páirc Uí Rinn at 7pm
Fresh from winning the division 1 league title, Cork begin their Munster Championship campaign when Tipperary visit Leeside on Saturday in the 1st of the round robin series of games. The key in this championship, apart from winning it obviously, is the higher you finish the better your seeding for the All-Ireland series.
Tipperary finished mid-table in division 2 of the league and this is a game Cork will be expected to win.
Once again they will look to Emma Cleary, Katie Quirke, Mellissa Duggan, Aine Terry O’Sullivan and Grace Ni Murchu to maintain their winning run.
Kerry and Waterford are the other two counties in the championship and it should make for an interesting few weeks as they all look ahead to the All-Ireland series.