Hurlers begin All-Ireland series
After the heroics of the footballers last weekend, attention now switches to the hurlers as they go about putting the Munster Final defeat behind them. It’s a quiet weekend with just 1 other game down as the minor footballers play their semi-final.
All-Ireland Hurling QF
Cork v Offaly on Sunday in Semple Stadium Thurles at 3.30pm
“We were obviously down for a few days after the Munster Final but as you have to do, you put it behind you and move on to the next challenge,” Ben O’Connor said ahead of their meeting with Offaly on Sunday.
It’s a game Cork are expected to win comfortably but Ben and his management team are taking nothing for granted. “Not many people would have said Offaly would get out of Leinster and when the likes of Kilkenny and Wexford didn’t, you have to respect them.”
“Since the Limerick game we have done our homework and under no circumstances will we underestimate them; we have trained well in the last two weeks and are looking forward to the game.”
In many ways it mirrors Dublin’s surprise win over Limerick at the same stage last season and Ben is aware of that. “If you are not focused from the start, you will be punished.”
“Very few people gave the Cork footballers a chance going to Ballybofey last Saturday and look at the performance they delivered and that’s the beauty of sport, you must be ready for the day.”
Ben knows well that Offaly have young talent coming through. “Remember a lot of our lads will have played against them at under 20 level so they will know what they are capable of bringing to the game.”
Offaly were relegated from Division 1 in the league and Offally defender Killian Sampson explained the transformation since that campaign concluded. “We had a lot of injuries for the league and never really had our full team out, but lads came back gradually and we grew in confidence with every game.”
The view of many before the championship was that the aim was to retain their Liam McCarthy status and here they are now in the last 6 of the championship. “Yeah that was definitely the aim but once we started picking up points in our first couple of games, there was a belief in the squad and we knew that we could extend our season.”
Killian and the team were disappointed that they did not make the Leinster Final. “We only lost out by a couple of points and that was annoying but look we are where we are and ready to go again.”
He is well aware though that Sunday is another step up the ladder. “We all know the quality this Cork team has; they have been close in the last couple of years and it’s a tough ask for us but it’s a one-off game and we will give it our best shot and see where they takes us.”
Killian was fulsome in his praise for the Offaly management team led by John Kelly and a strong Tipperary connection which includes Seamus Callanan. “They are brilliant and work so hard at all times; they have great belief in this team and we are certainly going in the right direction and we are really looking forward to Sunday.”
Killian is one of the very talented players that backbone this team along with the exceptional forward in Adam Screeney, Brian Duignan, Charlie Mitchell, Ross Ravenhill, Shane Rigney, Eoghan Cahill and Colin Spain.
Their results in the round-robin were impressive - two draws with Kilkenny and Dublin, wins over Kildare and Wexford and they suffered their only defeat to the champions Galway.
The team is built around the successful minor and under 20 teams of recent years and they certainly will relish facing Cork which in a lot of ways is a free hit and that will allow them play with the shackles off and really test the more experienced Rebels.
Injuries will impact Cork’s starting 15 as Ben explained. “Tommy (O’Connell), Tim (O’Mahoney) are out; Darragh (Fitzgibbon) looks to be okay and so is Robbie (O’Flynn), while Deccie (Dalton) still has an issue so we see how training goes tonight (Tuesday) but as I always say when one guy is injured, it’s an opportunity for the next fella.”
The expectation is the defence will be unchanged although they may start one of Cormac O’Brien or Michael Mullins in defence and move Mark Coleman to midfield where Darragh Fitzgibbon will start.
Alternatively he may go with a new midfield pairing altogether, with a number of options available among them Hugh O’Connor or Ethan Twomey alongside Fitzgibbon.
The attack more or less picks itself but as a unit they will be annoyed with a return of just 1-6 from play in the Munster Final, expect a much better scoring rate.
Barrett, Hayes, Connolly and Walsh will deliver you would think.
Cork are in a strange position, win by a wide margin and everyone will say ‘that is what we expected’; struggle and a different attitude will be adopted.
Whatever the margin, Cork will win and then the next task is preparing for Galway in two weeks time, where hopefully the injury situation will have improved.
The match is live on C103 and the Onic Player.
Dublin and Clare meet in the other QF also in Thurles on the Saturday night and with all their injuries, this could be a tough one for the Dubs as they bid to make their 2nd successive semi-final. Clare have a few players returning from injury but with it being a month since they last played, it might come against them.
Electric Ireland Minor Football Semi-Final
Cork v Derry on Saturday in Parnell Park at 4pm
Having come through Munster impressively and unbeaten, Cork showed their quality with an exceptional performance to see off Meath in the quarter-final to set up an intriguing semi-final against the Ulster runners-up.
Under-age football in that province is really strong and word is that Tyrone who play Kildare on Friday in the first of the semi-finals are favourites to win this championship outright.
After the win over Meath, manager Keith Ricken was very pleased. “A great win but more importantly a very good performance all round and we are delighted to be heading for a semi-final against a good Derry side.”
“But we set out at the start of the year to try and win every game while at the same time give the players the opportunity to express and enjoy themselves and so far they are doing just that.”
“As young lads - some still doing exams - you must put everything in perspective so what will do now is go away and get our homework done on Derry, as they will do on us, and then go out the next day and try and make the final. These guys have worked very hard all year and they are now reaping the reward.”
Derry actually led the Ulster Final 1-7 to1-5 at half-time but only added 7 points in the 2nd half, they did though improve sufficiently to beat Roscommon in their QF.
Conor O’Kane, Tomas Devlin, Don Mulholland, Tadgh Bradley Neill McDermott and Gabriel Gormley have impressed in their march to the last four.
On seeing this Cork team in action for the very first time in Clarecastle against Clare, I was impressed. They move the ball at pace and have a very nicely balanced team, and also they showed their resolve by digging out a win over Kerry, their 2nd, in difficult conditions in the Munster Final.
Goalkeeper Rory Twohig has stamped his mark on this team. His primary duty as a stopper is top class, he then proceeds to kick scores from frees and 45s with aplomb - a quality player.
The defence is well marshalled by Eanna Lynch, Conor Garvey and Conrad Murphy.
Ben Hegarty and Kieran O’Shea are a formidable midfield pairing that has seen them dominate most games with the attack benefitting greatly.
Joe Miskella, Jacob Barry, Tom Whooley and Riley O’Donovan have delivered vital scores when required.
Games at this level can be hard to predict but if Cork play as well as they have done to get to this stage, it will take a very exceptional Derry display to deny them a place in the final.
The match is live on C103 and the Onic Player.
Footballers excel in Ballybofey
Written off by most, John Cleary’s side produced a fabulous performance to send one of the favourites for the All-Ireland into action again this week, and at the same time give his team an extra week to prepare for a QF in Croke Park.
The manner of the win, achieved without the very consistent Colm O’Callaghan, reflects greatly on all involved and was well deserved.
They were 7 points down early in the 2nd half but they dug in, battled away, were tenacious in defence and just refused to accept what many felt was the inevitable - a defeat.
Once again the 2 pointers were crucial with Sherlock, Fahy and Walsh hitting beauties.
The reaction after the game said it all and the Cork supporters really savoured the moment and no doubt, as I can testify, the journey home was a lot shorter for everyone.
Into the draw on Monday morning and a relaxing weekend keeping an eye on round 3, where some big hitters could very well bite the dust.
Ladies double up
It was a good weekend for the camogie and ladies football teams who were both away from home and both recorded very good wins.
In camogie a 2nd win on the road almost certainly guarantees Ger Manley’s side a place in the last 4; they play Waterford at home in Round 3.
What a comeback by the ladies footballers who with 6 minutes left against Waterford in the Fraher Field looked to be heading out of the championship but a stunning fight back saw them win by 1 point scored on the hooter by Katie Quirke.
Now if Armagh beat Waterford next Saturday, Cork will get a QF it will be away from home but I’m sure Joe Carroll would have taken that around 8.45pm last Saturday night in Dungarvan because at that point they were looking at a relegation play-off - small margins as they say!