Can Cork make it to another All-Ireland Final?
After the disappointment of Croke Park last Saturday, the hurlers will hope for a better result this week when they play Galway, which is followed by the Ladies Football QF in Parnell Park, while on Sunday, it’s the All-Ireland Minor Football Final in Newbridge.
All-Ireland Hurling SF
Cork v Galway on Saturday in Croke Park at 3.30pm
“We are where we set out to be at the start of the season a few bumps along the road but look it’s Croke Park, just 4 teams left and glad to be one of them.” Cork manager Ben O’Connor’s take on Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final.
Injuries disrupted them for the Munster Final and the Offaly QF, but apart from the unfortunate Ciarán Joyce, everyone else is looking okay. “They are; Tim (O’Mahony) and Tommy (O’Connell) did some non contact work last week and if they come through a bit of a game tonight (Tuesday), they should good to go.”
The Offaly game which was over within 10 minutes was the ideal opportunity to test the depth of the panel. “We got game time into a few lads especially Darragh (Fitzgibbon) and it was pleasing they way they kept going until the end giving us a few options when we sit down to pick the team.”
Ben has huge respect for Galway. “We played them in the league up in Salthill and it was probably our toughest test and while people are saying Leinster is a bit behind, they still won it and it takes a good team to win any championship.”
The manner in which they play is something Cork will have to counter. “They move the ball well and at pace and that is something we will look to curtail because if you all allow any team dictate the pace, you will be in trouble.”
There is a nice mix in the team and Micheál Donoghue has them moving in the right direction. “He has and won All-Irelands as well with some very young players, but there is nothing easy at this stage of the championship and we know it’s going to be a battle but we’re ready and looking forward to it.”
It’s a first meeting between the counties since the QF in 2022, a game Galway won by 1 point and you have to go back to 2008 for the last time Cork won - that was a qualifier. In fact Galway have won the last 5 championship meetings so that is something Cork will look to redress.
It should also take away the notion by some that Cork are going to win with a bit to spare.
In many respects Galway are in the ideal position; Cork are warm favourites so it’s a pressure free day for Donoghue and his players.
Winning the Leinster Championship was very important and it also gave them a four week run in to this match, ideal, maybe or maybe not.
For Ben, “two weeks is perfect; play your match get the recovery in and then prepare for the next one and that is what we have done, ideal - a match every two weeks.”
Galway’s only defeat en route to winning their 4th title was to Dublin. a result they reversed comfortably on the final, although they did concede 4 goals, admittedly 2 came late in the game.
Galway actually won all 3 grades in Leinster but neither their minors or under 20s made much impact in the All-Ireland series, but the game is strong in the county.
There is a lot of very good players in this side; Tom Monaghan had 0-8 in the provincial final, Conor Whelan, Jason Rabbitte still under 20, Aaron Niland, Rory Burke, Darragh Neary, Cathal Mannion and Conor Cooney all made important contributions in the Leinster campaign.
They will relish the opportunity to maintain their county’s winning run against Cork.
What 15 will start for Cork? If O’Connell and O’Mahony are fit there will be changes, the defence though will be unchanged.
Patrick Collins will be annoyed at the goals that went past him in Thurles but as well as performing their defensive duties well, 4 of the backs managed to get on the score sheet, Rob and Eoin Downey, Mark Coleman and Sean O’Donoghue while Damien Cahalane and Niall O’Leary were effective as usual.
Brian Roche and Hugh O’Connor did well, but the expectation is that the selectors will plump for the experienced duo for this one.
William Buckley and Barry Walsh did not start against Offaly, they will surely do so on Saturday and with Hayes, Barrett, Connolly although his return from play has dipped, Healy, Harnedy, and the impressive Alan Walsh in the mix, the numbers 10 to 15 will be interesting.
Cork are bidding to make it to a 3rd final in a row and if they play to their undoubted potential they should win, but Galway will test them.
Cork have a bit more experience in their team and on the bench and that might just tilt the tie their way.
They have yet to produce a consistent 70 minute performance; Saturday might just be the afternoon to do just that.
The match is live on C103 and the Onic Player.
TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football QF
Cork v Dublin on Saturday in Parnell Park at 7.30pm
A real test here for Cork not made any easier by injuries that rule two key players out for this game and for the rest of the campaign.
Defender Dara Kiniry and forward Rachel Leahy’s absence will certainly weaken Joe Carroll’s side.
Dublin may have been relegated from Division 1 of the league but bounced back by winning the Leinster Championship and then topping their group, hence the home venue for this game.
Cork did win the league, the only defeat was by Saturday’s opposition but their form dipped in the Munster Championship losing all 3 games.
They then looked destined to exit the All-Ireland series but a tremendous late rally got them over the line against Waterford and they will need to match that and more if they are to make the last four.
Emma Cleary, Katie Quirke, Mellissa Duggan, Aine Terry O’Sullivan and Leah Hallinan will need to deliver big again if Cork are to win. If not they could very well see their season come to an end.
Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football Final
Cork v Tyrone on Sunday at St Conleths Park Newbridge at 2pm
It is 2019 since Cork last won the minor title and this represents an excellent chance to end that wait by a team that impressed and improved with very outing all season and now stand just 60 minutes away from finishing in style.
Tyrone are rated by many as the best team in the championship and were impressive winners of the Ulster Championship and were winning it for the 4th time in 6 years, obviously with different teams but it’s an indication of the strength of the game at the age group within the county.
They are also the reigning champions biding for back to back titles, rare enough at this level.
They were 2-16 to 1-12 winners over Derry in the Ulster final and followed that up by beating Galway and then Kildare in a thrilling semi-final.
Conan Canavan, Logan O’Connor, Ronan O’Neill, Brian Óg McGuckian, Matthew F Daly and Charlie Meenan are big players for Tyrone.
Cork have plenty of quality of their own and a resilience that has seen them pass a few tough tests on way to this decider. The Munster Final against Kerry on a difficult night and then in the semi-final conceding 2 early goals before seeing off Derry comfortably enough in the end.
Goalkeeper Rory Twohig is a real gem, an excellent shot stopper and an ability to kick 1 and 2 pointers from distance. Given the opportunity on Sunday, he will punish the opposition.
Eanna Lynch, Conor Downing, Darragh O’Sullivan and Riain McCormack are excellent defenders.
In midfield Urhan’s Kieran O’Shea has been a colossus in every game with Conrad Murphy gives solid back up.
The attack have ripped apart several defences given the quality ball they get. Ben Hegarty, Joe Miskella, Tom Whooley and Jacob Barry will need minding and if they are not contained, Cork will win.
Finals at this level and with the players been very young can be hard to call, but as I have said previously, I have been very impressed by this Cork team all season and they are well capable of winning the county's 12th Tom Markham Cup.
The match is live on C103 and on the Onic Player.
County Football League Finals
All 7 McCarthy Insurance Group deciders are down for the decision over the coming days with the big one being the D1 encounter of Knocknagree v Castlehaven in Macroom on Friday night at 8pm.
Cork’s defeat will probably mean both will have their inter-county contingent available and that should make for an intriguing contest.
It’s been a remarkable journey for the Duhallow side in the last number of years from junior to the top tier of Cork football and if they were to win this game, it would be a nice boost ahead of the championship meeting in a couple of weeks time.
No joy for footballers
When John Cleary looks back at the defeat to Mayo last Saturday, he will see it as a huge opportunity missed to further develop the team and squad and who knows what would have happened had they won?
John’s after match comments summed everything up - “lack of efficiency in front of goal”. 8 first half wides some very poor, 14 in total and for the 1st time all season zero 2 pointers from play.
It brought their season to an end, one in which they achieved promotion back to D1 for the 1st time in 10 years and a number of very impressive and encouraging wins in the championship, notably against Donegal in Ballybofey, but Saturday will hurt for some time to come.
They gave of their best and they deserve our thanks for their efforts, which right now is probably of little consolation to a group of players whose ambitions are much higher than what they showed in HQ last week.