Another crucial weekend for Cork
There appears to be no end to big games for Cork teams and this weekend is no exception.
The football league will conclude on Sunday, while the hurlers will hope to extend their campaign by one more week on Saturday night. There are also two very important camogie games and it’s just a pity they are not been played as a double-header.
Allianz NHL semi-final
Cork v Kilkenny on Saturday at Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 7.15pm
It’s a repeat of last July’s All-Ireland semi-final in which Cork won after extra-time and if Saturday’s clash is half as good, few will complain.
It’s been a strange league - obviously some counties have tailored their approach with the championship in mind, it actually starts on the weekend of 16/17 April.
Cork boss Kieran Kingston has always said they will take it ‘game by game’ and it’s been a good league from that point of view, and more importantly the majority of the panel have gotten valuable game time.
To be fair to the players and management, they put the defeat to Limerick in the All-Ireland Final quickly behind them and how they have performed to date is to their credit on and off the field.
Last Sunday’s loss to Wexford will not unduly trouble them and the way matters evolved ending up with home advantage, is an added bonus.
Cork last met Kilkenny in the league in 2019 in a relegation play-off in Nowlan Park and as part of the agreement between the counties, Páirc Uí Chaoimh gets to host this semi-final.
That of course won’t trouble Brian Cody; his attitude has always been wherever the game is fixed for we will be there and no doubt will relish the challenge to win at a venue where they have lost on their last three visits.
Much has been said and written about this year’s league but now that we are at the business end of the competition, all four teams remaining will want to win, even with the championship so close.
Cork’s league record is poor. We last won it in 1998 and it is seven years since our last final appearance - a defeat to Waterford, so a chance to improve on both counts.
Kilkenny under Cody have always approached the league with the intention of winning it. Under his stewardship they have triumphed on 10 occasions; they are the current holders with Galway.
The manner in which they saw off Waterford last Sunday was impressive to say the least, admittedly Liam Cahill’s men were already qualified and had little to play for, but that should not take from Kilkenny’s win.
The Ballyhale-Shamrock players, with the exception of TJ Reid, are back and there is a settled look to the side, starting with excellent goalkeeper Eoin Murphy, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh and Richie Reid anchor a tight defensive unit.
Cillian Buckley is a hard working midfielder, while Walter Walsh, Padraig Walsh, Adrian Mullen and Eoin Cody made important contributions in attack.
The Cork 15 will be interesting the expectation is that the majority of those rested against Wexford will return.
Patrick Collins has done little wrong, while Mark Coleman, Tim O’Mahoney, Niall O’Leary and Robert Downey have excelled in defence. Darragh Fitzgibbon’s form in midfield has been excellent, while Patrick Horgan, Ger Mellerick, Shane Kingston, Robbie O’Flynn and Conor Lehane will look to maintain their form of earlier rounds.
Cork played well for most of the second half in Wexford and a concern of the management has been periods when they have drifted out of games and allowed the opposition gain a grip; give Kilkenny that and it could be fatal.
Momentum is everything at this stage of the season with the championship around the corner. That and home advantage might be enough to get Cork over the line, but as ever with Kilkenny in the opposite corner it will not be easy.
Live commentary is on C103.
A big crowd is sure to attend this game, so why not get down early and avoid any possible delay and watch the Cork Under 20s play Kilkenny in a challenge game that gets underway at 5.15pm?
Allianz NFL Division 2
Cork v Offaly at O’Connor Park in Tullamore on Sunday at 2pm
Important and all as the hurling semi-final is, this game is far more crucial particularly for the long term benefit of football in the county.
Playing Division 3 football next season and participating in the much maligned Tailteann Cup, unless we beat Kerry in the Munster semi-final, will do little for the promotion of the game; that is what’s at stake on Sunday.
Cork finally got the win they so badly needed over Down last Sunday which keeps them in control of their own destiny. A draw will actually do, but with Offaly in a similar position this will not be an easy game.
Offaly also rested a few key players against Roscommon last weekend obviously putting their entire focus on this clash and playing at home will also be a huge help.
Cork played well in beating Down and the manner in which they responded after conceding the goal has to be seen as a very positive sign and while there can be no denying that the Ulster side are poor, at least they got the win.
Unfortunately yet another injury to Kieran Histon makes him a doubt for the trip to the Midlands, and given the number of defenders currently on the injured list, this will stretch the resources.
His replacement Tommy Walsh did well and could start this game along with Mattie Taylor, Kevin Flahive and Kevin O’Donovan.
Down caused trouble for the Cork backs, they hit 11 wides and Micheál Aodh Martin made a vital save, better teams will punish bad defending and this is an area the Cork will need to improve on, especially for this game.
Ian Maguire and Colm O’Callaghan were very effective in midfield while once again Steven Sherlock was the main threat in attack with great support from Cathal O’Mahoney who continued the good form he showed in the game against Meath.
Brian Hurley’s form has dipped slightly but quality player that he is, the ‘Haven star still will need minding.
By winning the Under 20 title last year, Offaly came into this season full of optimism and the addition of Tomás O’Se to John Maughan’s backroom team was seen as another boost, but as we all know there is a huge gap between under 20 and senior and they have struggled.
The magnitude of this game cannot be overstated for both teams, Cork will be buoyed by their win last Sunday, Offaly will have huge support that will give them an edge but hopefully a consistent 70 minutes from Cork might silence them and do enough to get the win.
Finally best wishes to Manager Keith Ricken who missed last week’s win through illness let’s hope he will be back on the sideline on Sunday, where there will be live commentary on C103.
Camogie
It’s Cork v Galway in 2 huge games on Saturday; one in Moneygall at 2pm the other at 5pm in Thurles. How the 2 could not be played as a double-header is hard to fathom!
I understand that the Minor Final in Thurles is being streamed and as the facilities are available in Semple Stadium, hence the reason for separate venues.
It’s just a pity but at least the venues are a short distance apart and anyone wishing to see both should be in a position to do so.
First up in Moneygall is the Littlewoods Division 2 League quarter-final and here Cork will look to build on their recent improved run of form.
They were poor in losing first day out to Wexford, the Model County’s first team it must be said, but have remained unbeaten since to clinch a place in the last eight.
The most recent win was in Navan last week, comfortable enough over Meath and they might just be hitting form at just the right time.
Sarah Ahern is a competent goalkeeper fronted by good defenders in Niamh O’Leary and Kelly Falvey, Lauren Callanan has added new energy to the midfield while the attack has the experienced duo of Joanne Casey, Finola Neville while Hayley Ryan and Rachel O’Shea have chipped in with match winning scores.
Galway enjoyed a god run through their group but Cork’s winning run could very well continue with a consistent 60 minutes.
The Tesco All-Ireland Minor Final is actually a repeat of a group game, which Cork won by 2 points.
In fact a feature of Cork’s campaign has been the capacity to win tight games.
In the QF it was a point win over Waterford after extra-time, similarly last Sunday a dramatic last minute point by Aoife Healy saw them get the better of Tipperary in a thriller, so maybe the knack of winning close games will stand to them; refusing to accept defeat a great trait in any side irrespective of their age.
Galway for their part saw off the challenge of champions Kilkenny comfortably enough, even with 14 players for a part of the second half, so they too have improved since the opening round.
Cork under Jerry Wallace have an excellent record at this grade, this is their fourth final in a row, and were actually denied a 3 in a row when the competition was abandoned when Covid-19 hit.
There’s a nice balance in the team: Orlaith Cahalane, Orlaith Mullins, Ciara Morrison, Jill Connaughton, Tara Elliott, Eimear Duggan and Fiona Twohig have all played key roles in their march to this decider.
Galway though will come into this final boosted by dethroning the champions, they trailed by 2-1 to 0-1 early in the game, and they will look to Ally Hensen, Niamh McInerney, Alannah Fahy, Ava Crowe and Hayley Kenny as they bid to win a title they last captured in 2017.
It should be an intriguing encounter on the excellent pitch in Thurles, one more concerted effort by a Cork team that do not countenance defeat might be good enough to give the county only its third title in this grade.