A relatively quiet weekend
After the drama and excitement of recent weeks just 2 teams are in action this weekend and for the minor footballers it’s a winner takes all clash, and more or less the same for the intermediate camogie team.
All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
Cork v Dublin Nowlan Park on Saturday at 1pm
In the immediate aftermath of the loss in the Munster Final on Friday night Cork manager Ray O’Mahoney, while naturally very disappointed said they would quickly re-group: “I felt coming here tonight we were capable of winning but we were just not up to scratch with our shooting and conceding the goals, especially the 2nd one just before half time was a setback.”
Cork battled back as Ray knew they would: “For sure we were level, against the wind midway through the 2nd half, but that took a lot of effort and once Kerry got back in front we had it all to do again.”
As for Dublin in the last 8, Ray said: “We will review this game, get a recovery session into the lads, and use this defeat as a motivating factor, our season isn’t done yet and we will give the Dublin game our best shot, this is a very hard working group and I know they are hurting tonight but we will come out fighting on Saturday.”
This is a good Cork team as they showed in their previous games but were a bit unlucky in the Munster final. They have very good players in Billy Curtin, Dara Sheedy, Timothy Cullinane, Niall O’Shea, Sean Coakley and Trevor Kiely.
Dublin are considered the favourites to land the title and the manner in which they saw off Kildare in the Leinster Final would suggest that Cork will have a testing hour ahead. A consistent 60 minutes and a bit more accuracy in front of goal and Cork could upset the odds and extend their season.
Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship
Cork v Dublin on Saturday at 5pm
Having suffered a surprise defeat to Kilkenny last week this has now turned into a must win game for Cork if they are to keep their championship ambitions alive.
Cork beat Kilkenny in the league final and were well in last Saturday’s game but the concession of 2 goals from a normally solid defence undid all their good work.
With the withdrawal of Kildare, there are now just 3 games in the group leaving little room for error and even more so now in Cork’s case and with Kilkenny 2 wins from 2 almost certain to progress, another defeat and it’s over, win and they control their own destiny with Galway in their last game.
Cork have not become a poor team overnight and they will be determined to get back to winning ways and in Niamh O’Leary, Leanne O’Sullivan, Rachel Harty, Cliona O’Leary and Lauren Homan they should have enough to win this one. The venue is to be confirmed.
Under 20 hurlers
A 3rd All-Ireland title in 4 years, 6 from 6 on the way to winning Provincial and All-Ireland titles a magical year for Ben O’Connor and his backroom team.
Sunday in Thurles was a wonderful occasion helped by the massive Offaly support, and to be fair there was a very sizable and vociferous Rebel following in the stadium as well.
Cork were worthy and in the end comfortable winners and it’s just a pity that some comments by the Offaly backroom team did not really reflect this, Chairman Michael Duignan the exception.
Okay maybe a few calls went our way, there was a few that didn’t go our way in the previous weeks, but then that’s what makes sport what it is.
A couple of facts. Offaly got just 3 points from play over the hour, their 3rd goal came when Cork were already in party mood and in a period just before and after half-time they were outscored by 1-11 to 0-1, that’s not cynicism that’s clinical and the mark of champions.
Offaly are a coming side and Adam Screeny is some hurler and hopefully there day will come, as certainly Leinster and hurling in general could do with another quality team joining the ranks.
For Cork they were a joy to watch all year, winning a cracker in Ennis and repeating that against Clare in the Munster Final.
One game stood out though for me. A Friday night in the Gaelic Grounds, already qualified for the Munster Final, a few changes on the team, down to 14 in the last quarter, lesser players would have said, ‘ah we’re in the final’ know they dug out a great win and ended Limerick’s reign as Munster champions.
As I said the mark of champions and do not have any doubt a few of these lads will feature on the Cork senior team in the not-too-distant future.
One other point worth mentioning the appointment of Ben O’Connor as Manager proved to a be a very wise and successful one. It also was a step outside the path favoured by some in recent years of coaches following teams up through the grades, had we stuck with the process a manager of Ben’s talent would have been lost.
Look at his record with Charleville, Midleton and now Cork - The future is in good hands. Enjoy the well-deserved celebrations lads!
Senior hurlers
With so much on last week, it was not possible to reflect on the exit of Pat Ryan’s side from the hurling championship, and what a cruel way to go, by the slimmest of margins denied at first a place in the Munster final or at very least a run in the qualifiers.
Small margins, 1 point in any of the last 3 games would have been enough, and how the team would have benefitted from the extra games and who knows where they would have ended up.
A week on and the pain and hurt for the players and management is still there and I am sure as the championship evolves over the coming weeks they will feel, ‘yeah we could be there’.
Overall, they will be disappointed at not progressing but can take solace at the battling qualities they showed in the games when they fell behind, on each occasion they displayed remarkable resilience and very nearly got their reward.
The blooding of a number of players to championship hurling at this level will help in the overall development of the team and the brilliant win by the U20’s will only add to the growing list of players who will be staking a claim for inclusion when they get back together in a few months’ time.
Injuries were also a factor and the absence of Mark Coleman, Robbie O’Flynn and Alan Connolly certainly reduced the options when needed most. For now, our thanks to the players and management for their work and no doubt they will be keeping a close eye on the upcoming County C’ships and watch with interest as the season now turns to club activity.
RIP Teddy McCarthy
The GAA world in Cork and beyond was shook to the core on Tuesday night when news broke that Teddy had passed away.
In an era when the dual player at inter-county level is non-existent here was a player that excelled in both and his displays in the red jersey in hurling and football, lit up many a dark winter afternoon and brighten a sunny Sunday be it in Thurles, Killarney, Croke Park or Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Teddy Mac, as he was affectionately known, will forever be remembered for his exploits in the double winning year of 1990, a feat unlikely to be repeated.
Teddy won every major honour in the game, with the exception of a county senior hurling medal with his beloved Sars, a club he served with distinction throughout his career.
In fact, he was elected Vice-Chairman 2 years ago and took to his new role with all the enthusiasm he displayed on the field, he was also the club’s delegate to the East Cork Board.
The many tributes that have been paid to Teddy are an indication of the warmth and affection the people of Cork held for a man who could be seen at various venues up and down the county watching games. He just loved going to matches. In fact on Monday last he was in Ballinlough to see Passage, whom he coached last year, win the Mc Curtain Cup.
Fittingly as well he was in Thurles, in great form, on Sunday as Cork were crowned All-Ireland U20 hurling champions.
Sincere sympathy at this saddest of times to his family, club mates with Sarsfields and Glanmire and of course his friends of which they were many on the various Cork teams he played with during a wonderful career that has left us all with so many special memories.
Rest easy Teddy Mac, heaven has gained another dual star.