Cork can end champions’ reign

A scenario that seemed unlikely a few weeks ago has arrived - a Cork v Limerick All-Ireland semi-final. Without doubt, it’s the game of the weekend and possibly the season!

The Cork ladies footballers face Waterford in the QF of the championship, it’s Cork v Galway in the intermediate championship, while the county football leagues conclude with finals down for decision.

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final

Cork v Limerick on Sunday in Croke Park at 4pm

“All good, everyone available and raring to go” were the words of Cork manager Pat Ryan ahead of the big game.

That includes Ethan Twomey who after very good displays against Limerick and Tipperary was laid low with injury but has fully recovered.

The bug that hit the camp was a factor in the lacklustre displays against both Offaly and Dublin; it ruled Robert Downey out of the Dublin game, while amongst others Luke Meade and Alan Connolly along with some members of the backroom team were also affected.

It meant a slight adjustment to the training schedule as Pat explained. “We took a couple of days off after the Dublin game, but since then we have had excellent sessions and we are all really looking forward to Sunday.”

Apart from the bug, the displays in the last two games could also be put down to apathy, remember after the Tipp win in Thurles, supporters were booking train tickets for the semi-final, dismissing both Offaly and Dublin.

That gets into the mindset of everyone and could have been a factor.

Hard to imagine that a few weeks ago we were heading out of the championship and now we stand between Limerick and a historic 5 in a row - who will be thirsting for revenge after that defeat in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

That win and the manner in which it was achieved changed the dynamic of the season.

“Without a doubt and really we were a bit unlucky in losing to Waterford and Clare - small margins, but we kept doing the right things at the right time and that got us the result we badly needed that night.”

A week later they backed it up in Thurles: “That was pleasing as well and coming from the high of the Munster Championship to the next game was always going to be hard, but we are now where we want to be.”

One other pleasing aspect has been the depth of the squad getting stronger all the time, evidence with game time for Robbie O’Flynn and Padraig Power. “The hardest part of our job is telling players they are not going to make the match day 26, because everyone is making a huge effort.”

Pat is under no illusions of the effort that will be needed to end the champions’ reign: “Look they are a superb team as their results have shown over the years; 6 in a row in Munster and going for 5 All-Irelands that shows the quality they have.”

Jokingly I said they seem to get better in Croke Park, with a huge smile Pat replied: “They’re not bad in Munster either to be fair!”

The manager though while having huge respect for Limerick is confident that they are in a good place.

“We are going up there with the belief that we can win, we know exactly what is required and if we play to the potential within the team. I believe we can win. It will be tough but at this level there is nothing easy.”

Limerick have not played in four weeks, since the impressive Munster Final win, and that will surely help especially when you have been on the road as long as they have, it’s a situation they are well used to.

Injuries have troubled them all season; Darragh O’Donovan has yet to play in the championship, Seán Finn might be back, but Barry Nash has now emerged as a serious doubt, and he would be a loss.

They still have depth in all lines of the field; Nicky Quaid is a top class goalkeeper, while their half-back line of Byrnes, Hannon and Hayes are the best around.

Cian Lynch has yet to hit the heights we know he is capable of - will that be on Sunday?

Hegarty, Morrissey, Gillane and Flanagan (3-3 against Cork) are some operators, 3-26 is a massive total and yet they lost.

The Cork performance that night was awesome. They went long, most of the time with the puck outs and caused havoc, 2 of Flanagan’s goal should have been prevented - had they been, their tally would have been greatly reduced.

Cork did concede late goals to Offaly, when the game was done ; Tipperary got 1 in the very first minute, while Dublin didn’t breach the defence so they have steadied the ship in that regard.

The starting 15 will in all probability alter very little from recent games.

Robert Downey will return probably at centre-back, which will mean a reshuffle. Will Ciaran Joyce or Tim O’Mahoney go to midfield and will Ethan Twomey figure as a partner for Darragh Fitzgibbon?

Patrick Collins, Eoin Downey, Niall O’Leary, Sean O’Donoghue and Mark Coleman comprise the rest of the defence.

There will be no change in attack - Seamus Harnedy, Declan Dalton and Shane Barrett will be the half-forwards, while Patrick Horgan, Brian Hayes and Alan Connolly will complete the 15.

Connolly was a revelation against Tipperary and his failure to score in the subsequent games, obviously owing to illness, will annoy him but also make him determined to add to his tally - he is a real threat.

When you add in Luke Meade, Shane Kingston, Conor Lehane and others is a clear indication that there are plenty of options available to Pat and his management team.

Limerick of course are the masters at reversing results and will no doubt have their homework done, as will Cork.

It has the makings of a fascinating contest that could be decided by a flash of genius, a dodgy call or even by a wide margin, as was the case when the sides met in the All-Ireland Final of 2021. Yet in the semi-final of 2018 it took extra-time to resolve, a game Cork should have won. Will it take extra-time on Sunday, it might?

Limerick are favourites, and it’s also hard to beat the same team twice, but there’s a resolve within this group and I’m going to give Cork the nod to end Limerick’s incredible run.

Final word on the level of support this team is receiving; to be fair Limerick have huge support as well, it’s been incredible and Pat Ryan is mindful of this. “We know Cork people love their hurling and we saw that in Tullamore and in Thurles and it’s going to be the same on Sunday.”

Rebels abú - as always the match is live on C103.

TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship QF

Cork v Waterford on Saturday in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 1.15pm

A third meeting between these sides this season and it stands at one win each, and the win by Waterford probably consigned Cork to Division 2 for next year’s league.

The 2nd meeting was in the group phase of the Munster Championship where Cork dug out a win thanks to a vital goal from Laura O’Mahony.

It was also a goal this time by Hannah Looney that secured a win over Galway and in the process saw Cork top the group and with it a home quarter-final.

Reflecting on that goal dual player Hannah said: “It’s a huge advantage playing at home as we saw here this afternoon (speaking after the camogie win over Galway last Saturday) and hopefully the supporters will be back here (Páirc Uí Chaoimh) next week.”

Hannah also agrees Waterford will not fear coming to Cork. “Remember they beat us well in the league and they are a very good team, but we have improved since then and hopefully we can produce enough on the day to get the win.”

Like Hannah, manager Shane Roynane is delighted with the home draw: “Very important especially with the early start (1.15pm), you can kind of stick to your normal routine and of course no travelling.”

Shane is happy they have put the league woes behind them. “We knew the league was going to be tough with the retirements and injuries but that’s behind us now and we are focussing on Waterford who we know will be tough.”

Cork are still a team in transition but in Melissa Duggan, Katie Quirke in real scoring form, Maire O’Callaghan, Daire Kiely, Aoife Healy and Sadhbh McGoldrick, they have excellent players.

Waterford will not fear coming to Cork, they have won here before and also ran the home side close a few years ago in the quarter-final.

The manner of their win over a fancied Donegal side in their last group game will also fill them with confidence and they will look to Brid McMaugh, Eve Power, Clare Walsh, Annie Fitzgerald and Emma Murray to repeat that level of performance.

If they can do that they will test Cork, but the odds favour the home side getting the job done.

Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship

Cork v Galway at Castle Road on Saturday at 2pm

Both sides are assured of progressing to the knockout phase, but just like the senior meeting of last week, the semi-final spot for the group winners is up for grabs.

Cork have grown in confidence with every game throughout the campaign and with home advantage will be favourites to win.

Lauren Homan is a real scoring threat and gets good support from Cliona O’Callaghan, Cliona Dooley, Niamh O’Regan, Niamh O’Leary, Eimear Duggan and Tara McCarthy,

Galway themselves have also had some good wins, but Cork get the nod to do as their seniors did and go direct to the semi-final.