Intercounty seasons get underway for 3 Cork teams
It’s a season with a difference for the footballers as they start their campaign under the new playing rules and without a host of players through injury and a few opting out.
For the hurlers, there’s the opportunity to build on the high of reaching the All-Ireland Final and intent on going one step further.
Allianz NFL Division 2
Cork v Meath on Saturday at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 5pm
“It’s going to be very interesting how they pan out, but in fairness something needed to be done, because it (football) was becoming hard to watch, play and even coach, so yeah looking forward to it,” said Cork manager John Cleary ahead of Saturday’s opener.
John also bemoaned the loss of the pre-season McGrath Cup. “Given that we have the new rules it would have been ideal for everyone and I include the referees in this as they too are only learning as they go along.”
In term of preparation John is happy enough. “Look we could have done with a few more games, unfortunately the planned game v Mayo had to be postponed, but we have had a couple and it’s where we are right now.”
In all there are close on 49 new additions to the rules and some could impact on the outcome of games, so discipline will be important. “You just look at the rule around dissent; if you don’t actually hand the ball to the opposition when they win a free, the ball will be moved in 50 metres that could be the difference between winning and losing a tight game.”
In this regard they have enlisted the help of Cork referees and they have also been drilling the need for discipline and composure.
Unfortunately injuries have also impacted as John confirmed 4 players, Luke Fahy, Conor Corbett, Kevin O’Donovan and Sean Meehan will play no part in the league, while both Ian Maguire and David Buckley are ruled out of the opening two rounds.
Add in the players that for a variety of reasons have opted out and it will be an interesting 15 that starts on Saturday. “It will but as we always say it provides others with the opportunity to lay down a marker and stake a place for inclusion on our team.”
John also acknowledged that division 2 as it has been for the last number of years is very competitive. “Without a doubt, you just look at our 3 away games - Down, Cavan and Monaghan; nothing easy there, as we all know how difficult Ulster teams are at home.”
Cork have a poor record in their opening games; they have failed to win in the last 3 years and they are keen to reverse that trend. “Especially as we are away the following week, but we know Meath will be tough, they beat us here two years ago and with a new manager they will be keen to get off to a good start.”
Robbie Brennan is the new manager and while they like Cork are missing a few players there is a nice mix in the squad.
Diarmuid Moriarty, Aaron Lynch while last years under 20 duo Charlie O’Connor and Conor Duke are among the younger brigade.
The experience comes from the likes Padraic Harnan, Byran Menton, Shane McEntee and Jack Flynn.
Brennan’s elevation to the managerial role was somewhat a surprise as the end of Colm O’Rourke’s tenure was messy to say the least so the new Royal County management will want to get their reign off to the best possible start and put any doubts to bed.
What the Cork starting 15 will be is anybody’s guess; for instance who will get the number 1 jersey, Chris Kelly, Micheál Aodh Martin or Patrick Doyle?
The defence is without a raft of players but expect Daniel O’Mahony, Rory Maguire and Maurice Shanley to feature.
Colm O’Callaghan will have a new midfield partner in Ian Maguire’s absence.
Sean Powter, Brian O’Driscoll, Brian Hurley and Mark Cronin will probably be listed in attack.
Promotion to Division 1 is the obvious aim of this group, a point that John Cleary made since assuming the role, the first step can be taken on Saturday by winning this vital opener.
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Cork v Wexford on Saturday in Chadwick’s Wexford Park at 5pm
Wexford manager Keith Rossiter must feel like John Cleary right now as he is without a host of players through retirement and injury with the highly rated Liam Óg McGovern the latest to call time on his inter-county career, as have Matthew O’Hanlon and Dee O’Keeffe.
One of their better players Lee Chin is currently in Australia and he is a huge loss while injuries rule Conor McDonald, Damian Reck, Liam Ryan and Jack O’Connor out.
Rossiter speaking to the media during the week admitted: “We will be fielding a very experimental team, but it affords those that are named an opportunity to step up to the mark.”
Cork according to the Wexford boss “have a huge and experienced squad and with a good under 20 group to back that up we know what we are facing, but it’s a challenging opener but we are looking forward to it.”
Cork selector Brendan Coleman says they have a few niggling injuries to contend with. “Deccie (Dalton) and Mark (Coleman) among them and they will be assessed before we sit down to pick the team.”
The squad is the same as last year, “apart from Daire O’Leary who is working up the country, but everyone else is available and the enthusiasm from the experienced players like Patrick (Horgan) and Seamus (Harnedy) is great to see.”
Balancing game time with the Fitzgibbon Cup players is also factored in. “We have players with both MTU who are in Dublin tonight (Thursday) and they won’t be back until late so it is unlikely they will be included from the start and UCC will have played last night (Wednesday), so we just have see how that goes.”
Incidentally UCC and MTU meet on Wednesday week in MTU in what could be a vital game depending how the results go this week.
It’s a different format this year with an extra game all against top sides, but Brendan is delighted with the quality games they will play. “Fantastic - we will learn a lot about the squad when the 6 games are concluded and then the quick run in to the championship.”
And the aim for the league is to “try and win it obviously. Pat (Ryan) always makes the point that Cork should go and win every game and that is what we will be trying to do starting on Saturday in Wexford.”
Limerick in the ‘Park are next up and Brendan said that is a big one. “We will focus on that game next week, but signs are that a big crowd will there that night and it’s one to look forward to, but first things first and that’s Wexford.”
Cork will have plenty of experienced players on view for this game, among them Niall O’Leary, Sean O’Donoghue, Patrick Collins and new captain Robert Downey in defence.
Darragh Fitzgibbon and Tim O’Mahony could be the midfield pairing, while Luke Meade, Shane Barrett, Padraig Power, Ben Cunningham, Brian Hayes and Shane Kingston give them plenty of options in attack.
Cork played Wexford in the league last year at the same venue and they were easy winners and the expectation is that the result this time round could very well be the same.
There will be commentary on both games on C103.
Lidl Ladies Football National League Division 2
Cork v Westmeath on Saturday in Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday at 2pm
A new era for this team and management as they begin life in a division that they have not occupied in a long time.
Joe Carroll is also in his first year as manager and having been involved at minor level for a number of years, he will be familiar with a lot of the players now in the squad.
It is also virtually a new squad who despite a poor league campaign last year finished the season by making the championship QF before losing narrowly to eventual runners-up Galway.
Cork still have a lot of quality players in their squad and that should be good enough to get their bid for a quick return to Division 1 off to a winning start.
Corn Uí Mhuirí SF
Hamilton HS Bandon v Mercy Mounthawk Tralee on Saturday in Mallow at 12pm
The ‘Hammies as they probably better known as are the last Cork school left in this competition that has been dominated by Kerry schools in recent years, and if results are anything to go by, that looks set to continue.
It is to their credit that they have got this far and in the process recorded some exciting wins especially in the QF against Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne.
Oisin McCarthy, Oisin Gillina, Humphrey Canty, Kevin Hannon and Jack Cullinane were particularly impressive.
They face a huge test in this game as the Tralee school are tipped by many not only to win this championship but go the distance in the All-Ireland series.
Given the way they have blitzed all before them, that’s hard to argue against.
Paddy Lane is a lethal finisher 2-12 in the QF, with Cormac Bastible, Daniel Kirby, Ben Murphy and Tomas Kennedy offering excellent support.
It’s hard to see the Bandon lads upsetting the odds.
Sars come up short
The journey that began in November in the ‘Park and ended in Croke Park in January did not have the ending they had hoped for, but Sars can have no complaints with the result as Na Fianna were clearly the better side on Sunday.
For all that, picking themselves up after the county final loss and winning their 1st Munster title reflects greatly on the team and management and like the proud club they are, they will go again.