All-Ireland Final re-match in Ennis
It’s a somewhat quieter weekend coming up as the footballers are on a break - in fact they headed off to Portugal for a training week.
It’s been a tough few weeks for John Cleary’s side and shipping two heavy successive defeats has ended their promotion hopes and they are now deep in a relegation battle, with Louth at home and Cavan away to come.
With that comes the possibility of not participating in the Sam Maguire Cup, given that assuming we beat Limerick in the Munster QF, it’s Kerry in the semi-final.
Injuries have not helped particularly with some very good defenders like Sean Meehan, Maurice Shanley, Luke Fahy and Kevin O’Donovan out injured, while Kevin Flahive is in Australia.
Add in injuries to Conor Corbett, Brian Hurley and Steven Sherlock opting out this year, meaning the depth of the squad is being tested to the limit.
Of the games lost the one that will might come back to haunt them is the 1 point loss to Down. Had they won that day and they should have, relegation would not be an issue and 1 more win would have given them on 8 points and Sam Maguire participation guaranteed.
As it is often said, small margins.
The displays in the last two games have been poor and a huge improvement is definitely needed in the last two games.
Let’s hope the training camp in Portugal from yesterday (Wednesday) to Monday next will be of benefit to players and management alike.
The playing rules have been well discussed by now with a lot of commentary on some aspects, notably the goalkeepers’ role in coming out the field, the 3 up when a black card comes into play and over the weekend the hooter was a factor.
With a break this weekend, the Football Review Committee (FRC) met on Monday their 50th such gathering I understand, and may recommend some adjustments for the final 2 rounds,
any changes will have to be endorsed by Central Council, for whom delegates are on notice for an online meeting on 13 March.
The general response though is that it has been a much better game and while a number of managers have been critical of some aspects of the rules, the expectation is that they are for the most part here to stay.
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Cork v Clare in Cusack Park Ennis on Sunday at 3.15pm
“Yeah our record not only in Ennis, but against Clare in general has not been good and hopefully we can do something about that on Sunday,” said Cork captain Rob Downey on the trip to Ennis.
Having made his return from injury against Kilkenny last Saturday night, Rob was delighted with the win: “Important win and a big improvement on the game in Thurles where we would not have been happy with our display; Kilkenny are always hard to beat and in the end we got the job done.”
It was achieved with an improved second half and strong finish. “We were disappointed with our 1st half, we had a good chat at half-time and upped our work rate - that was important.”
As for being back in action, Rob was glad to be back. It was “just a slight hamstring picked in the Wexford game and it was a matter of being careful and managing it properly especially with the short window for games.”
The win last Saturday keeps them in contention for a league final place, but for now the focus is on Sunday. “Obviously we would like to get to the league final, we will get back to training on Tuesday and get our preparation done for Clare and hopefully get another win.”
Manager Pat Ryan was of the same view in the immediate aftermath of the win over Kilkenny. “Clare are next and that is our priority this week, and see if can we do something about our poor run against them in recent years; tonight was important to win and now it’s back to training for Sunday.”
Pat was impressed with the finish. “We struggled a bit in the first half but all credit to the lads, they worked hard and finished well against a good Kilkenny side.”
The manager was also delighted with the form and display from Diarmuid Healy. “Very pleased for a guy in his first start; he showed very well and took some neat scores but look we have seen him do that before but tonight was big him and he responded in style.”
On the injury front, Pat was hopeful a few would be back. “We might have a couple back, Sean (O’Donoghue), and Shane (Kingston) could feature, but we will also have to look at both Ciaran (Joyce) and Ger (Mellerick) who came off injured and see how they’re fixed.”
Clare having lost their opening 3 games seem to be coming good at just the right time and were impressive in their win over Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds, even if Tony Kelly was lucky not to get a red card - had he and he should have, they might not have won.
There was an edge to Clare’s display as there was to Limerick’s so Cork can expect a similar welcome in the tight confines of Cusack Park, a venue where their Munster Championship campaign will begin in less than 50 days from now and Brian Lohan will want to lay down a marker.
David Reidy got the vital goal, while Sean Rynne, Aidan Mc Carthy, Eibhear Quilligan, Jack O’Neill, Conor Leen and Darragh Lohan all played well.
Defensively, apart from a slight lapse for the 1st goal, Cork were solid last Saturday. Rob Downey was a man of the match contender, his brother Eoin, Niall O’Leary and Ciaran Joyce excelled.
The midfield pairing of Tim O’Mahoney and Darragh Fitzgibbon had good periods, while in attack Diarmuid Healy, Patrick Horgan and Shane Barrett were very effective.
As a unit, the attack will look for a better return in terms of scoring and hopefully that will come.
It has the makings of an intriguing encounter with a lot at stake, a Cork win would keep them well on course for a place in the final while another loss for Clare would put them back in the relegation zone.
It’s never easy to win in Ennis but hopefully Cork can reverse recent results there to send them off to Portugal on their warm weather training camp in good form.
The match is live on C103.
The other games in the group will also be watched with interest; Limerick and Galway on Saturday night while at 1.15pm on Sunday it’s Tipperary v Kilkenny. The table could have a completely different look about it before a ball is even struck in Ennis.
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Cork v Kilkenny on Saturday in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 2pm
It’s a case of contrasting fortunes for these age old rivals after two rounds; Cork with 4 points and Kilkenny yet to pick up a point.
Paul Shefflin’s side are down a lot of experienced players with injuries and retirements and the defeat to Dublin in the championship - he wasn’t the manager then - was seen as a setback and it looks as if they have yet to recover.
Galway beat them in round 1 and while they tested Tipperary in the The Ragg last Saturday they just came up short.
Kilkenny will relish the trip to Leeside, and with good players in Caoimhe Dowling, Caoimhe Keher Murtagh, Aoife Norris, Kate Nolan and Steffie Fitzgerald, they will want to get a win as another defeat will see them mired in a relegation battle with 2 games remaining.
Cork were comfortable winners over Dublin with Sorcha McCartan bagging 0-8, while Saoirse McCarthy, Emma Murphy and Clodagh Finn also contributed to the scoreboard.
Manager Ger Manley was happy with the win on a tight pitch but concerned with the injuries picked up especially to Izzy O’Regan. “It’s her knee hopefully not the dreaded cruciate; we will get her scanned during the week, while Ashling (Thompson) got a bang to the head but she look’s okay.”
Getting game time into players is important at this time of the year: “Very much so, Laura (Treacy) came on today for her first outing and was excellent while a few more Amy (O’Connor), Katrina (Mackey), Meabh (Cahalane) and Clions (Healy) have yet to comeback but some might be available next week.”
Kilkenny may be pointless but Ger is expecting a tough game. “For sure we all know what Kilkenny teams bring and they will be determined to get a win to kick start their year, but we will be just as keen to maintain our momentum.”
The depth in the squad is important even without a few players and Libby Coppinger played football last weekend and should be available this week; add in Laura Hayes, Orlaith Cahalane, Hannah Looney and Meabh Murphy and it’s hard to see Kilkenny denying Cork a 3rd win.
The key game in the group will be the meeting of Tipperary and Galway on Saturday; if Galway win it would reduce the holders Tipp’s chance of reaching the final, as they drew with Dublin in round 1, and a Cork win would then make the last couple of game interesting.
The top two will contest the final and the picture will become a lot clearer after the weekend games.
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There is a break this weekend and with Cork having played the last 3 weeks on the bounce, Joe Carroll will be glad of the respite, while at the same time very pleased with the results.
With just one defeat, they are on the cusp of promotion with 2 games remaining home to Clare and away to Donegal. In fact if they beat Clare on Sunday 23, they will be guaranteed promotion and a place in the Division 2 Final.
Galway could also help as they have yet to drop a point and if they remain unbeaten, with Monaghan and Donegal to play, Cork irrespective of their results will be promoted.
A good start to the season then for all involved.