Cork GAA Discussion Thread

The Munster Football draw that will be in October,will be seeded ,so it could be Cork and Kerry,in the Munster final,as both get byes to the semi finals,and kept on opposite sides of the draw.

If we get ,Waterford or Tipp or,it will be away from home.

At least Limerick and Kerry be at home,two of our toughest games in the past.


Essenitally ,loose , in the Munster final,and its still only four games to win an all ireland,just one extra.

A lot of optimism for next year,depending on the make up of Cuthberts make up backroom team.


In relation to the Hurlers,they went back training tngt for the first time ,and it was a closed training session.

Id say there was sum home truths told,no punches held,in relation to the game.

I find it interesting that JBM left them have the few days off to themselves,a good move,they know more than anyone how they did not do themselves justice.
Cork were outhurled last week,but at times we certainly were our own worst enemy,with poor touch,and sloppy passing.The players know that themselves.

A few days to gather themselves will benfit them.And from tonight to the final,they will probably have four more sessions,a gruelling week,then a week to taper and polish off.

Id say ,there may be the odd session to the public open,but id say it will and righty so be a closed shop the next few weeks.


The public had plenty of time the last three weeks,and will over the winter, time to meet the players,but i agree,fully that they should stay away as much as possible,and i hope that certain players are picked specifically to deal with the media,but just talk the talk etc.

The less they say the better.

I already sense were more focused.

Cork cancelled most of the club senior games and the junior game with St itas and Midelton.In contrast , up to last wk,they played club two weeks before.


I heard,JBM and co,made the call after the game,as they want no distractions, and theve full control for the next 3 weeks.


Their is a argument that our touch may not be as sharp as it would with club games.I don't think it will be a problem,as id say training will be very intense ,and they will balance that with keeping them fresh.

I feel for the clubs,but we got to grasp this oppurinty with both hands,as in the last 24 hours,the landscape is changing fast and it is not just the dark nights.

Kilkenny with Cody,Lyng and Mcgarry next year will be very hard to beat.

And if its true with sheedy,Limerick will be very tough.I had no fear with Allen.

But with Sheedy,they will be a serious team,and wont be beaten tactially.Their best hurlers will play in their best positions.And rumour has it Kinnerk may join him.If not would Cian O Neill leave mayo to rejoin him.?He is based in Ul anyway.No matter who he gets,Sheedy is a shrewd,top class coach.




It is early yet,but already i see small things the last few days that show Cork are more focused and leaving nothing to chance.

Cian Mac will be fully fit..

Interestingly in relation to All stars,Nash,O'Neill,Harnedy and Horgan are certaintys after last week.Harnedy on PP, is 1/33 on.

Last week on a poor cork team ,he cemented that.

Kearney and Connor Sul,may swing it,but id be suprised if Lehane,or Cronin even if they had the game of their lives got one.

Mcloughlin probably wont ,but a good final might do it,but kearney is ahead of him.

Archer3083 wrote: »

I was listening to Ciarán Carey on Championship Matters last night and he said the Limerick job was going to a very well know person. I instantly thought of Liam Sheedy and dismissed the idea. I thought maybe he was on about John McIntyre or Ollie Baker or someone like that.

So, is it true. Will Liam Sheedy be in charge of Limerick next year?

Jesus they would be hard up,if they went for Mclntyre.I wouldnt rate him at all,and a lot of tipp dont.I have never heard them mention him for a tipp job.Again a great guy to right for a newspaper and blame others,but the man couldnt do it when he had the chance.

It could be all rumour,and nonense but thats the talk.They are going for the best in fairness.He built a succesful minor team and senior team.A great manager.

I saw championship matters too.

What struck me was how well Cork camoige start,Anna Geary spoke.

She knows her stuff and made a shrewd point about how Clare blew a cork player out over the sideline,then took a fast sideline,and got a point.That they hit the ground running.


She spoke very well now ,in fairness.

What do you make of the county semifinals sunday?

Your a west corkman .What do make of Carbery and the Haven.

Archer3083 wrote: »

I'm an awful lot further west than that. Naomh Abán is our local club and that's who I played for and if I didn't know better I'd say Anna Geary caught your eyes for other reasons

Ah anthony lynch country,and micheal cronin.

What a player ,lynch was.I met him a few times,a gentleman.

Ha ha,:-)no Anna Geary ,my only interest was GAA.I never get distracted when it comes to GAA.

You and righty so have said we need midfield options.With walsh,what u make yere man Michael o Laoire.


I was impressed with him in the junior,and must admit he impressed me in 2011,he was gd with walsh.Defo worth a look at senior.

Archer3083 wrote: »

I think in terms of the senior panel our best days are behind us. Micheal O Laoire is a very good player but I'd fear that junior is his level. I just don't think he's got the physique at senior inter county level. I think sooner or later that physical inability is exposed.

I'll give one good example. The Kerry goal keeper Brendan Keely is a great shot stopper but lacks the physical prowess which a keeper requires. For the Dublin goal he should have attacked the ball but he left Mannion get a touch on the ball and it passed him by into the net. He also let the ball hop in front of him and over the bar in the first half. In the second half he punched the ball in the air and it led to a Dublin point. It wasn't necessarily bad play in any of these instances but a more imposing goal keeper would have taken on the responsibility in all these situations.

Fair enough.I c ure point with kealy.Theres a huge jump in level with club,or intermediate to senior.

Martin colemam,a good example, a solid keeper ,but no where near the class of nash in penalty taking or shot stopping.Darren mccarthy is miles ahead of him also.I saw coleman miss two penaltys against tipp in an u21 game in 2005 i think,god they were awful penalties.


I agree as proven by O sheas with mayo,and Mccauley of dublin,you need physicality at midfield.You would know O laoire better than me.


But i would say Walsh provides that physicality,so laoire if he not necessariy put on weight,but more muscle,may be an option.He seems to be pacey,and is mobile and can score .

Id rather have a footballer,with good basics and mobiltiy the way the game is going,and has pace than two big hulks like Pearse O Neill and O connor that have no mobility ,lack pace,and were never blessed with pure footballing talent.

In their day they were v good,different strengths.But O connor,o neil,kissane etc were the direct,powerhouse,with awful kick passing and spatial awarness and could not create anything.

They came at the right time,when their style suited the game.The game is going back to the 80's etc,pace,mobilty,and skilful players.Physique is not as important as before,as shown by the Gooch,collins,etc.


RG 15 made a great point about corks soloing skills.Also i would say look at kissane the way he kicked the ball.It is like all power,i will kick it as hard and fast as i can,but no accuracey.

He is the last man cork needed in front of the dublin goal.That showed how poor technique he had.He was an athlete,more than a footballer,and v lucky to win an all star,considering he was taken of against down in 2010.


What really showed up this cork team,was five minutes to go against dublin.clancy was taking a sideline,just about to kick it in to the square.

Kissane ran up,and roared ,my ball.He gave to kissane,who then decidied to kick it in.Unlike clancy who can kick a perfect,just above head height,with pace on the flight of the ball,Kissane Bombed a ball so High in the sky,if we were in winter it would have gathered snow,it was so high.


It hanged for ages in the sky,allowing the dublin full back and half backs to crowd the ball,when it finally game down.


The basic skills are just as good in cork,but the wrong players were picked.I dont blame it all on the players,i blame counihan for continually picking them over and over again.

I think the game may suit o laoire,collins,etc as they have the basic talent and can kick a ball.
Ideally,ian maguire only 19 will get game time,is big and strong and can kick also.

As clare proved with tony kelly,and cork last year with sweetnaham,if you are good enough at 19 you are old enough.

Ned english was bang on the money,the game now is about pace,movement and spatial awarness.

There is no point in cork picking footballers that would have stamina and strength and would win a grand national,when we need fast,fluent players that would win a derby for you.


Those players are their in cork,and have been,but we had a manager that woudnt change he's ways,and must be one of the few all ireland winning managers,that you would label as a poor poor manager.

Archer3083 wrote: »

I think that Conor Lehane is a good example of how to approach strength and conditioning. It's reported that he gained 6 kgs this year. You can really see the difference. He's not the Hulk but he's got real strength to contributes significantly to his game. He won't be pushed off the ball but he's got the skill so the combination is right.

I suppose I was a bit harsh on Micheal O Laoire. There are alot of players who aren't that big. Kevin McLoughlin for Mayo, Gooch for Kerry and Laverty for Down. It hasn't hindered any of them. The game is constantly evolving. It's a 30 man panel now that is required. In theory, any one of those 30 players should have a realistic chance of starting a game. It's good for morale and team spirit to have genuine competition. In a few years time managers might actively pick different players to suit a different game plan for a different team. For instance this year, Gavin picked Cullen against Cork to make Dublin a bit more defensive and then he changed again for Kerry. I don't think it was a question of taking Kerry for granted. Gavin obviously had a plan in his head for both teams and picked his teams accordingly. So, in the future, teams might have an established 12 and then change around 2 or 3 depending on the opposition. Conihan used to make those changes but that was more based on form in training which isn't always the best strategy. Actually, God only knows what Counihan was thinking at times!

Lehane is great example,but look at harnedy for cork,not anywhere near the size of most,but more muscle mass than body fat.And most of all,the heart of a lion.

Thats is one thing ballyvourney never lacked.Ye have guts,steel,a sense of us against the rest,their is a steel to any player that came from their.lynch was small,but tough as nails,micheal cronin in 99 the same.A lot of players ,are farming,or come from physical labouring backgrounds.It shows,there a hardness in ye.Noel o leary was the same.

Briege corkery ,is from that aera,and wasnt she a stone mason,but now in a vets,a very good one too.A superb player,unreal strength.


I think anyone that comes from that neck of the woods,wont lack courage,bottle or steel.Im not saying o laoire is the man,but he deserves a chance.

Most of Clare hurlers bar honan are not big men,but jesus their hardy,steely players.Pogde collins is small,but like Joe Deane ,very hardy.

The Cavan footballer Andy Dunne,is light by stature.But credit the lad he is tough as nails.

Counihan also went on loyalty and past reputations.You won't hear many top county teams head hunting him.

Christy O Connor stats in todays paper:

Clare Cork

NUMBER OF PLAYS
143 117

PLAYER WITH THE MOST PLAYS

15 Connor Mcgrath 14 Connor o Sul

PUCKOUTS WON

32 20

HOOKS-BLOCKS-TACKLES


25 25

TURNOVERS IN POSSESION

4 3

ATTACKS
39 24

BREAKING BALL/RUCK BALL

38 20

ACCURATE STICK PASSES

15 11



CLEAN CATCHES IN 50-50 AERIAL

9 3





Cork hit 32 puckouts in a row down on the Half forward line,and 27 of them ended up as second phase possesion,on the ground,clare won 14-13.14 of the puckouts were to Cronin, and Cork won just 3.




Compared to the Dublin game,where corks midfield and forwards had 54 plays in the first half,cork had just 57 in the full 70,with the forwards getting just 22 balls ,8 in the ist half.


Harnedy was corks best forward,13 plays,he got 2 points,created kearney point,fouled for 2 frees and a penalty.


He was trying to do it all on hes own,Connor Ryan had 9 plays,which 6 were aerial catches.

Podge Collins had 11 plays,2 points,created 1,and fouled for 6 frees.

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

I'm glad Glen Kennefick stood out with the B team - I know the lad and he is living and going to school in North Cork, but playing with the Glen, only back after breaking his leg a few months ago, missed out on competing at the All Ireland school athletics.

He played tonight,in the minor county final,blackrock won their third in a row,2-12 to 1-13.

The Glen have not won since 2005.

I was not at it,so dont know how he played.

Thats a well drilled Rockies team do,Jim Cashman is over then,and Fergal ryan and wayne sherlock would have done work with them.

thinkstoomuch1 wrote: »

Fair play your Nemo bet was bang on the money?and a third final 3 years in a row.

A repeat of earlier in the year,a Nemo haven final.


Any report Haven from the match.Didnt make today.


Bar the usal suspects,any cork players stand out for the future?ie the driscoll brothers?dorman wall,Deane ,cronin etc?

some game carbery had plenty of chances but didnt take. gene to sons getting the didnt help. haven showed some spirit t win it. deane was carbery best player got savage goal and should be on cork panel next year

sean86 wrote: »

some game carbery had plenty of chances but didnt take. gene to sons getting the didnt help. haven showed some spirit t win it. deane was carbery best player got savage goal and should be on cork panel next year

A very good player,how before they were sent off the driscoll brothers and jamie wall perform?

darragh_haven wrote: »

I wasn't able to make the game due to my OH having a family bereavement. But my brother said Deane was very good too. Really out shone anyone one else. He thought Wall was ok, but not brilliant. It was a case of the haven grinding out the win.

Sorry to hear that.

I thought ye would shade it,and hurley and cahalane were meant be a class apart.


I thought Nemo would loose,but like you said Nemo are Nemo.

Be a great final,be a close one to call.

Either the two teams be a match for anyone in Munster on their day.It probably be Dr crokes that win the Kerry County.


Ludruicous to think Deane was overlooked last year for cork.

I remember against a physically dominant dublin in the 2012 u21 semifinal he was the only cork player that done himself justice and has a great engine,covered every blade of grass.Great sign of a player to do that on a beaten team.

thinkstoomuch1 wrote: »

A very good player,how before they were sent off the driscoll brothers and jamie wall perform?

biran was sent off ten min into 2nd half i think decked fella off da ball. colm off last few min triped hurley on his way true for goal. wall handy set up deane for da goal

D'Agger wrote: »

Hopefully Blackrock can add that alright yeah, would like to see the lads win it.

I haven't watched much hurling over the past few years and would mainly have watched inter coun.ty as opposed to club games but I thought he was their brightest forward on the day, showed some nice touches.

I can't remember what he scored but he came out the field for ball a bit and was busying himself around the place. That said, if he was employed in that way against Clare then I wouldn't see him getting much change off their half back line if I'm honest.

Being beaten by a solid Ballymartle team,with more expierence will stand to them.Ballymartle will be a handful for most teams on their day.

Defo not as a half forward ,i agree.


Our bench is weak,with only two realistic forwards.
But if cian mac or moylan if he doesnt start(i hope he does),are used as subs and we need a forward i hope its him we use as he can score ,long distance,or michael o sullivan ,as a ball winner.

If we have to bring on the other two forward subs were goosed.

What you make of the intermediate football?I fancy Clyda,after years of unlimited heartbreak.I hope they win it this time.I think if they get to the final,they will win,but Nemo be a huge ask,but i fancy them to shade it.

thinkstoomuch1 wrote: »

INTER-COUNTY Management
At the County Board meeting of September 17th, the outgoing Intermediate Hurling management (Liam Hayes, Pat O'Connell, Seamus Lawton, Peter Brennan and Mark Kenny) were re-appointed for a two-year term. The Junior Football management (Paul McCarthy, Danny Culloty, Michael Lyons, Tim O'Sullivan plus a replacement for Seán Bownes who has moved to U21) also received a one-year extension to their term on the basis of their All-Ireland Final victory this year.

Three new selection committees were set up as follows:

Senior Football - Bob Ryan, Gerard Lane, Frank Murphy, Dermot O'Regan (Douglas), Paul McCarthy (Kinsale) and Frank Long (Bandon).

U21 Hurling - Bob Ryan, Frank Murphy, Diarmuid O'Donovan, Christy Ring (Glen Rovers), Michael O'Brien (Aghada), Seán McAuliffe (Kilbrin).

Minor Hurling - Bob Ryan, Frank Murphy, Diarmuid O'Donovan, Pat Horgan (Midleton), Frank McCarthy (Ballincollig) plus a Coiste na nÓg nominee to be confirmed.

These committees will report back to the County Board in due course.

Its comical at this stage.Frank meant to be taking a back seat ,and have nothing to do with new management teams ,meant to be primarily involved in the Pairc,yet hes on every commitee going.


Just a waste of time and pure pr,the sub commitees.While theres one or two good people their,its irrelvant ,Frank has casting vote,ably supported by Bob Ryan,and O donovan.


The good news it seems,that Fitzgerald is gone.Not a day too soon.

God only knows who they will appoint.Please god it is the right man.I dread to think who they will appoint.
Teddy Mac,I hope is not involved..It be a terrible move.A selector in 2011,laois coudnt get rid of him fast enough.He is currently duel coach with Newcastlewest.

The reason i say him,is he was a selector with o donovan under Gerald ,and Frank and the Board are big fans.He was a great player,but when he sold hes new book last year,their was a huge county board support crew,to launch it for him.I have no problem with that,but unfortunately,Cocoran,Cusack ,equally great cork heroes didnt get the same privedlge.

I remember Brian the great in Easons signing copies on a sat morning, in a small aera and no one was their with him.

It seems kenneally is gone.I thought he would be a shoe in ,after Ryan endorsed the great job he done a few weeks ago.I had heard he was offered it a few wks ago but turned it down,and then had heard he was going to take it.

Whatever is correct,thank fully he is gone.Good player,but not what Cork need as a manager.

These appointments should have been done sooner,espiceally the minor with the harty cup starting in the end of the month.But if the right man is appointed,it will make up for it.

I would go so far as saying the minor and u21 appointments are equally as important as the result on the 28th of sept with the seniors.

The other point of note is,and I only realised this morning,Diarmuid is on every committee bar the senior one.Why?

I think this is ominous and spells dissaster,as the only reason they would leave him of it,if he was involved himself,as a selector with cuthbhert.

O donovan seems to regard himself a voice of cork football,in that he is a great man to write an article on past events and say how it should be done.More hindsight than living in the moment.

He shouldnt be a selector,was in charge minor teams,that were awful,yet the same core players,won u21 titles with cork.


He travelled to uk and gaelic grounds for cork junior games.I have no doubt he is a football man,but coaching nt he strong point.


He also over the saw the development squads,but that was such a mess it had to be changed.


The same guy said underage was more about producing players,and even if we are beaten,as long as we get a senior all ireland winner every 12 years,was that a true reflection when they should be gauged.

No county board delegate should be in any coaching capacity of a team.If that happens,then were back to the old days.


I wouldnt say Jbm is a frank man or sweeten up to him.He knows how to play him,but JBM is not a yes man,he refused to take the u21 team in 2009,when he couldnt pick he own management team.


You can be certain ,that if jbm wasnt manager,ger cunnigham wouldnt be involved.The fact frank went to Jbm to take the job,you can be sure jbm made it clear ,it was on hes terms.Jbm is cute ,and he brought in seanie mcgrath ,as he knew frank would be happy.Seanie is a board man.


You c,the one thing JBM, has ,is he everyone hero in cork Gaa.A folk hero,a god ,a legend.He has no Enemies.

The fact he won in football hurling,and as a manager at minor and senior,means both the football and hurling community unite with him.


Its not a case of roy keane or gerald mac,where opionions are divided.
JBM has no critics.He is now immune from the Board, as he cant be touched.Not that he would act that way,but if JBM wants anything for the team,it wont be refused.And their wont be any problem with frank while he is there.But it is more to do with the fact,if their was the Board would loose,and they would loose the publicty battle,as jbm is loved and respected by everyone throughout the country and has a proven record in management.It has nothing to do with he being a board man.


In regards couinhan,i will give him credit where due.He did help Diarmuid duggan and supported him greatly when he was chasing the board for medical expenses.

Couinhan was and is a decent man,a gentleman.My problem was soley him as a manager.The too shouldnt be confused.

FOOTBALL PLAYMAKER TO HAVE SURGERY AGAIN TO END INJURY NIGHTMARE
CORK FOOTBALL PLAYMAKER TO HAVE SURGERY AGAIN TO END INJURY NIGHTMARE


WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2013
CORK playmaker Pa Kelly is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow at the Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry on his troublesome and frustrating hip problem.
Kelly already had surgery last winter but this time the focus will be on healing cartilage damage in the hip joint area, after his role with the Rebels was extremely restricted this season.
The surgery will be carried out by Professor Kevin Mulhall, a hip and knee reconstruction, arthroplasty and joint preservation surgeon, as was the case previously at the clinic and Kelly hopes that his recovery will be complete in four to four-and-a-half months.
“I was originally pencilled in to have the operation done in a few weeks but have gotten a cancellation so it’s all systems go for tomorrow,” Kelly said.
“It’s obviously on the hip again, a similar enough situation to the last time I got it done but with trying to heal the joint area with the cartilage.
“The last operation I got done worked well to a point but it got very sore later on. We said we would go again and fingers crossed this will work longer-term.”
“The last issue was related to excess bone in the leg which impacted on the cartilage in the hip joint whereas now there is very little cartilage left in some parts of the hip.
“Hopefully, though, this surgery will sort that.”
Supporters were questioning why Kelly was not introduced in the latter stages of the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Dublin, especially as he had replaced Alan O’Connor in the final minutes of the victory over Galway the previous week. The attacker revealed he had not trained sufficiently in the days leading up to the tie.
Kelly started against Clare and Limerick, and came on against Galway, but didn’t feature against Kerry and Dublin last summer.
“I probably would have been able to play a bit against Dublin alright but to be honest I wouldn’t have been operating at 100% in terms of training in the build-up and had not been fit all summer so cannot have too many complaints.
“Hopefully after this surgery I will have a clearer run next season,” he said.

In other football news UCC have recruited Kerry icon Tomás Ó Sé, who works as a teacher on Leeside, to oversee their freshers football team for the 2013/14 season.
Meanwhile, at last night’s Cork County Board meeting At the County Board meeting of September 17th, the outgoing the intermediate hurling management — Liam Hayes, Pat O’Connell, Seamus Lawton, Peter Brennan and Mark Kenny — were re-appointed for a two-year term, and the All-Ireland winning junior football management of Paul McCarthy, Danny Culloty, Michael Lyons and Tim O’Sullivan are back for another year. Selector Seán Bownes has moved to U21.

Three selection committees were set up to appoint the senior football, U21 hurling and minor hurling managers.
Senior football: Bob Ryan, Gerard Lane, Frank Murphy, Dermot O’Regan (Douglas), Paul McCarthy (Kinsale) and Frank Long (Bandon).

U21 hurling: Bob Ryan, Frank Murphy, Diarmuid O’Donovan, Christy Ring (Glen Rovers), Michael O’Brien (Aghada), and Seán McAuliffe (Kilbrin).

Minor hurling: Bob Ryan, Frank Murphy, Diarmuid O’Donovan, Pat Horgan (Midleton), Frank McCarthy (Ballincollig) plus a Coiste na nÓg nominee to be confirmed.

These committees will report back to the County Board in due course.

thinkstoomuch1 wrote: »

James Mcgrath ref for the final,the worst ref out their.

He can't be any worse than Gavin

Hopefully McGrath understands the rules in relation to chopping, frontal charges and striking across the head off the ball.

Mouth of the South wrote: »

Striking across the head off the ball - like Honan did? 100% agree. Hope he understands that pushes in the back like the Clare backs did all day under dropping balls are frees as well, that goalkeepers can't gallop out for penalties and 21's and that retakes should be taken if they do, that adding on phantom time to added time to ensure draws is bogus refereeing, that frontal assaults are frees, that premeditated hopping off freetakers by half the Clare team should be dealt with, that backroom staff can't encroach on the pitch and that lunatic whinging managers who try to start fights on the sideline are an embarrassment to the GAA and should be dealt with too.

He made poor decisions on the day. He cant be blamed for only yellows to Honan and O Neill, that's the fault of his umpires whose job it is to supposedly help the ref. Instead they either missed something directly in front of them, or bottles it.

He missed 2 glaringly obvious things, one Kelly coming way off his line to stop Nash's 21 and two, the chop on David MacInerney in the 1st half.

He didn't add on phantom time, he was entitled to AT LEAST 2 MINUTES which means the minimum to be played was 2 minutes