Cork GAA Discussion Thread

malascoile wrote: »

Any sign of a training panel for the senior hurlers

I would expect mid January,around the second week ,it be formalised as they are on holidays in a well earned team holiday they had to raise funds for themselves up til then.


I hope it is not the same panel as last year.There should be a few changes.

Straight Talker wrote: »

I don't think managerial failures cost Waterford against Clare the forwards just weren't accurate enough.I would agree that the current Cork team wouldn't be as good as past Cork teams but i would class them as a good team that are a few half backs and a proper full back short of being an all ireland winning team.I thought that they played some great hurling against Dublin particularly in the first half although that was a good old fashioned 15 on 15 shoot out with everyone in their conventional formations.

As for the two games against Clare i thought Cork dominated the last 15 minutes of the drawn game and they nearly snatched the win!However i realise that the Cork forwards were living off scraps in that match and that it would have been daylight robbery if we snatched that one.As for the second game i felt that sloppy goals and bad defending was Corks undoing.They showed great heart and character to come back from 8 points down and the game was level with 10 minutes to go.However i also realise that Clare could have taken their foot off the gas and went to sleep.Clare then got their fourth goal but Cork kept on fighting until the end.I think a bad half back line was our undoing against Clare because Corks half back line is the weakest out of all the main hurling counties.I actually think we have forwards that can cause any team problems.If the half back line and the full back position could be sorted out then i would be quietly confident that Cork will give any team a game.
.

I would agree with that regarding Cork.
We are far from average,but last year with absent players,injured players, no depth of real quality on the bench,a starvation of a winning mentality at underage,and a young team that had obstacle after obstacle to face we were beatable.
We improved dramatically with every game ,and got much stronger.

We also lacked a spine at 3 and 6 .
We were a young team.
The fact we got so far ,shows great resilent ,and like Munster Rubgy have shown,it is great to have that abiltity to overcome adversity and setback.Many teams have talent,and no character or backbone.
We have both and JBM and the management deserve immense credit for that and we have a lot of talented players,but we need to compliment that with a strong spine.


I do think the half back line is weak but it is not in need of major surgey ,as the materials are there.Tom Kenny retiring is good news,a great ,great player and a wonderful servant to Cork ,but the time was right to retire.That will help us next year,as he won't be half back.I know Dave Matthews said he still had the legs for the game .Matthews paid him a great tribute,but I would not agree the legs were still their.Tom,will go down as one of the Greatest cork midfielders ever,up their with John Fenton,Gerald Mac etc,so if the legs were still their ,and the management felt that,you would think,midfield would have been where he played this year ,espiceally when he was in hes day better than Lorchan.

The point is they knew he had not the real pace for midfield in the modern game,hence why he was a half back this year.He was never a half back in truth,O Grady realised he was not defensive enough and that is why he was moved.Not dominant enough under the high ball.A great midfielder and should of got an All Star,having said its hard to argue with those that got it ahead of him.

There are 6 aeras of Concern for Cork hurling next year at senior level I feel.

1-Full back.A natural full back ,not a makeshift stop gap.By all means convert a player to full if he has the right attributes.John Browne being the rare exception,corner backs should not be converted ,as their instinct is attack and play the ball and don't have a mindset to mind the square.Mcdonnell,murphy,patrick o mahony,shane o neill are not the answer.Colm Spillane or Jamie Nagle are the best options.
Eoin keane,a few years ago,was an option but injury ,like with Darragh rodgers may have cost us a top full back.

2.Find a perfect foil for Kearney.
Pa cronin,we would get away with in the Leauge,but has no pace for that aera to track back at championship.Lorchan bar the Dublin game ,last two years has consistenly shown he is not a top midfieider.Half back he can be a top player and is already.Mcdonnell(if not half back,is good enough for intercounty but we have an overload of establishf top corner backs with an endless array of future corner backs,Cormac Walsh,maybee at a push Haugney(still major doubts about hes toughness,bags of hurling)and Michael o Sullivan if he is on the panel are options.

Darren mccarthy a superb two seasons,outfield with ballymartle,club team of the year the last two years and an impressive scoring record,could be an option.Their is no shortage of keepers as a replacement sub keeper if we need one.Rob O Shea,along with Coughlan the only two players in the u21 game to play well,and on the panel,and a great minor ,I think up their as leading scorer in the Munster championship a few years ago could be an option.Cormac Murphy ,the only man to hold Lehane ,the last 8 weeks,should be watched with UCC.He is versatile at half back or midfield.

3.The pieces are their at half back,just need to get the balance right,out of Joyce,Egan,Mcloughlin ,Mcdonnell,Nagle etc.Stephen white is not the answer,and never was.
He has been around the panel since 2008 and has not made it in 5 years.You must give others a chance.

Joyce has been tossed between midfield,and half back,and got a real confidence downer when Cronin ,was tried in a challege match against limerick,then waterford and Clare.What saved Cronin against waterford was the monsoon weather that day,to go fast you needed a speed boat.
He's pace was never exposed.I said it then even around that challenge match,he never had the makings of a centre back.
Against Clare in a dry ptich in March,he was like a dog chasing he'sown tail,running after faster Clare lads.Jbm learned that night,and never again played him there again.

For Na piarsaigh Gardiner in the half back line hasnt helped,as joyce is at midfield.Without Gardiner at centre back he could thrive.

The Cork league final,when Gardiner was full forward,after a shaky start,Joyce was immense.He won the world of ball of Cian Mac as the game wore on.
The word is he will be there next year for the club,and that is good for Cork.


The guy has it all for centre back,great reader,good nimble feet,tough and abrasive and takes no prisoners and cocky as well.The boxing back ground shows with him.He was caught in two mindsets last year,a centreback ,and a midfielder.He did not know when to attack or defend.

The 1st game in the All Ireland Final summed it up,he got a ball last minute at centre back and ran ,and ran and ran with it.He played like a midfielder.I don't blame him,as all year he rotated between half back and midfield.

How can you command or control a aera,if your not given the time to grow in to it,and your playing with two different mindsets in the one game.

It is no coincendce Corks best half back display all year was against kilkenny in knowlan Park,wave after wave of ball came down on them due to an ineffective half forward line.
That day they were immense,they didn't just survive, they won that battle,and that day it was even with Stephen White,badly caught for a point and exposed quite a bit.
The other two were a Colussus in that unit.Mcloughlin and Joyce hurled ball after ball.He blew Larkin who was going straight through for a goal ,with a shoulder the Rock would have been proud of.Those two have to start,and then egan, or mcdonnell for the last spot.

Watch Joyce as well, he's body language tells it all.That day a few Cork lads walked off,and I got the sense,they were relieved ,that it wasnt a mauling and job well done.Joyce was like a bull,you could see the anger in him,he was burning with fire.He didn't give a f**k that Cork came close,he hated loosing.

I have seen that fire,that hunger,that Roy Keane mentality before with him. In 2012, in the u21,in the Pairc,Tipp won by a point,after a superb man of the match display by him,he was shattered at the end ,he looked the most devasted player on the ptich.

He has the hunger that is second to none.They are the type of guys you want to lead you from the back.Centre back is he's only poisiton,as even though he ain't slow,he doesnt have real pace for corner back or midfield.You don't need blinding pace for centre back as Brian Hogan and Brian Cococoran proved.

4.Find the perfect six forwards,as in not the most skiful,but the right balance between power,ball winning abilty,power ,athlesicm,pace,with fast nippy ,swift hands with super fast hurling up front,and forwards that can score ,goals and points.
The raw materials is their ,Aidan Walsh Seamus Harnedy, Pa Cronin,Conor Lehane, Sthephen Moylan,Luke O Farell,Pa Horgan,,Alan Cadogan,Jamie Coughlan, and Paudie Sullivan.

Pa O'Callaghan should be with Michael Cahalane on the extended training panel,not necessairly playing,but seen as the last two and further two years,they will play under a manager,that has failed the last 3 years ,at Intercounty,they must get a change ,and for the 1st time ever play in a top management set up for Cork.Their talents at the very least deserve it.

Their is plenty of talent their,so thanks very much Michael Cussen and Cathal Naughton for yere commitment and efforts,but not what we are looking for, I hope is what happens.


Jamie Coughlan,Alan Cadogan,Sthephen Moylan,and Paudie Sullivan all should be ahead of him.It is no harm to have a big panel as Clare proved.With close or around 12 forwards all with realistic chances going for six positions is what Cork need,unlike last year no forward guaranteed a place.Cody said that he doesnt give a damn about reputuations,it is attuide he worries about.

5.This is out of Corks control,but a bit of luck with injuries would be nice.
6.Playing sub standard teams like Wexford,Laois,Offaly,and Antrim won't tell us much about the new players we bring in.Limerick being 1st out,its likely and rightfully so we put the strongest team out,as it is a must we win for promotion.But that is Corks only real test.
In to a league quater final against a team battle hardened team far from ideal.

Also playing on the 15th februrary is a dissaster for the us in terms our lads are not back training till mid januray,as their on a well deserved team holiday at the start of January.Their back on the 13th,four weeks then to a crucial ask on the players.Limerick are bound to be ahead of Cork in fitness.


Playing at home,is playing in the comfort zone against below standard teams.No real test.Just a short spin to the Pairc,no hostile atmsophere,but very much a carnival jovial atmosphere.Players get no benfit ,as their not tested in those games.


Last year,Corks defining game was against Waterford away in the lashing rain in Waterford,with no real Cork crowd,they had to deep physically and mentally to make a great comeback and earn the draw.That day ,the character and hunger of the side was born.We have no such tests next year away from home.I would have loved to got Wexford away from home.

This no matter how others blow it up is the league final.Wexford may catch limerick at home,but we wont be beaten by them in Cork.The hardest thing with Antrim is the logistics with respect to them,we should win that .I mean no malise against Antrim,I would love to see them do well,and we always had a good relationship with jerry wallis, ,justin macarthy all coaching there ,and now James Loughrey with the Footballers.Even recently, Pat Horgan,Nash,cronin,paudi sullivan were at a youth presenation in Cushendall.

And kevin ryan will do great work with them ,but the game with Cork will be too early for them.

Laois may have suprised Galway in the past,and won't let in ten goals like last time against us,but their too too early in their development to beat cork.Their style will suit Cork down to the ground.


That is how easy with respect to them ,Laois will be,like Antrim.They have good managers,but it will take them time,a long time,as they have to build from the bottom up.

Cork have heart ,talent,hunger,a great management and captain ,and with Nash,shane o neill,Harnedy ,Cronin,Lehane,Kearney,Horgan,and Joyce established leaders and leaders for the future,the expierence and belief from last year means were in a much better place than last year,but as Nash and Jbm said,noboddy can rest on their laurels,silverware defines a team,and a lot of work has been done but a lot remains to be done.We must win while JBM is in charge,as if we don't we are in for a long long wait.And next year is 9 and counting without one.

In fact if we dont win it next year ,it will over be over ten years without an All Ireland and we have to go back to 1954-1966 for the longest famine in over 40 years.
Awful reading for a Cork Fan and really blows holes in the rubbish some will say ,Cork have no given right to be winning all irelands .With that attuide it is no wonder we are not where we should be at the top or very close to it.

thinkstoomuch1 wrote: »

There is a very good read in the Tribune,where Patrick kelly and Connor O sullivan give insights in to the drawn and replayed all ireland hurlings finals at different stages of the games,with Input from Brian Gavin as well.

How I wish you were right, I still miss it!

The Times (where it actually is!) is probably the best now for GAA coverage

Cadogan to rejoin the hurling panel for 2014, just confirmed by the Echo.

willietherock wrote: »

As a dual player?

Yup ,it will end in dissaster.
Cahalane ,is being asked also,and will review it after the spring,when he recovers from injury.
What next ,Colm O Neill,Mark Collins,Kevin canty.

Straight Talker wrote: »

I was just saying there that you would have to wonder if Aidan Walsh and Eoin Cadogan don't have much confidence in the footballers new management team if their going down the dual player route.Of course maybe the two lad's just want to try both the hurling and football but i just couldn't imagine Jim Gavin in Dublin allowing dual players.

One player was a bonus,walsh was a huge boost,but now Cork want to be selfish in the extreme of more dual players.

There is a lot of cheerleading,with for this,and I understand why,as people want Cork to win a hurling title.That is fair enough.I do as well.

In all honesty , common sense needs to be applied though.Back in the 90s when you played two games in Hurling in Munster(even then bar Tipp ,you werent guaranteed a tough game with the rest,with an even year you got a walkover to the final as you had the Ulster champions in a semi final,then the final,and in the football you had kerry,and just two more games,Cork had at best two duals players in those teams,Denis Walsh,and Teddy Mac.
Even then,a time made for dual stars,Cork never had 3 or 4.They did not take the biscuit.


Munster football is not as hard as the hurling,but you loose to kerry,which could realstically happen,you have back door games anywhere up the country.


Logistics,proximity of game,recovery times all make it impractible for five or even 3 dual players etc to work,and perform to high standards in not just one,but both codes.

It sets an awful,awful statement to both panels,and is awful for morale,as players busting there balls,loose heart when they loose place to dual players for big games yet when the dual stars cant play a certain game or for just one half the others are called on.Rotation of players on a part time basis ,is not good for moral,team unity,character and an understanding of team systems etc.

Noel O Leary said that in 2003,,the moral of the u21 football team was poor ,as John Gardiner and Setanta,were put straight on the panel,without any training done,as they were preparing for an all ireland final with the hurling.

Such was that fiasco,cork tried to get the game waterford postponed even right up to the day of the game just to facilate two players that yes had lots of talent as footballers,but had never trained. properly ,all year ,and there was better players on the bench,and Waterford rightly so refused.The game went ahead,and Cork lost.Is the same fiasco going to happen this year with the Seniors with dual players?

If there is a clash do we ask for postponement of games?we wouldnt and rightfully so get them.


Cahalane ,id be suprised if he went for dual codes,surley to god hes old man will advise against,as he has had a majior surgery on both hips at just 21,will find it hard as it is to establish himself with the footballers ,in a team that are very much in transisiton.The last thing he needs is extra mileage.The amount of cruciate injuries,ankle,and now hip injuries,Cork have had in both codes is huge.Cahalane at 21,,like coughlan in the hurling ,is very young to have those problems.Harnedy has been lucky,that he's is not serious.Thank god for that.


Wexford announced said,during the week,and it is alarming,four young players had Double hip operations .Mileage the players have now at underage is alarming.

Cork need to look it ,in the future as at minor and u21 we have too many dual players ,Mark Sugrue,Trevor Horgan,Michael Cahalane,Alan Cadan,Peter Kelliher,Killan O Connor,Kieran Histon ,Jamie Wall,Rickard Cahalane ,the kingston lads,the list is huge.
And that is not taking in to acount club demands.It is no wonder the players are getting so many injuries.At u21,the only plus is the football is over in May,when the Hurling starts,however the minor cross paths.Even in Schools ,like Hamilton,Rochestown,they are asked play both codes.Players at a young age are trying to do both,on top of the leaving cert.


They introduce training bans ,which are no benefitThey need to look at the volume and proximity of games.
Any of those players above,when they see it done at senior will if asked want to do doth both for Cork if they got the chance down the line.A statement needs to be made from the top down,the Dual Era is over at senior bar like anything in life the odd exception to the rule.


In rubgy,the IRFU have a player welfare policy,big international stars have a limit of games and must have rest time.In GAA , we dont decrease games but add to the number by incorpating dual codes at Senior level as well.


Jbm said ,that he would of asked Sheehan ,so that would have been 3.We all know Cuthbhert is,for it.

Sheehan playing two codes ,based on a good minor career ,is a bit much.He has a better chance of making it in Aussie rules than he would have a dual star,as he has the time to work one code,full time rather than mix and match both back here.Very worrying ,that Jbm had him in line for the panel ,and also Cuthbhert allowed it.It concerns me,both managers think it can work.

John cleary no way would allow so many dual lads.I am a huge fan ,of JBM,and hope it works,but I have doubts and I am suprised JBM is going for a lot of dual stars.
The way JBM talked in the paper,it sounded like he wants to stay with Cork for a few more years,and that is good news.There is no way he won't be offered a new year contract.


What next ?colm o neill,Mark collins,kevin canty ,all hurled for Cork.


Cadogan came back,the fact he is a student now,not a sales man ,will mean he has the time to keep the hurling touch in to a degreeunlike in 2012,,but the problem is he is now 27,,injuries affecting him a lot more,and Note,he is not recovering as fast either as before when he gets injured.This was clear as day this year,he was hampered by injuries.

There is no benefit bringing Cahalane and Cadogan back unless they have a realistic chance to start.If cadogan starts at centre back,what does that do for confidence and moral of joyce,egan et who stand to loose out.Colm Spillane ,who has it seems put injuries behind me the last year,that hindered hes involmement in 2012 against tipp at U21, has intercounty written all over him,he has the hurling and aggression.He won't get much chance with cahalane and Cadogan back.
Cadogan is the type ,that such is he's agression and drive,he could be thrown in ,and he will compete most days,but up against the real top teams like clare who's touch is just super,he will need he's touch to be the same.

What happens when Cork have clashes with both codes.Cadogan opted for Munster final against clare over Offaly the night before.He said during the week,he will be accepting more responibilites in the football team to help the young lads,so he will again preference football.


Cork have two games clashing,it means suddenly we have no full back,centre back,and a half forward in the hurling.How in the f***k can you motivate a lad to come in to the team,as a replacement player and grab the chance,when it is not like he is replacing a lad that had a bad game,he is just starting as the lads are unavaible and as soon as there back,the next game he is out.


Alan Cadogan could make a serious push for the hurling ,but again he is on the football.Madness,when he is not established on either one.
Cadogan would bring a ruthless and mean streak to the Cork defence and its unlikely he would allow the clare lads waltz through like in the all ireland final.He would have a role to play,but only if he was just hurling alone.He is with the footballers so ,he should be left their.

The other point with Cadogan,he even at club level was never in the form he was in 2009 when he got man of the match in thurles against Tipp in he's debut.
He was outstanding,the amount of ball he won ,and the hunger he showed was unreal.He held Corbett and Mcgrath very well that day.

As soon as he joined the football,in 2010,the hurling went downwards.

He was okay against Galway in the all ireland semifinal.The game that showed how far off the pace was against Tipp down the Pairc.Bonner Maher ,absoultley ,destroyed him under the high ball ,and yeah you could say hes touch was off,but realistically whether he had ball work done or not,he shouldnt have been cleaned out in the air the way he was.

Maher got on the ball 17 times,made six scores and also created the Goal (wouldnt blame him for that,kenny was marking him then),but that day even though cadoagan hurlerd a lot of ball,he was at the end of the day,in hes primariy role as a defender well beaten in truth by Maher.
Overall in 2012,he's touch and hurling was very much below he's standard.

We have no guarantee which Cadogan we get?will the Cadogan of 09,a long time ago ,or the Cadogan of 2012 show up.He has little hurling done at club since either due to injury.

Davy fitz has about six or seven lads that could play football for clare,it is extremely unlikely he will any do both,and if Podge Collins is allowed to do both,he will just do football for the league.

Are dublin making waves for Ciaran kilkenny to go hurling,and Conal Keaney to go back to the footballers.They have accepted where they are,and life has moved on without them,and kilkenny may well play hurling down the line for Dublin,but is highely unlikey JIM Gavin would tolerate dual players when this team are on the cusp of great times ahead.


It is quite clear our football manager has no problem with dual stars,as if he did why pick eoin keane and alan cadogan ,when they were already on the hurling panel.

Walsh,Eoin Cadogan, he allowed,would have allowed sheehan ,by jbm comments also.It is a poor statement of intent ,by a new football manager that is trying to build a team ,that allows hes main full back ,in an aera(cork are short)a half back for the future join hes only midfielder ,as a dual player.As if it wasnt hard enough for them,build a new team,with little proven expierence in the management set up bar the outstanding record of the physical trainer,and now with ldas doing both.


All the uproar,and frustration about the Club game being played too late is forgotten as well.It is hard enough as it is with dual club players ,but with with more intercounty players at both codes it doesnt help the existing problem.


Ollie baker was right in that the dual player era was over .Walsh was our best chance of making it work for a year next year and we should of been happy with that.Now its turning in to a farce,a free for all.


Dual players is not like picking your fantasty football team ,where you put names down on paper and watch them pick up points for your team.These are not just names on a paper that in a fantasy world,it is the perfect dream,but in the harsh reality of an already overly congested inter county hurling and football season,combined with other demands ,injuries ,team systems,morale and spirit of the team ,the realistic chances in all honesty of anything more than one dual star working are slim to none,as too many variables come in to the equation,that lets be honest ,at the end of the day,they won't balance out.

The way people are talking,why not contact london Irish,see if we get tomas o leary back hurling in june,when the rubgy ends on loan,get Darren sweetnahm also ,Colm o Neill,Mark Collins, can do both and sure why not get Daniel Goulding ,he played in a cork intermediate hurling finals,he got 3 balls of Donuagh duane , Jesus he must be intercounty standard for Cork.
Thats a fantasy world,unfortunately Reality always prevails.


We are on the cusp of great times with the Hurlers,the potential is there in abundance with the footballers if the management can deliver,we don't need to risk with it dual players that comprise both teams where we thrive for success in both,but in the end could fall well short in both codes.
I really ,really hope it works,but I fear it is going to backfire and hinder both teams.

1st Round Duhallow Invitational Games

Kenmare District bt Clonakilty
Duhallow bt Rathmore/Kilcummin
Muskerry bt East Kerry
Douglas v St. Kierans still to be played

Cork team being named for Sunday tonight.Ist team under ,Cuthbhert,and thank God,its unlikely to be a dummy team.

Cathal Vaughan is with CIT for the McGrath Cup

Yeah ,I would have thought Sugrue and Crowley would have been with the College also.
Vaughan would in all possibilty get more of a test against East Kerry ,than he would against LIT.

I agree totally with Sheehan,no where near intercounty,a solid season if even that with Douglas,not up to this level.
In games like Sunday the opposistion will be so piss poor ,that the game shouldn't play players on the Cork team if they play well,judgement must be reserved for tougher tests ,but at the same time,if players cant perform in these games ,they shouldn't be getting chance after chance.
Lit,i would imagine be made up of mostly Clare and Limerick lads with maybe a Galway,Mayo or Kerry lad in there.


Ray Carey is with Clyda,they have Kilteragh in a two weeks.He has been superb at full back for Clyda,and I have praised him for them many times here.However,intercounty is a completly different kettle of fish,and I don't think he is at that level.
Superb in 2009,he was tenacious,sticky,i thought he was a clone of Anthony Lynch.If he had started the final instead of the awful kieran o connor,but for injury ,Cork would have won.
For whatever reason,he never recaptured that form,2010,and was dismal ,and exposed time and again.

He looks great for Clyda ,due to they play 12 men behind the ball,meaning he is less exposed to fast ball in to hes aera ,and he is isnt as turned as much ,as clyda defend space rather than orthdox man to marking,and in intercounty the pace Dublin,kerry,and mayo counter attack,added with the Black card,he could and would exposed sooner or later,as with less of the blanket style defence next year there will be space.To counter that ,you must have good ,corner backs,than can defend first and foremost.


Good to see O Leary on the bench,superb in 2011 with Walsh at U21,,he is deemed light in stature by some,but then Kevin Canty,and Eoin Keane are no different,and leary has way better footballing skills than those two put together,and laoire appreciates and plays in to space.Could be a great foil for walsh.Deserves a chance anyway.


Anybody want to see how football should not be played,and has the stomach to watch a painful hour of it,and how Cork went against the basics of good attacking play,then watch tG4 at 7ish,they are showing Cork v Galway,in a game we were truly haunted to win.

People had expected us to stroll it,I had said in the lead up we would struggle ,such was the lack of direction under Counihan last year.


Noel galvin is good news and has it all and himself or Jamie sul ,with Shields in one corner are the best options for corner back.
Mcloughlin would struggle on the Cork Junior team,to be honest.


O'Driscoll brothers deseve a chance,particulary colm,who I would rather see half back than half forward.Sugrue had a great season with the u21 team last year and deserves a chance.

An interesting choice and a turn of the tables is Pryce in goal.Normally we loose lads to other codes,but we have got him from soccer.
He won a Munster youth medal with with Cork City as a goal keeper and was second to Mark Mcnulty with the 1st team so it was always going to be hard to break in to the team.

Hes agility as you would expect is very good.The only worry is,he has stated many a time,soccer is he's first choice over gaelic,and if a club comes calling mid summer will he go.

If the commitment is gaelic ,then yes he could be an addition to the panel,but with Dual players lost to hurling,we must not be a risk of loosing more.

denishurley wrote: »

Massive exaggeration to say that he was even that high in the pecking order

Fair enough ,I would not be a massive Soccer follower ,so. I wouldn't be too up on it,I just remember being in limerick at a game a few years ago and he was sub keeper.


Any idea when the Harty cup venues and dates will be announced?

I presume Chareville and Doon will go ahead in Bruff?

denishurley wrote: »

Games are on this day fortnight. Only venue I know of at the moment is Castlemartyr for Dungarvan-Hamilton

Thanks Denis

Happy New Year.

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

Colm O Neill(retired player on 89-90 teams) son has been picked to play for United States Football team.

Nephew of Maurice Fitzgerald.

Some achievement alright.Fair play to him.
They have an Bar over there.The father was a superb footballer,only for he getting sent off in 1990 he would have roasted Mick Lyons that day.

Sean Galvin formerly of Bandon was part of the UCF Wednesday that won the Fiesta Bowl,in American College Football.Cork men or women have the talent to be successful anywhere in the World.We are a unique breed.Irish by birth,Cork by the Grace of God:-)

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

The 90 Football Final was my First AI. I remember being young lad in Hill and remember that sending off like it was yesterday. Being young lad thought being down 14 men was 10 times worse then it was. Happy lad in end

re College Football: I was actually watching that. Never knew there was Corkman. Special alright:)

Were everywhere:-)
Im not exactly sure,did he win it,but Domnic Foley a huge lad,underage hurler with Cork ,got to a Belgian Cup final years ago .

Yeah that was some final ,some year.I remember being a young lad at that and then the Hurling final.

The hurling day was great as cork minors made a great comeback to draw with Kilkenny.Unfortunately they got well beaten in the replay.
Those days were special,espiceally the homecoming .It was great to watch the rte match programme after ,with Bobby Ryan as anayalst.He had many a battle with Cork,but credit him,a great respect for Cork.

It could be a long ,long time before we see Cork winning a football again at senior.

Straight Talker wrote: »

Well the talent is there but the only reason that Brian Cuthbert was appointed was because he would allow dual players.It's a disgrace that a prospective new manager was asked questions like will you allow dual players during the interview process.The talent is there though but the best man for the managers job John Cleary didn't get the job because he wouldn't allow dual players.

Jim Galvin no way would allow ,dual players,not one yet we could have 3 or more.

You would like to know alright why when the votes were deadlocked 3-3 in the selection commitee ,what made the Chairman with the Casting vote decide ,Cuthbhert with just a minor all ireland final ,and nothing to standout at club got the nod over a manager in ten years with u21 was part of 8 Munster titles,four all ireland finals ,winning two and a super record with Castlehaven.


Yes we hear,the presenation ,Cuthbhert gave was meant to be splendid.Fair enough ,and not taking from that,but Cuthbhert with respect as a teacher would want to be fairly strong in that skillset,so I wouldnt judge him on just that.

As Roy keane said you don't praise the postman for delivering the post,as that is expected of him.
I have only real confidence in the Cork u21 Football team this year to win something,in regards football.

Out of all the four Cork teams in football,this year ,the team best equipped to win any title would seem to be the U21 team,and getting out of Munster is going to be an achievement in itself,such is the mine field it is ,as Tippereary will have the bulk of the 2011 minor team,and Pat flanganan is added as coach and a lot of that team played last year but they at there peak now.

In fact that Tippereary management set up with David Power is very good ,and Alan O Connor ,who was with the minors in 2011 as Strength and Conditioning ,and with loughainey this year ,it is a top class set up.Alan O Connor ,is like Power a young coach ,and is involved with Tipperary Minors hurlers this year.

And they are taking part in the Hasting Cup ,starting this week,they are bound to be prepared well.They have to play Leitrim away the weekend,but trips away are bound to stand to them down the line.
If we do get to play Tippereary,at least we have home advantage.

Cork may not come out of Munster,but based on two concepts, (A)talent availble and (B) a proven management team,they seem to be the best team out of our four teams with the right balance.

But they have a huge game against Kerry away,and such has Corks dominance over them the last decade,Kerry are targeting this as a huge game .Darragh O Se is doing a good job with them,last year our cool heads and expierence just got us over the line.

I would expect Kerry to be well prepared , they should have a good few from last year and there will be a huge Kerry crowd at this.They have Padraig O Se,Tadhg Morley,Cillan fitzgerald ,Ronan Murphy,Kieran Murphy(another fine kerry midfielder) ,Adrian Spillane,Conor Keane,Jack Savage,all really fine and highly rated players.

Cork with Sean Hayes in charge have an excellent manager and is proven in Cork,with Gene O Driscoll there also,it is a good set up .If not this year,I would expect Cork to win a Munster title next year.Gene was involved with the minors in 2010,with Cuthbhert,has vast expierence,with modern day football.Astonishing Cuthbhert overlooked him for a senior role,and more so with who he brought in instead.


John Cleary in the time he was with Cork and with Tony Leahy also left a great legacy,8 Munster Titles,two All Irelands,and lost two Finals.
Cleary's training was magnificent,had a lot of heavy running done in January down in Guggen Barra,but balanced it with football skills later on.

If you look at Corks u21 season as a whole last year what is most pleasing to see is the preparation done by the team ,and even in challenge matches against poor teams,Cork were putting up massive scores in those games.Cleary was key to that,and he and Tony Leahy had a pivotal role in to turning Corks U21 scence from what Noel O leary said in 2003,was the worst set up ever ,to one of the best around.Nothing had changed dramatically in that 12 months ,it is simple,Cork appointed a management team ,that knew what they were doing.That is where it changed.

Cork's U21 Challenge Matches last year:
5th January Dungarvan -Cork 6-22 to Wexford 0-6
19th January -LIT Cork 0-14 to Galway 0-9
9th February- LIT Cork 4-15 to 2-9
12th February -Mallow Cork 6-15 to Clare 0-6
15th Februrary- Ballykelly Cork 0-12 beat Roscommon to 0-11
23th Feb- DCU Cork 1-14 to Dublin 1-6

They had a continuous line of games in the lead up to the Kerry game on the 13th of March.Momentum was built,and while the team had changed considerably from the start,as March closed in,the management had became close enough to picking the 15 in mind.Credit has to go soley to Cleary for that.I was talking to a father of one of the guys involved,and he said the set up was first class,busses ,meals even after away challenge matches properly organised etc.They did not have to want for anything.They were well looked after.That has been the hallmark of every team,Cleary has been involved with.Not only has he produced a conveyour belt for Cork talent regulary for senior,he produced them in a winning enviroment ,and more importantly that enviroment included beating Kerry in Kerry .It is when you only look within the u21 set up and dive deep below the surface ,you begin to truly appreciate what John Cleary brought to the set up.And that is what makes it frustrating,you see one Cork team well prepared yet then you see others off the required standard.

Compare and contrast the U21 Football set up to the U21 set up in Hurling.The Hurler's played four challenge matches in a 4 week period ,mid March to April(that was fine) ,but then just one game from the 22nd of April up to the 17th of July (Munster Championship v Tippereary)there was no way momentum could be built up ,or a settled team built,or a pattern of play formed.The one game they played was in the start of June against the Cats in Cork and the warning signs were there,Cork 1-10 to Kilkenny 2-13.

But Cork had almost a five week gap in games from then to the opener against Tipp.Is it any wonder,Cork were so much of the pace. Tipp had a challenge match with Kilkenny two weeks before us and beat Kilkenny.

When Tippeary U21 hurlers had Limerick in the 1st round,they went to Carrick on Suir ,and played Waterford in a Challenge aproxiatemely around ten days before their opener.They were fine tuning.Compare there prepartion to Corks and it is world's apart.
Yet the post mortems in Corks defeat seemed full of suprise,as people are baffled ,by what happened,and Cork were very well prepared,according to the management,and the County Board.Now some may say,they made a mistake and got it wrong this year.The fact is,the year was no different.

If there is series of wins or defeats nine times out of ten, they don't just happen cause your luck is either in or out,contary to the myth some have,that it just did not fall for us on the day and these things happen.They happen for a reason.It usually is a symptom of either things being extremely bad or extremely right in a set up.

I posted here before that in 2012 in May before we played Tippereary in the Pairc in U21(another game we lost that we should have won),our lads played Cork intermediates the week before.Lads were playing against lads they knew from the club scence,in a comfort zone.What can you learn from those games is little if anything at all.

In complete contrast Ken Hogan,had Tippearys final warm up game against Kilkenny.Cork in two years,were off the standard.The All Blacks say if it happens once it is an accident,twice it is a trend.

Take the Cork Intermediates Hurlers as an example,with a far less talented panel,there preparation was much better this year.They knew Clare, the Munster Finalists the year before , would be tough(had already played them in Chareville in a challenge at the start of the summer,it was a close game),so they played Kilkenny in a challenge match in Cork two weeks before (a strong kilkenny team beaten All Ireland Finalists the last two years)and beat them by0-17 to 0-12.

Cork blew Clare away ,and were very unlucky to loose to Tipperary(All Ireland Champions)the last two years by a point ,in Thurles on a lovely warm friday eveining with a good few of the lads that were shell shocked by events with the U21 team just two nights before.

You could not have faulted Liam Hayes or he's set up,in that they prepared them as best they could.Thats what good management teams do,they prepare well.The other side of the coin is Fail to Prepare ,Prepare to Fail.The U21 Hurling teams failed drastically.That may seem harsh but there is in truth no other way to kindy phrase that performance.

The U21 Footballers this year have a good set up with a blend of expierence and lads making there debut at the grade.There is the makings of a solid spine in most key aeras of the team.There is a lovely balance of strength,athleticsim,pace,natural footballers and scoring forwards throughout the team.The management team ,having being picked early in time (credit the county board for doing that with this set up)were at and have taken in a lot of club games in the County.

Dan MacEoin,Conor Dorman,Cathal Vaughan,(with CIT ,tommorrow in the Mcgrath Cup)Mark Sugrue ,Kevin Crowley, (Ian Maguire,,Brian O Driscoll,Sean Kiely playing for UCC Sunday in the Mcgrath cup against UL), and Alan Cadogan have been with the panel last year and are certain barring injury to be starting this year.

Michael Cahalane,Killan O'Connor( involved with the Senior's Sunday),Aidan Moyinhan,Kevin Fulgnati,Stephen Cronin,Jack Bushe ,John Corkery are all fine players.The panel started with around 35 aprox,at around October with trials and all is meant to be going well.From now on til March ,training is bound to be intensifed,and a lot of challenges to take place over the next few weeks.

Looking at the panel available ,Corks main concern may be Full back,just as it was last year.Cahalane had done as good a job as he could,but Varley exposed him in the final.Cleary could not be faulted for that,as in truth he had no other option for full back.


Conor Dorman and Brian O Driscoll ,showed last year they are not full or corner backs,they are superb half backs or options at midfield.Dorman was super at half back at senior for Bishoptown this year.It will be interesting to see what the final panel will be,and who is no 3.

It is not beyond the bounds of reality,that one of our best prepared football teams go out in the 1st round,and yet ,the minors could ,as they got a kind draw and have the backdoor ,and make an All Ireland quater final.


The Minors have talent but Donal O Sullivan ,been a selector for years on teams that failed, and should not have got this job,and he's methods are outdated and Jack O'Connor I fear would have the Cork team outhought before a ball is even kicked should they meet.

The one positive is Dorgan from Ballincollig is trainer ,but again how much input will he have.It is not much good if we have a team trained superbly,but the wrong team or players are played out of position as like with the minors hurlers who had a good trainer Frank Flannery ,last year,but the manager picked the wrong team.He done great with Beara in 97,I think it was.This is 2014 though.

Donal O'Sullivan,has been a great servant to Beara and Castletownbere and football runs through he's veins but that should not mean he is the minor manager.I can never understand these appointments,a guy does great 13 years ago ,and yet given a crucial job.

Kerry have taken a step forward with Jack, got rid of Mickey Ned O'Sullivan despite he's life long service to Kerry was by many in kerry deemed old school, .Jack is still coaching at schools,and very much aware of the talent around.James Mccarthy from Castlehaven would have been ideal,involved in schools coaching also.Very much a modern day manager,and would have been a great manager with the minors.

The Cork Juniors ,understandably having to field a new team may not be as strong this year ,they done everything they were asked of last year,credit due,and gave several potential seniors a stage in which they could showcase there talents.

The U21 football team have talented players,a history and a winning culture from the last ten years,complimented by a good coaching set up ,so I think they would be the strongest of all our teams,even though we have the hardest task of all,considering ,we have Kerry away in the 1st game,with no comfort of the backdoor.

Thinkstoomuch1 I'll say one think you have some knowledge of the Cork present and past. It's a pleasure reading your posts. Keep up the good work.

Christmas came and went,it was short and sweet.I hope Corks season is not the same.
It started in Mallow,a damp ,cold venue,but despite all the heavy rain,the town of mallow got all week,the ptich as it always is was in splendid condition,the ground staff deserve immense credit for that.

Even the stewarding was top notch,the first two car parks ,quite empty at the start,but due to the weather a lot of late comers,such all 3 were full at the end of the game.What amazes me,with Mallow,it is so clean.Even to go the jacks for a slash,unlike some places where the stinch would knock a buffalo,there is a refreshing smell here,and there remarkably clean.The only fault is there was not enough programmes.On the way driving in,i saw on the left ptich,Cork warming up.I went in for a glimpse,but due to going in to the main ptich late,all the programmes were gone.


A good crowd,the stand was full.
The match ended Cork 3-22 to Lit 0-7.
Cork won the ist half 1-17 to 0-1 and the second half 2-6 to 0-6.

Lit I said would be piss poor,they were ,and worse.Even without a programme,normally some players are recognosiable ,none were here ,and even most of the crowd couldnt name one player for them,never have I left any match not knowing one lad.
No 7 do,stood out,a classy back,super player ,on a beaten team,a one man show who had a super attuide and desire ,i wish a few of our lads had.I must find out hes name.


Cork had a huge wind,and at last showed a real,intent to kick the ball and move it a pace,and before we wouid hand pass a ball five times to score,we kicked at every oppurtuinty,some of the shooting and execution was awful,i wouldnt mind that,but we showed intent to move it a pace.

What was a worry was in the second half when against the wind we had to hand pass,jesus it was awful,slow,lateral and static like last year.If you have to hand pass do like kerry,mayo,dublin move it at pace,with men running forward in to space,rather than static ,slow like a game of basketball played badly.
That has to be worked on.Old habits die hard.

Pryce,very good ,made a great save in the ist half,like I said,has agility.One on one,saved a pile driver for a 45,had the speed and athletiscm to bounce of the ground fast enough to stop a rebound.The fear is soccer may come calling in the summer.Had a good half,o halloran then came on.

Mcloughlin poor and turned too easily in the second half.
Cadogan solid,but only played a half.Galvin was full for that half as such was the wind cork had about 8 players at midfield.
Galvin will have tougher games but was tight,fast and tenacious.I think he has it.One ball after 15 minutes,he had no right to win,a cross field ball,he was brave enough to attack the ball,lynch mode,win it ,shrug of hes man,and deliver a super pass to andrew sullivan.


Then in last few minutes of that half,hes marker took him on,went left and right,so did galvin ,and hands out wide,that you could not pass.He beat 3 different LIT forwards ,a cul de sac for any forward today.The type of defender we need against kerry.He is big,strong,and fast.


Loughrey good,taken of at half time.
Alan sheehan okay,injured,wasnt tested,didnt stand out or look bad.
Driscoll good going forward,never tested at the back.
Walsh was super,what you want and expect from your top midfielder lorded it with gould.He looked like he was limping which is a worry.

O driscoll got a point,okay ,i expected better.
Sugrue,superb work rate,and desire and attuide on and of the ball,got lovely scores and real pace.
At the end of the game,a 50-50 ball down half way by the stand he had no right to win.At pace ,he didnt break stride(like hurricane fly)and scooped the ball with a deft scoup of the toe,and kept running,and had the vision to hand pass to DoC,to score.Will shake the senior panel,but will be immense for the u21 team.

Andrew o sullivan,credit due,worked hard,had a hunger,desire ,and won 50-50 balls and was helping defence all day.But he doesnt have the skill of o rourke,,kelly,collins,sugrue who work just as hard but can score,create and have real pace,something he lacks.
He got a goal,but it was awful defending by the full back and then the keeper.Goulding was carrying an injury and it showed.

Hayes like I said would get tasty points and look good.In the 1st half he did,and every cork forward scored,LIT barely got outside there own half.The cork forwards had so much time and space,they could have made a cup of tea,had a ham sandwich,and still taken the point.


The second half showed why Hayes is not a intercounty player.With the wind against them,cork forwards had to show for the ball,win more dirty ball and had less space.He was found out and didnt want to know,never showed for the ball consistently .He is not or never will be tough enough for inter county,we knew that already,today confirmed it.

Took the penalty well,but shouldnt be on the panel.
Donnacha was immense,showed a great work rate,and got good points and led the line well.He wasnt playing for hes place compared to hayes yet he had way more drive and hunger than hayes off the ball.Killan o connor ,and sean murphy had nice cameos,killan will be good at u21,Murphy I doubt he can make the step to intercounty.Better than mcloughlin though.
Kevin crowley,i said before will be a star,he is and could be as great as ciaran o sullivan.A super ,talented,natural footballer,just came on,won a ball in the far corner the killavullen side of the ptich,a lovely sidestep that brian o driscoll would be proud of,and kicked a super goal,any forward in the country would be happy to score.

Won a lot of broken ball,stood out in the ten minutes he played.Watch this lad ,he is going to be a super half back,and has such natural ablity it is easy to see why ucc played him in the forwards.


Cork play ul next week,liam kearns will have them well set up,but cork should be winning that.Kerry will be the real test.O rourke and clancy are with ul.and now UCC are out maguire,kiely and brian o driscoll should get a run with Cork.

Job done today,but in all honesty you cant take too much from the game,in that Clare hammered LIT last year also.

On the club scence,some interesting appointments.
Stena o donougue former mallow player and coach of ballydesmond,is meant to be going to ballyclough to replace former mallow and cork wing back michael o donovan.


Peadear healy is going to o donovan rossa.
Billy morgan will stay with ucc,and nemo,but will help mtichelstown and replace larry tompkins.
If morgan is involved on match days it is great news for the town,as he will bring tactical nous to the team,that tompkins couldnt bring,and while hes teams were superbly fit ,and you will get away with that in the cork junior championship,against keel of kerry,like I said he would be,they were exposed tactially.And they lost the league final.They should be a senior club,and they are taking a major step towards that with Morgan.


Ned english is staying with clyda.I would fancy him to win the tactial battle against peadar healey in the senior championship.It was interesting to see English at todays match,a real football man,down to earth,no airs or graces with him.

On clyda rovers,two worries for the 26th,Jame Fitzgerald had an operation recently,and is out for two months and Buckley is out also,with an injury.

Clyda will still do cork proud,but that talk is for another day.
I am delighted the gaa season has started again.

North Cork Star wrote: »

Another year and a good start in terms of Cork GAA!

Nice crowd today in Mallow to see the footballers cruise past LIT, with some players such as Mark Sugrue, Alan Sheehan and Kevin Crowley showing promise!

Also the LIT number 7 is Paddy Dalton, a Tipperary U21 I believe - I saw him play against Mary I before Christmas and was again impressive.

Well, here's hoping for a successful 2014 for both the footballers and hurlers!

Cheers north cork,happy 2014 to you lad.


Dalton was super,fast and really showed up andrew sullivan for a lack of pace at times.

Very impressed by him.