Cork v Tipperary AI Semi Final

Grats · 31-07-2014 9:37pm #1

There is a second semi final coming up! Cork v Tipp should be a cracker. I fancy Cork to win. The experience of playing in Croke Park on three occasions should stand to them. They look like a more settled and confident team. Tipp have played most of their games in Thurles. They haven't played in Croke Park since the Lar debacle in 2012.

The Tipp backs were never tested against Dublin. Cork have the forwards to show up the obvious flaws there and take advantage of it. It's no great surprise that E O'Shea is so anxious to get Paul Curran back and to have O'Mahony fit again. If Noël MCGrath and Corbett disappear as they did against Dublin Tipp won't survive.

Cork for me.

savannahkat · 01-08-2014 1:53am

Tipp are an enigma even to themselves. They can blow hot or cold. When hot they are near unbeatable when cold they are very beatable. If they concentrate they are well capable of beating Cork but will they or can they, no one knows. Overall they have the more skillful players and enough of them to win but there is that question mark hanging over them and nothing less than beating Kilkenny in the final will remove it. The winners of Kilkenny v Limerick will be known by the time this game is played and if it is Limerick you can bet your life both Cork and Tipp will approach this game in an entirely different light .I am not saying either would be afraid of Kilkenny, they are not, and before any Limerick fan takes offense it is not meant to be offensive but until Limerick actually win the All Ireland, it is the way it is.

citykat · 01-08-2014 10:52am

Cork for me.

Think they have come on a ton since even last year. They've found a few more forwards and now have some real options off the bench if necessary. Think Walsh's form in midfield has been critical. Great in the air but also has the fitness to go box to box. Backs look a more solid unit this year also. Ellis has settled well in at centre back.

As for Tipp, they're solid enough at the back even if they're still trying to nail down full and centre back. Think they're going to struggle at midfield no matter who they try. For Tipp to entertain any thoughts of winning, they have to get a full shift out of their forwards. No worries about Bonner Maher or Bubbles for me. Can't say the same about the rest. Callinan on O'Neill will be interesting. O'Neill is going to flake as is his wont. Will Seamie shirk? Ditto McGrath, Corbett. If Tipp withdraw one of their forwards, Cork will leave him be. This'll limit any goal scoring opportunities for Tipp. I think this'll be O'Shea's last game in charge of Tipp.

menace404 · 01-08-2014 2:04pm

citykat wrote: »

Cork for me.

Think they have come on a ton since even last year. They've found a few more forwards and now have some real options off the bench if necessary. Think Walsh's form in midfield has been critical. Great in the air but also has the fitness to go box to box. Backs look a more solid unit this year also. Ellis has settled well in at centre back.

As for Tipp, they're solid enough at the back even if they're still trying to nail down full and centre back. Think they're going to struggle at midfield no matter who they try. For Tipp to entertain any thoughts of winning, they have to get a full shift out of their forwards. No worries about Bonner Maher or Bubbles for me. Can't say the same about the rest. Callinan on O'Neill will be interesting. O'Neill is going to flake as is his wont. Will Seamie shirk? Ditto McGrath, Corbett. If Tipp withdraw one of their forwards, Cork will leave him be. This'll limit any goal scoring opportunities for Tipp. I think this'll be O'Shea's last game in charge of Tipp.

I see Stevie Mc on Callanan. He has been the best corner back in the competition so far. A mile ahead of everyone else and hasn't put a single foot wrong.
This game will be close to a sell out I would say also. I may be wrong but its the first time these two powerhouses have ever met in an AI semi. Cracker in store and way too close to call.

Rightwing · 01-08-2014 4:33pm

savannahkat wrote: »

Tipp are an enigma even to themselves. They can blow hot or cold. When hot they are near unbeatable when cold they are very beatable. If they concentrate they are well capable of beating Cork but will they or can they, no one knows. Overall they have the more skillful players and enough of them to win but there is that question mark hanging over them and nothing less than beating Kilkenny in the final will remove it. The winners of Kilkenny v Limerick will be known by the time this game is played and if it is Limerick you can bet your life both Cork and Tipp will approach this game in an entirely different light .I am not saying either would be afraid of Kilkenny, they are not, and before any Limerick fan takes offense it is not meant to be offensive but until Limerick actually win the All Ireland, it is the way it is.

Seriously, they won't.

zetecescort · 01-08-2014 4:53pm

Hard game to call and I'll obviously tip Cork but key for me will be our start. Slow to get going most days for some reason and who knows what we'll be like after a 5 week break.

buck65 · 01-08-2014 5:30pm

Cork are so much the better team but I still think they will lose, JBM is not the man on the sideline to turn things around if they are struggling.

Rightwing · 01-08-2014 5:32pm

buck65 wrote: »

Cork are so much the better team but I still think they will lose, JBM is not the man on the sideline to turn things around if they are struggling.

If they are so much the better team, I fail to see how they will be struggling ?

citykat · 01-08-2014 5:58pm

Rightwing wrote: »

If they are so much the better team, I fail to see how they will be struggling ?

+1. I've reread the original post and still don't get it.

Grats · 12-08-2014 11:26am

One semi final down, one left to come. I originally went for Cork and after watching Limerick turn in a great display against Kilkenny I stick with Cork. The Rebels disposed of Limerick handy enough who had beaten Tipp in Thurles. Both Cork and Tipp will be taken out of the comforts of their home grounds for this match. Cork will have the experience of playing in Croke Park on three occasions last year while Tipp won't have great memories of their last game there when their tactic of having Lar chase around after his opponent blew up in their faces.

Too many of the Tipp forwards disappear when put under pressure, their midfield is not settled and their backs are suspect. Cork are back of make amends for last year. Too many teams got caught up with the Clare style last year and lost sight of their own game. It's back to basic simple hurling now. Should be a close match but I think Cork will win out in the end.

Warper · 12-08-2014 11:51am

Pa Horgan looks like he will be out for this - massive loss. That said i still would expect them to beat Tipp who have been poor the last 3 years

Metropolitan · 12-08-2014 12:09pm

Warper wrote: »

Pa Horgan looks like he will be out for this - massive loss. That said i still would expect them to beat Tipp who have been poor the last 3 years

Pa Cronin. Big difference.

Rightwing · 12-08-2014 1:05pm

Metropolitan wrote: »

Pa Cronin. Big difference.

Absolutely, take out Horgan and cork are seriously limited. The other chap is making up the numbers.

Amprodude · 12-08-2014 1:23pm

Rightwing wrote: »

Absolutely, take out Horgan and cork are seriously limited. The other chap is making up the numbers.

Will you go away with yourself. Hadnedy, Cooper, Cadogan, O Sullivan are top class and would be on most teams.

Meursault · 12-08-2014 2:43pm

Pa Cronin is still a loss imo.

I think last year's experience and the new additions this year will swing it for cork though

I am worried about the 5 week break though. we can't start slowly in this match.

robbiezero · 12-08-2014 2:53pm

menace404 wrote: »

I see Stevie Mc on Callanan. He has been the best corner back in the competition so far. A mile ahead of everyone else and hasn't put a single foot wrong.

He hasn't been a mile ahead of everyone else, there is plenty corner backs having a very good season. He has played quite well no doubt, but Seamus Hickey has been the best corner back in the country so far.

dastardly00 · 12-08-2014 2:54pm

Warper wrote: »

Pa Horgan looks like he will be out for this - massive loss.

You have probably given anybody from Cork a massive heart attack when they read your post!!

robbiezero · 12-08-2014 2:55pm

I can't see why this is such a 50-50 game. A repeat of Corks performance in the Munster final, you would imagine would see them winning, whereas I think Tipp will have to find a level that they have not found in 4 years in order to beat Cork on Sunday. They could well do that and have improved with every game in this years championship, but they are certainly the underdogs for me.

IrishAlice · 12-08-2014 3:31pm

Fully expect Cork to win this one.

They're playing really well as a team this year and have gelled nicely. The new additions to the team like Aidan Walsh have definitely made a difference.

The were slow out of the blocks in the first Waterford game but seem to have improved in that regard.

Looking forward to a good game!

adrian522 · 12-08-2014 4:03pm

I agree, I'd take Cork to win this, Tipp will keep it close for a time but I'd say Cork by 4 or 5 points in the end.

Rightwing · 12-08-2014 5:22pm

Tipp have the hurlers to beat the pick of Cork/KK. Question is, can they deliver on the day. I think they will.

Martin567 · 12-08-2014 5:51pm

Rightwing wrote: »

Tipp have the hurlers to beat the pick of Cork/KK.

They most definitely do not!!!!

Grats · 12-08-2014 5:59pm

Rightwing wrote: »

Tipp have the hurlers to beat the pick of Cork/KK. Question is, can they deliver on the day. I think they will.

Really, but not Limerick! Puzzling to say the least. Perhaps you might unravel it a bit for us?

Hotfail.com · 12-08-2014 6:20pm

dastardly00 wrote: »

You have probably given anybody from Cork a massive heart attack when they read your post!!

You don't know the half of it! :pac:

Rightwing · 12-08-2014 6:32pm

Grats wrote: »

Really, but not Limerick! Puzzling to say the least. Perhaps you might unravel it a bit for us?

LK hit them with a sucker punch. The winners of this match must not make the same mistake as LK made, by getting into a dogfight with KK.

Grats · 12-08-2014 6:43pm

Rightwing wrote: »

LK hit them with a sucker punch. The winners of this match must not make the same mistake as LK made, by getting into a dogfight with KK.

Even more puzzling now! You posted that Tipp would beat the pick of KK and Cork! Now you're saying the "winners" of this match, which does suggest Cork on their own could beat Tipp! And you then suggest Kilkenny, on their own, could beat the "winners", Tipp OR Cork!

Figsy32 · 12-08-2014 6:45pm

Rightwing wrote: »

LK hit them with a sucker punch. The winners of this match must not make the same mistake as LK made, by getting into a dogfight with KK.

And what about the year before that? I think you're horribly overrating the Tipp lads if you seriously think they're more talented than the pick of Cork and Kilkenny.

Limerick needed to make it a dogfight. They're physical and a fast free flowing game doesn't suit them. (See the Cork game where Cork's speed through Lehane, Harnedy, Kearney killed them.)

Cork and Tipp will know whichever faces Kilkenny will have to try and move the likes of Tyrell, Delaney and Hogan around rather than hitting long ball on top of them.

Rightwing · 12-08-2014 6:48pm

I might be overrating Tipp, there's little difference between any of the teams left. Tipp to me look to have the most class, cork the most speed and KK the desire, and ability to bunch and drag teams into a dogfight.

Martin567 · 12-08-2014 7:17pm

I would completely disagree that Tipperary have more class than Kilkenny or Cork. You're obviously entitled to your opinion but my opinion is that that is complete fantasy.

Mountainlad · 12-08-2014 8:02pm

Bill Cooper is not top class, god almighty. Some dreamers about.

Lehane has been Cork's form forward for me, leaving aside the first day against Waterford. Harnedy next in line, he didn't turn up in that game or against Clare. I don't Pat Horgan's contribution from play is as impressive as he generally gets credit for.

His lack of pace means he finds it hard to get space and he's no goal threat, but when he does have space he's incredible and could score from anywhere. Tipp have several forwards like that too though, and maybe a bit more pace.

Cork are going to need to show a bit more ruthlessness when it comes to going for the jugular. They have several players who can beat their men and creat opportunities for themselves, or overlaps but I see Lehane, Harnedy and the biggest culprit of all Cadogan too content to take their points.

Pa Cronin has been average, I don't see him as that much of a loss only that their forwards outside of Paudi O Sullivan to come in mightn't be as good.

I think where Tipp really need to improve is midfield. That was the big achilles heel for me against Limerick. Shane McGrath played that day and was woeful, but had a very good game v Dublin so that shows some promise although very different proposition on Sunday. Woodlock is also better than Bergin, but not a great hurler all the same. Denis Maher could be a very important sub in this game.

Be interesting to see how Ellis contends with Bonner Maher, definitely his biggest test to date. Even more interesting will be Cork's full back and probably where I'd be leaning towards Tipp winning the game.

Callinan is a different beast this year and his confidence will be well up after recent games since the Limerick match. The one problem he always had was a lack of physicality. He addressed that in the off season and has added bulk to his height.

Would be a big test for Cahalane who has had to contend with playing football as well in recent weeks. Didn't look half as good against Limerick as he had the previous two games, but allowing for an injury their. If Shane O'Neill were to play full back, I think Cork will be conceding the game. Don't understand managers playing corner backs at full backs, it always comes undone. Even Cody showed a bit of naivety putting Murphy on Dowling as an even match up rather than leaving JJ in from the start last weekend.

Bubbles average scoring is 4 points from play per game I'm pretty sure. You've Callinan, Lar Corbett (not as good as a few years ago, but he's undoubtedly a potential danger), Bonner Maher creating chances for these lads (not a great finisher himself though), even Gearoid Ryan has managed a goal himself this year despite spending most of his time out the field.

I do like Cork's forward line, but think Tipp are more of a goal threat and would give them the edge in this game as a result. We saw how important that was on Sunday.

Rightwing · 12-08-2014 8:09pm

Some posters saying Tipp are rubbish, we'll see on Sunday if that is the case.

Cork v Tipperary AI Semi Final

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