Can Cork topple Tipp/Kilkenny?

Rowley Birkin QC

Great win for us today, another second half performance saving the day but I really can't see Tipp or Kilkenny allowing us to do that against them.

Cork 3rd favs at this stage?

Keano

As a bitterly dissapointed Clare man I have to agree that Cork are 3rd favs. Simply put Tipp/Kilkenny would not relenquish an 8 point lead.

kensutz

bigkev49 wrote: »

Great win for us today, another second half performance saving the day but I really can't see Tipp or Kilkenny allowing us to do that against them.

Cork 3rd favs at this stage?

Are you forgetting about another team?

kensutz

Cork are 9/2 to win it

Clare Bear

I doubt Cork will get any further....then again I didn't think they'd beat Galway or Clare this year to be honest so ya never know! Great game today.

kensutz

I have to admit I was completely gobsmacked when I got home to find Cork beat Clare. Even at half time when I was leaving, there were quite a few Cork supporters heading out of the stadium.

CyberDave

You can never underestimate a Cork team no matter how much they are behind. 'The Rock' has hit a serious spell of bad form. He made some costly mistakes in the first half today. On this form, he shouldn't make the team for the semi. Clare hadn't the big leaders Cork had when it really came down to it, like last week (replacing Clare in that last sentence with Galway). Neil Ronan alway seems to have better impact coming off the bench and the young players again played well. Lynch was good for Clare in the first half, It's no co-incidence that he seemed to run out of steam in the second half the same time Cork started to take a stranglehold on the game. Corks switches on the line really worked while Clares didn't. Markham was anonymous when he was brought on.

mollybird

me and my dad were discussing it earlier on cork have to beat kilkenny for a number of reasons.

1 can't leave kilkenny get 3 in a row

2 can't leave kilkenny have more all ireland's than us (cork)

3 they have to do it for the fans if no one else. they were behind them the whole time of the strick 100%. no if but's or maybe's!! they owe it to the fans and the county.

2Scoops

mollybird wrote: »

1 can't leave kilkenny get 3 in a row

2 can't leave kilkenny have more all ireland's than us (cork)

3 they have to do it for the fans if no one else. they were behind them the whole time of the strick 100%. no if but's or maybe's!! they owe it to the fans and the county.

That's great and all, but Kilkenny are the better hurlers. :cool: I'm expecting a heavy defeat in the semi.

2Scoops

CyberDave wrote: »

'The Rock' has hit a serious spell of bad form. He made some costly mistakes in the first half today. On this form, he shouldn't make the team for the semi.

Completely agree but can't see him being dropped tbh.

mollybird

2Scoops wrote: »

That's great and all, but Kilkenny are the better hurlers. :cool: I'm expecting a heavy defeat in the semi.

well i hope my theory will turn out to be right or we are royally ****ed as you say. but now that i think of it kilkenny will know we are thinking my first two points so may play that extra bit harder. crap it anyhow:(

Orizio

Congrats to the lads once again. There was always going to be a comeback, and mattered was how Clare reacted. Pretty well in fairness, but not quite enough.

Hopefully Gardiner will be full back, Kenny on the wing, the O' Connor's in midfield and Timmy Mac center forward. Cork won't be scared of Kilkenny, unlike most teams. Any news on Niall's injury?

lukin

2Scoops wrote: »

That's great and all, but Kilkenny are the better hurlers. :cool: I'm expecting a heavy defeat in the semi.

If KK do win it definitely won't be by much. Cork will be determined to stop them winning 3-in-a-row and of course staying ahead of them in the roll of honour as someone else mentioned.
That just might be all the motivation they need. Also KK have not really had a hard game so far this year, Cork have had three (four if you count the Dublin game).

CyberDave

mollybird wrote: »

3 they have to do it for the fans if no one else. they were behind them the whole time of the strick 100%. no if but's or maybe's!! they owe it to the fans and the county.

This Cork team has brought lots of success to the county and even though the Cork fans are probably the best in the country, I don't think this team owes anything. They were written off as a spent force after the Tipp game. They have proved they are not in the last two games.

2Scoops wrote: »

That's great and all, but Kilkenny are the better hurlers. :cool: I'm expecting a heavy defeat in the semi.

It's always tight between these two. There shouldn't be much more than 2/3 points in it.

Kristopherus

While I do hope ye tread on the cats tails, and make the squeel, ye'll have to do it for 70 mins., not 35 as against Galway & Clare. Clare should have been 12 pts up at half time, and I don't think ye would have come back.

JHMEG

After years of watching this Cork team, today and last week finally galvanised it for me. And as much as I detest langers, this Cork team is probably one of the greatest hurling teams in the history of the game. I can't see Tipp stopping them, and KK are the only outfit consistent enough and clinical enough have a good chance, but Cork seem to bring out the best in Waterford - when is the last time these two had a sh1te encounter? And Waterford has a pretty good record against Cork in recent years too.

Cork and Waterford for the AI final.

CyberDave

Kristopherus wrote: »

While I do hope ye tread on the cats tails, and make the squeel, ye'll have to do it for 70 mins., not 35 as against Galway & Clare. Clare should have been 12 pts up at half time, and I don't think ye would have come back.

Meant to say that in my last post. The cats won't be as generous as Galway or Clare were with space in the second half and expect them to target the O'Sullivan weakness and punish it with goals, pretty much like they would do even if it wasn't a weakness.

CyberDave

JHMEG wrote: »

I can't see Tipp stopping them.

It will be the ultimate revenge mission if Cork and Tipp meet in the final. It will take an almighty effort to beat Kilkenny though.

mollybird

no we want cork to meet wateford in the final. that would be the game of the century people!!

Orizio

Anyone who thinks Kilkenny are going to hammer Cork must be dreaming. Invariably, it will be a close low scoring game with little more then a couple of points dividing the two.

mollybird

Orizio wrote: »

Anyone who thinks Kilkenny are going to hammer Cork must be dreaming. Invariably, it will be a close low scoring game with little more then a couple of points dividing the two.

yes i totally agree. thank god i won't be in the country to watch it. id be in bits.

CyberDave

mollybird wrote: »

no we want cork to meet wateford in the final. that would be the game of the century people!!

Maybe! but reality and current form suggests it will probably be otherwise.

JHMEG

CyberDave wrote: »

Maybe! but reality and current form suggests it will probably be otherwise.

There is only Tipperary in the way. If Waterford can get their act together then...

bill_ashmount

More than capable of beating Kilkenny. Delighted to be playing them at the semi-final stage. Bring it on.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

hawkwing

"On another note, anyone think its time that Sully hit the bench?
Its all well and good shouldering a lad to the ground, spurring the crowd and shaking Semple Stadium but everytime he rises to catch a ball it seems to go behind him into the goalmouth.[/QUOTE]"

I didn't know he could rise but i thought Gilligan did as much damage on Gardiner.

bill_ashmount

The Scientist wrote: »

On another note, anyone think its time that Sully hit the bench?
Its all well and good shouldering a lad to the ground, spurring the crowd and shaking Semple Stadium but everytime he rises to catch a ball it seems to go behind him into the goalmouth.

Probably needs to be dropped, he is not performing to a good enough standard. On another note I was disgusted with the cheering from the Cork fans when he was taken off. Show some respect, he's been a fine player for us over the years and he was trying his best yesterday.

Iusedbecoooler

I think if Cork dont bea them (and there is a chance they will) Kilkenny will def win their next all ireland...
simply put waterford or tipp dont have what it takes to topple them...cork have a simliar belief to kilkenny that isnt matched in ability!

by the way what were clare at??
8 points they should have buried them!

CyberDave

hawkwing wrote: »

"On another note, anyone think its time that Sully hit the bench?
Its all well and good shouldering a lad to the ground, spurring the crowd and shaking Semple Stadium but everytime he rises to catch a ball it seems to go behind him into the goalmouth. I didn't know he could rise but i thought Gilligan did as much damage on Gardiner.

Cork don't seem to have a specialist full-back other than O'Sullivan, for this reason he will probably keep his place. Gardiner filled in well, but like Ken McGrath he is a half-back who is better going forward than minding the house at the back and the likes of Kilkenny will exploit those weaknesses. Gilligan was very good yesterday, he would have caused any full-back problems, if he had more help it could have been Clares day.

Rowley Birkin QC

As to Sully I don't think he will be able to contain Sheflin, who has also lost pace in recent years but not to the same extent as Sullivan. Also I don't think Ben O'Connors name has been mentioned here yet, one of the finest performances I have ever seen from him.

Any truth to the rumour of a double header in Croke Park for the Cork footballers and hurlers?

Keano

If Cork start O'Sullivan the next day that is game over. He has given his all for Cork but he just does not have the pace any more. Kilkenny will pump ball after ball on top of him if he plays the match could be over before it starts for Cork.

Orizio

The Scientist wrote: »

I doubt the meeting of these two in the MF 04 will ever be topped tbh...

Absolutely.
I stood dejected in Croke Park in 2006 when they took the 3 in a row from us.
Stopping KK doing it is of upmost importance to this Cork team. There will be bloodshed before Cork leave them go easily...

On another note, anyone think its time that Sully hit the bench?
Its all well and good shouldering a lad to the ground, spurring the crowd and shaking Semple Stadium but everytime he rises to catch a ball it seems to go behind him into the goalmouth.

I agree that he should be dropped, but I think what might matter most is keeping Gardiner and Kenny in their best positions. This is assuming everyone, Niall Mac included, is fit.

Anyway, we will see what the selectors put first when they choose their team.

run_Forrest_run

bigkev49 wrote: »

As to Sully I don't think he will be able to contain Sheflin, who has also lost pace in recent years but not to the same extent as Sullivan.

Henry is back from a long injury so it's not that he has lost pace in recent years, he has lost pace due to this injury but he is gaining pace again, unlike O'Sullivan, anyway, what do ye expect, rocks are largely known as immovable objects and Henry, Eddie et al can just run around those.

Alan Smith

Drop the Rock move Gardiner in his place and bring Cadogan on at right half back.

If Cork can hold them in the first half and not give away a silly lead like the past two games I can see them having a chance but if they give away a lead I can't see KK giving away a lead like Galway and Clare did.

Orizio

Alan Smith wrote: »

Drop the Rock move Gardiner in his place and bring Cadogan on at right half back.

If Cork can hold them in the first half and not give away a silly lead like the past two games I can see them having a chance but if they give away a lead I can't see KK giving away a lead like Galway and Clare did.

Who else are you going to drop? Not starting Timmy? This is the most solid team imo...

Donal Og

O' Neill Gardiner B. Murphy

T Kenny R Curran Sean Og

B O' Connor J O' Connor

Pa Cronin Timmy Mac Niall Mac

Pa Horgan Joe Deane C Naughton

Very clear really, Timmy in the center because Niall struggles to stop top class center backs from playing.

yahoo_moe

CyberDave wrote: »

Gilligan was very good yesterday, he would have caused any full-back problems, if he had more help it could have been Clares day.

Which is why I think Kilkenny will put Cork away this year. Shefflin v O'Sullivan or Gardiner, plus the help he'll be getting from Brennan, Power, Larkin, Fitzpatrick, etc. should see Kilkenny into another final at the expense of a team who've shown no ability to start fast so far this year.

It takes more than motivation to win a hurling match - but even on that score, they really shouldn't have been lacking against Tipp. I'd have Cork as probably joint 3rd favourites with Waterford - they're each the underdogs going into their semis but it's hard to tell which of them has the better chane at winning.

Rowley Birkin QC

I also think there is going to be a certain fire in the bellies of the Cork lads when they see Kilkenny lining out, much moreso than any other game this year. It could, hopefully, be the spur they need to produce one of their 2nd half performances right from the first minute.

Saying that Kilkenny will be equally as motivated to put away Cork at this stage. Either way I cannot wait for this match.

Orizio

We actually started very well against Tipp, but yes we need to play for the 70 minutes agaisnt Kilkenny.

And after what I saw yestreday, I'd have Cork ahead of the deise particurly if Gardiner is put full back and Waterford stick with Ken on the square.

Orizio

Any chance of Cork/Kilkenny in Thurles?

Rowley Birkin QC

As much as I love going to Thurles I think this game deserves the main stage. A double header with the footballers would be good value.

Orizio

Yeah a double header with the footballers would be brilliant, or even have the footballers on the Saturday with the hurlers on the Sunday, like they did last year(I think). Get the train up on the Friday, back on the monday, good times...

If its just Cork/Kilkenny on its own though, it should be Thurles, same for Waterford/Tipp, especially the considering the excitement of the last two weekends. Easie on the fans, better atmosphere etc.

Maximus82

Orizio wrote: »

Yeah a double header with the footballers would be brilliant, or even have the footballers on the Saturday with the hurlers on the Sunday, like they did last year(I think). Get the train up on the Friday, back on the monday, good times...

If its just Cork/Kilkenny on its own though, it should be Thurles, same for Waterford/Tipp, especially the considering the excitement of the last two weekends. Easie on the fans, better atmosphere etc.

Not a hope in hell are they gonna be in Thurles....All-Ireland semi finals are always played in Croke Park....and rightly so.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

Orizio

Why 'rightly so'? Thurles is the home of hurling, not Croker and why drag fans further then necessary?

Cork/Kilkenny on its own won't come close to filling Croker. Its all down to if they have a double header or not as far as I am concerned.

Maximus82

Orizio wrote: »

Why 'rightly so'? Thurles is the home of hurling, not Croker and why drag fans further then necessary?

Cork/Kilkenny on its own won't come close to filling Croker. Its all down to if they have a double header or not as far as I am concerned.

Semi finals are always played in Croker. Cork/Kilkenny wont fill Croker but they would fill Thurles easily. Anyway Cork/Kilkenny will be a double header with a football game....wont know til next Monday which one though....it'll either be Corks football game or Armagh's football game.

Oh by the way ur concerned about dragging fans to Croker rather than Thurles but earlier u were more than happy with the prospect of the footballers playing on Saturday and the hurlers on the Sunday in Croke Park....dragging fans to Croke Park 2 days in a row!!

Nickibaby*

10th August in Croke Park it's KK and Cork
17th August in Croke Park it's Tipp and Waterford

As far as I know anyway

Orizio

Looks like the footballers and hurlers same weekend, good stuff.

Orizio

Maximus82 wrote: »

Semi finals are always played in Croker. Cork/Kilkenny wont fill Croker but they would fill Thurles easily. Anyway Cork/Kilkenny will be a double header with a football game....wont know til next Monday which one though....it'll either be Corks football game or Armagh's football game.

Oh by the way ur concerned about dragging fans to Croker rather than Thurles but earlier u were more than happy with the prospect of the footballers playing on Saturday and the hurlers on the Sunday in Croke Park....dragging fans to Croke Park 2 days in a row!!

I know dude, thats my point . If the footballers and hurlers were playing on different weekends then it would make more sense to play Cork/Kilkenny in Thurles rather the Croker.

Seemingly there not, so I'm sure a lot of fans will try and take a couple of days off and make a weekend out of it.

mollybird

Keano A Legend wrote: »

If Cork start O'Sullivan the next day that is game over. He has given his all for Cork but he just does not have the pace any more. Kilkenny will pump ball after ball on top of him if he plays the match could be over before it starts for Cork.

ya but it was funny i thought how that claire player just bounced off him at one stage. i was thinking they don't call him the rock for any aul reason:) ya i think he should hang up his boots after this year.

lukin

You know the more I think about it the more it seems perfectly set up for a Cork win. They will be coming in as underdogs, with a number of players supposedly "over the hill" and facing a Kilkenny side that have been built up as near invincible by the media.
On paper KK have a far superior side but sometimes top players just don't produce it on the day for some inexplicable reason.

Mossy Monk

Who says Cork will be playing Tipperary?