Cork GAA Discussion Thread

Seadin

Cork must remember it's a 70 minute game not 35. They missed two goal chances in first half, they need to be going in. Kilkenny or Limerick wont miss those chances. Hoggie missed two routine enough frees. Hardeney was poor and Kingston has no place on the bench imo. Not good enough and you can't depend on him when the pressure is on. Not sure where I see Cork after today? I don't think the bench or panel is as good as what the media has blown them up to be. I won't be surprised if they fail to get out of Munster but hope they turn it around.

Straight Talker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123375879#Comment_123375879

On the flip side of that the feeling was that the team was too soft at times as well. We've got to learn how to fight and stand up for ourselves in a disciplined way. You were going on about 2023 but we've been to an all Ireland final in the time since then and almost won it, we won a league title as well and also laid the Limerick hoodoo to rest. We're not the finished article by any means yet though, but the hurling and the skill levels are there to win the big one.

windy shepard henderson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123375903#Comment_123375903

i think the game was mayham at times today mainly by the cork intensity in the first half which led liam gordon to lose the run of the game , he done nobody any favors in fairness

our hurling was terrible for the first 55 minutes , and it seemed when cork got tired we seemed to take advantage

there is too much made by cork supporters about being physical or adam hogans diving or bad puck outs what ever , the real problem that need to be fixed is the fitness levels ,

we took over the the all ireland final last year and came back from nearly 10 points down in that game today we were 9 points down with 5 or 6 minutes left , cork looked shattered , measure that over 70 minutes and cork will beat anyone

munsterlegend

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123376004#Comment_123376004

Not sure fitness is the issue. The game today was decided by going to 14 men. Chasing 15 in the modern game is very difficult and a breeze behind Clare too. Our impact off the bench was poor though and Downey at centre back clearly had an injury which was another big loss.

namloc1980

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123375903#Comment_123375903

Yes we were too soft. Now we've gone the other way with fellas getting sent off. Clare goaded Cork yesterday and we over reacted. It's not the first time either so I'm afraid lessons aren't being learned. We beat Limerick last year, great. But now we seem to have a problem getting over Clare. 5 championship games now without a win over them, leaving massive leads slip. Cork need to win the All Ireland. Near misses and hard luck stories abound.

another36

Far too much nonsense online about diving and ref decisions which is ironic because a ref decision to overplay and give a free is what gave the 1 point.

The red was a red. Needless off the ball nonsense from both teams but the edge and line was crossed by the Cork player in that interaction.

The cork fans in Ennis yesterday were very confident before the game and rightly so they are following an incredible team and they know an All Ireland is coming for this team but it will have to be hard earned there isn't much between Munster teams on any given day.

Did the sending off give Clare an advantage - of course it did but Cork were 9 points ahead at that point they will have to examine their own play to see how they gave up that lead even with a man down.

Cork are an incredible skillful fast and confident team - they are a dream to watch and very dangerous when in full flow. a concern that I seen a bit of in the league final and was evident yesterday is a habit of going out of games for periods and the contrast in their play becomes very stark. To let Clare get 3 goals in the second half and not score a goal shows how stark the contrast can be.

Still some question marks around them but there is also questions to be answered from a few other teams.

Long road to July and I suspect a few surprises to come.

The White Feather

Well, yesterday was eventful wasn't it?!!

I was watching the game at home but on call for work when I got a call at the 70th min. Had to get ready in 5 mins and leave but just saw Clare going 1 up and assumed that was the end of the game and left. I was already pushing my luck to stay a few mins! So I was in a bad mood in the car and thought that will really hurt us going forward, we didn't hang on or even get a draw. Then I turn on the radio in car to hear we got a draw!! I was ecstatic!

So it depends on how you look at things. I though we got beaten and couldn't believe we got a draw. It is a great result and shows character to come from the death. That is a great sign going forward. Exact opposite of if we got beaten. You can look at it, that we went haywire in the second half and threw away a big lead which catching up on the thread seems to be what people think. I don't agree with that at all. The sending off had a massive bearing on the game. We lost our shape and got in all a muddle. It happens but I think we will learn from this. Clare is a very tough place to go and we haven't won there in ages. The important thing is we didn't lose.

We need to keep our eye on the prize and remember the home games are most important. They have to be won. So I think this a point gained for us and a point lost for Clare. The sending off looked a bit iffy to me but once you react, you are in trouble. So you can't really complain about it. As others have said, Clare rightly turned it into a dogfight as they had to and we played into their hands. It ended up a perfect storm for them. Wind at their backs, Cork down to 14, at home and Downey injured who is so good in the air. But…..after all that's said and done, they still didn't beat us.

Donal Og said it at halftime correctly. Don't allow any goals and we will see it out. We rallied after they got a few scores to push it out to 9 but then came the sending off. So it was pivotal. Barrett is such a workhorse and we lost all that. What was interesting is that linesman saw that incident, but didn't see a Clare player picking the ball up from the ground and they getting a point from it! It seemed as clear as day and was close to his side!! I found it very odd Hoggie was taken off but maybe he had an injury. What annoyed me a great deal was the push by a Clare player on Pat Ryan. He should have been booked for that as there was no call for it.

Looking back at the end sequence when I got home from work late last night, its great to see us still going to the death. Most teams would have folded and said lets go home. We kept going and Joyce epitomised everything by being way up the pitch looking for an equaliser and getting fouled. That said a lot about this team. Remember we went to the All Ireland winners home and didn't get beaten. Imagine if they were hammering us and we got a goal and a point to squeeze out a draw, everyone would be saying wow, great to get a draw!

On another note, when I saw Quaid back for Limerick before their game, I thought straight away that Limerick and Tipp would be a lot closer than I originally thought. I know he is a phenomenal keeper and everyone would want him back but to bring him straight into the team made me think that they didn't have confidence in Dowling. To me, it just seemed that Kiely saw problems and wanted Quaid back in asap. If I was in the Tipp camp, I would be saying that in the dressing room anyway whether it was true or not! I still thought Limerick would win so it means that Limerick are not as far ahead as I thought and Tipp are not as far back as I thought. Timely as we need to be ready for next weekend but we will have a full house of mostly Cork supporters and we need to win it as its a home game.

Again though, trust the process. We have been playing very well and we just need to replicate our recent performances. You can't legislate for sending offs but we can aim to produce what we were doing up until then, again. Even when Clare went ahead at the death, it felt like we reset and went again for one last go. I didn't think that would happen! That leads me to be confident about the next day.

BarryNumber1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123375665#Comment_123375665

Game was over at 55 mins, after Barrett sending off it was about shoring it up and we made a balls of that. Cork had plenty opportunity of further scores which we missed, an open goal opportunity if I'm not mistaken and the D didn't support Downey enough in the closing minutes. More disappointment rather than anything else we didn't manage a win in Ennis.

Maybe Cork can take a hint from Clare in do-anything-it-takes to get over the line. Clare did whatever was needed, and some credit has to go to them for the huge shift they put in as well.

Onwards

BarryNumber1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123376385#Comment_123376385

Erra we'll see how smart Clare are in a few weeks against Limerick.

The White Feather

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123377062#Comment_123377062

With all due respect, Clare didn't get over the line yesterday. They didn't win at home, with the wind in second half, an extra man and the defence couldn't help Downey in the closing minutes as he was taken off around the 45th min. Clare went a point up in injury time and couldn't see it out.

We must all remember it is still in our hands with the home games. It was great to hear Pat Ryan keeping his head after the game talking about how its a marathon not a sprint. The biggest loser yesterday was Waterford. They need to get something from their opening game at home against Clare. Everyone else are now a point up on them before they begin. If they beat Clare, they are ahead of them after 1 game with Clare having played 2. So a lot depends on what happens!

Today in Camogie, Cork won the U23 Munster Championship Final against Tipp after extra time. I think this was an inaugural event.

Cork 3-15 Tipperary 0-14 AET

And before the match yesterday, the seniors beat Clare in the Munster Semi Final

Clare 0-10 Cork 2-22

JanuarySnowstor

Quite a few would disagree and believe it was a great result for Waterford! One win and they're top of the charts!!

BarryNumber1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123377602#Comment_123377602

Other Downey. Rob should have been taken off before 1/2 time, he was not able to track back whatever was wrong with him. Was at the game so quite aware of the ladies brilliant performance. We were fecking haunted to get that draw. Has to be seen as a point left after us considering the lead and being in great shape up to the 55 min mark. We might need that point later in the championship. No guarantees with the home games either.

What else was Pat going to say? For sure in our hands, but we need to be smarter with our game management.

The_Kew_Tour

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123377058#Comment_123377058

If I was Cork management I would print this out and give it to the players.

I can be half glass empty type guy especially last 4 or 5 years on both codes and I'm sure it's noticed in my posting here at times.

I think we actually reacted very well to two quick Clare goals. They got 2-1 without reply and we managed to actually go four points further up for what 15 minutes or so till sending off.

14 men and possibly our best back going off would kill many teams. Think the wind was bigger factor than what tv suggested.

I was surprised though that we took off as many forwards as we did. I think looking back we handed it to Clare really.

The famous saying you learn more from when you lose and while we didn't lose and got valuable point hopefully lessons will be learned.

The main positive is that no real damage is done and it was not a knockout game.

Another plus was the first half seems be forgotten by many. Cork were simply sensational for first 35 minutes. Missed 3 more goal chances also (do appreciate Clare missed 4 or 5 bad wides also).

We have to be clever though. We are still extremely naive at times and sending off was typical example of that.

Funny enough I think the play acting by Clare players actually cost them the win. This is not dig at Clare BTW. I think they 100% did right thing in rattling us and getting into our faces but I think they wasted too much time in doing it too which cost them momentum when they were lifting.

I thought physically we matched Clare. Seen big improvement in that department. We won lot one on ones going for long balls on ground.

I also see nobody mention the Clare plsyer attacking the Cork manager. What player was it again? Heard it was done twice during game.

I hope Cork players remember that. We need go toe to toe. A **** you attitude is needed.

hans aus dtschl

I couldn't get a ticket but here's my thoughts:

I think Clare have Cork figured out: get in close and physical and Cork will come out second best. The sending off was warranted and partly bad luck, but Cork simply can't afford to allow their opponents to dictate the type of game.

The ref certainly did Cork a favour with the added time for a free. But on the other hand the whole second half really smacked of "wouldn't it be great if it was close". I felt Gordon lost control of the game right after the over-the-shoulder chop on Fitzgibbon (clear on goal, likely to get a point) followed by a Clare player (I forget who) picking it clean off the floor for a point. Immediately after that the whole thing descended into wrestling and our group chat was ringing with "he's lost control of the game here, there will be cards for everyone now". But crucially, Cork lost control of the game right around that point too. From there on Clare were flying it and I think even before the red card the tide had turned in Clare's favour. Maybe not on the scoreboard, but in the way the game was being played, it was loads of wrestling and close physical fighting. Did that coincide with Cork making a change maybe? Or an injury? Whatever it was, the open free-flowing game was dead, and Clare were on top.

The red then caused Cork more problems.

Final note: I've read that Tipp and Limerick fans were widely shouting for Clare on Sunday, the all Ireland champions. I find that strange, but it should tell you that the "poor oul Clare shur they probably deserve an All Ireland" underdog story is back in full flow!

BarryNumber1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123379144#Comment_123379144

They won't be shouting for them in a few weeks time 😀

hans aus dtschl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123379352#Comment_123379352

Yeah seems naive to me, I think Clare will only improve as the season progresses.

BarryNumber1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123379405#Comment_123379405

We'll have to wait and see, I'm equally looking forward to seeing how Clare cope with Tipp and of course Limerick. Tipp have some lively players from their winning U20s from a few years ago and Limerick are a bit more experienced with handling Clare and their backs won't put up with any nonsense. I expect skin and hair flying at that game.

Glenomra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123379144#Comment_123379144

As a Clareman commenting, I don't think that tipperary and Limerick supporters shouting for clare was based on any level of affection for us. I have never experienced that affection in decades attending munster championship games!!! Rather, it was the combination of the dramatic comeback plus a reaction of so many supporters, to so many commentators, plus paddy power , deciding that cork will win the all Ireland before a sliotar is pucked in the championship.

another36

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123379561#Comment_123379561

Hit the nail on the head!

hans aus dtschl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123379561#Comment_123379561

Yeah it's a weird one from my perspective. There's definitely two different things going on: what people inside Cork are saying/feeling and what the media / people not in Cork are saying / feeling.

Shane McGrath on RTE had Tipp as favourites for the league final, whereas nobody I know thought that. There was no obvious form there for Tipp to work from. Most Cork fans I know thought we should be able to get a result there.

And on the other side Dalo was going on about "shur poor oul Clare and Limerick haven't a hope this year atall atall with Cork just so good" even though it was only league and both sides had been playing with loads of injuries. Everyone I know was much more cautious. I had plenty people tell me that a win in Ennis would be very hard to come by.

I thought (and still think) Cork's best opportunities against Clare and Limerick are early in the Championship. I expect both of these sides to come out strongly as Championship progresses. And that would be considered an "optimistic" view from people I know.

This notion that "Cork fans think they've the all Ireland won" is just some mad media thing. I don't think it's accurate at all. Maybe they think that fans filling stadiums means they expect wins or something? Far from it, most people I know will go if Cork are competitive.

Of course you'll always get odd fellas bragging and the likes, but it's so boring to hear this "Cork fans think they have it won" jibberish YET AGAIN. The media have been at this since 2005 now, and what has been won exactly? It's tiresome.

ZhangAnda

Dalo's guff is tiresome. With his wife's pub in wesht Clare and his podcasht.

About time Cork GAA fans gave both a wide berth.

Nothing more than a banter merchant and a bad one at that.

FWIW Landers is as bad.

Straight Talker

I still feel that was a game we should've won but as has already been pointed out, Clare were at home and we were down to 14 men and our best back went off injured yet Clare still couldn't beat us.

Some people are blabbering away about the media and Paddy Power etc but all we can do is focus on getting our own house in order. I couldn't care less about any of that other outside noise!

I don't know if it was a case of Limerick being off form or Tipp showing great improvement but Tipperary are a proud hurling county, and after the last few championship games with them and the league final they'll feel that they owe us a beating.

So we just need to knuckle down and win our two home games. Waterford are always capable of claiming a scalp or two as well. Winning our two home games should be enough to get through to the next stage without requiring a result in Limerick.

Straight Talker

If only the footballers had someone like Steven Sherlock the other night. In my twenty five or so years watching Cork football teams, the story all too often really is us not being able to take our chances or having to work very hard for them at least.

Meanwhile Kerry just keep on producing free scoring forwards off their production line. We obviously just aren't producing enough of the quality players required for senior intercounty level from underage.

I reckon we should go outside the county when looking for the next manager for the senior footballers as well. I think being still stuck on single digits in terms of senior all Irelands as well as not winning anything for over a decade, is proof enough that we need to open ourselves up to new ideas from elsewhere.

The White Feather

Cork U20 team to play Limerick tomorrow night. It's live on TG4 too

The_Kew_Tour

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123380748#Comment_123380748

Agree with outsider but I also think we need look at the underage structures. I think it's kinda nearly embarrassing we have produced so little footballers past decade even longer really.

The worry is that have we the desire to do it. And do County Board simple have money.

We might need a JP of our own soon.

Bot1

Just to go back to the result on Sunday.

The sending off was absolutely critical.

At the 56 min Cork had weathered the storm from Clare, scored three points in a row and were back to a lead of 8 points.

They were winning their own puck outs and the forward 6 (bar Harnedy) still looked very dangerous and had roasted the Clare backs the entire game!

Then suddenly as Duignan pointed out, that front 6 was gone (except for Hayes).

Barrett off, Hoggy sub, Connolly sub, Harnedy sub, Fitz to the backline.

Too much change - the management must take responsibility for this! Also the subs didn't really work, apart from maybe Dalton.

Also not he situation to be bringing on Kingston or the young Healy. They should have gone with a scapper like Tommy.

Credit to Kingston and Joyce for engineering the final free, that showed balls!

Better discipline and I fancy Cork to have a crack off Clare in the future! I hope we get there!!

On to Tipp!

zetecescort

slow start from the u20's, conceded a goal in the opening minute and Limerick on top for the opening spell. Timmy Wilk goal and 5 or 6 points from Barry Walsh has us 3 up after 20 min

zetecescort

much better 2nd 15 min, Cork 1-13 Limerick 1-8 HT. Wilk and Walsh doing really well

The White Feather

Great response after the awful start. The 2 Barrys up front look very good. Around 3 yellow cards for Limerick lads so they need to be careful in the second half. Not a fan of cards being given out freely at this level as most are honest and they are not going to get it all right.

ShamoBuc

Once we settled, we were the better team/ The 2 Barrys and Timmy seem to be sticking out. Our forwards seem to have the beating of their men anytime they get on the ball. We need to run at them every chance we get in the second half.