Cork GAA Discussion Thread

Pos087 wrote: »

Waterford are moving in the right direction but in my opinion won't be play in September for a few years at best. Gleason could be a great hurler but made a lot of mistakes today that experience will help with and while Morris shannahan is prob great to have on the panel for his passion and getting the crowd going once in awhile he is never going to score more than a couple of point a game. On a positive for Waterford they have a great spirit and this will carry them a good bit

Probably agree with much of that. From what i can see and hear from home they are ahead of plan and unreasonable expectations are already surfacing.
I did feel proud of them today but at the same time the age old issue of scoring goals was at the back of my mind....Still though it was gratifying to see them fighting for every inch and every single ball....On the up hopefully.
If we beat you next time out ....i'll be glad to be away as the expectations will hit crazy levels.......

Eoin Cadogan is not going to be prised from the footballers at this stage so they're stuck with Maccy fullback. SO'N badly needs a run at wingback.

sean mac wrote: »

Great win, a huge win. Destroyed Dublin at midfield and our half back line was excellent. Cahalane wont do, sorry lads but his hurling is way off, perhaps he was carrying an injury again but Dublin ****ed up big time in the second half by not putting a man on him and hitting ball down to him.
Surely john Cronin is on the panel? we need hard ball winners like him in this team as agains tbetter cuter teams we wont get away with these starts/fade outs as tipp showed in the league already.
Let there be no doubt about no 14 either ffs, paidi o Sullivan is a big game player and will get goals, ofarrell despite being on the panel as long as paidi is simply blown out of it in games like this and totally ineffective.
Mark ellis will make a huge difference to that defence when he is back also.

Would agree big time Cahalane is not the answer to our full back problem and jbm has a lot to think about in this area, we showed a great amount of heart but missed Ellis and Murphy in the half back line. Kearney at midfield is working is socks off and I thought O'Shea did okay, Cooper tries hard but we need more and surely O'Sullivan is a better option than O'Farrell. Finally Hoggie and harmedy were outstanding, lehane got 4 points but we need more from him which is strange to say but we need him to be involved more.

Mountainlad wrote: »

Was wondering where the leadership was going to come from, I think Harnedy was the one really more so than Horgan. Even in the first half he was driving them on and he shipped a bad belt too. Dublin seemed to measure the ball a lot better, they played great ball into the forwards and they seem to have the talent up there this year to exploit that.

Big difference was Cork's workrate came on massively in the second half. To be honest, ye were abject first half and as great as the comeback was ye won't get away with the first half performance and expect to win big games going forward. Aidan Walsh was much more comfortable on the wing, so I think ye missed Ellis center back though jury is probably out on him a bit still. The ball ye were playing to the forwards was often a bit high too I thought, not as measured as Dublin's play was.

Where I think Dublin went wrong was retreating second half. It was ridiculous seeing anyone of 5 Cork backs being able to collect the ball at the end of the second half and find a man. The impetus was completely with them, I'd say they'll be kicking themselves. Should be a good game in two weeks time.

Huge achilles heel of cork is full back
Waterford have a dilemma in to attack cork weakest spot have to play a three man full forward line as play just two creates extra cork defender so he cover likes cahalane etc
Cork need to win a title but I can't see cork showing too much for that game
Hope I'm wrong but it could be one sided game tame affair who ever wins could win easily
Who wants win it more is key
Ellis and particularly Murphy key for cork in Murphy is good at long range points and given he'll win lot ball he own half ability score long distance could be crucial to cork
Waterford be fair showed huge intensity them, was that them at full throttle??

Dublin invited cork on them I agree but Waterford done same v tipp late on and Waterford style is to allow opponents have lot ball in defence

I think cork have to improve to beat KK etc but Waterford have problems too so imo it is debatable are they strong enough expose cork problems

So anyone gonna answer the question of why Conor Sull left the panel?

Connorzee wrote: »

So anyone gonna answer the question of why Conor Sull left the panel?

I don't think there's any great question, I'd imagine that he just felt he wasn't getting enough of a chance

Connorzee wrote: »

So anyone gonna answer the question of why Conor Sull left the panel?

Just wasn't getting game time which is fair enough when you have o Neill and Mcdonnell ahead of you

However I feel for the guy hugely in other sense in imo will kearney fine club player but as proven Waterford crystal and yesterday not exactly tight defender and against limerick Waterford crystal and imo sullivan who performances all Ireland final brilliant and plays sweeper free man brilliant is far better defender and I geuinely don't see why he was called up to the panel when Burke there to cover also

Understandable imo why sullivan would feel he'd walk away
I wish him the best
Unlike cian mac who also left imo who fine player club but not inter county best option for cork sullivan had lot to offer cork and I think cork will miss sullivan
Outstanding player in he time for cork

Orizio wrote: »

...John Gardiner doing what? Carrying water bottles?

Too late now but it's reasonable in fact quite reasonable to say that even though may not be answer fully at full back certainly much much much better than o Neill or Mcdonnell who outstanding corner backs but imo no good under high ball and gardiner at least knows play square where other two are corner backs by trade instinct is play the ball ist
Gardiner certainly wouldn't be carrying water bottles with cork
It wont happen but considering limited options cork have as an outside chance if it was done I wouldn't oppose it


This is not like recall niall moran limerick when firstly fine player but never great I mean great big game player and also limerick better forward options

Take gardiner
Who else have cork got
Alan deenhy deserves call up but outside that options are slim
Spillane injured
Joyce injured
Cahalane struggling injury
Sheehan eirns own would been imo a man I'd call up last year but unavailable now

Colm Barry injured last year under twenty one full back imo better half back

Young gunning doing the leaving would be options but for that
Ellis not full back but only option but injured also

This is unlike cork football midfield shambles in cork actually have better midfield players not getting game time
Be fair cork hurling management this year full back not their fault and like munster rugby seem have awful injury luck solving centre problems

Cork years ago due injury robbed outstanding prospects darragh Rodgers, Spillane then injured and now Joyce
This year injury went against cork
Again yesterday cork opened up at ease at full back
Limerick or Waterford may not have the management to expose cork full back problems but make no mistake tipp or KK will do so if they meet

Richmond Ultra wrote: »

Lack of game time. Sure Cork made two substitutions involving defenders in the entire league. Eamon Murphy has a brilliant article on it today in the echo.

Good read all credit due to him who at times imo articles are brilliant reads and piece on balloncollg last year was absolutely top top notch





One point imo regards sullivan is you can hardly blame guy for walking when cadogan last year no training done at all really hurling wise was not even. Hurling much Douglas carried on match day panel and now the likes others ahead sullivan if. I was in was shoes I'd be feeling the same

Wayne sherlock omission cork team raised questions in 2006 under Allen in my view
It's fair to judge as great as he is jbm now the same with defender quality o sullivan gone
My view could be wrong,but is not only sullivan not starter but actually fell outside subs when other corner backs got game time that imo not as proven top performers in big games as sullivan
With sullivan gone Stephen Murphy should get call up but it seems kearney is in contention for a place on panel


Natural sullivan imo be questioning the situation
One thing be dropped for place behind calibre Mcdonnell or o Neill two proven corner backs
But when you fall behind others it's questionable imo


I'd questions sullivan dropping down pecking order with any manager so as great as jbm is imo it's certainly decision that be questioned how sullivan was over looked over others



People often say critics are too hard when all do judge players on performance but what is often lost is other lads like sullivan who do everything asked proven performances yet all due respect other players like will kearney not same standard as him get game time
Sullivan performances all Ireland final were immense


Imo sarafields had four lads on cork team last year and imo was gesture over county championship when only two were up to its in Daniel kearney who is outstanding player and sullivan




Huge worrying is Shane o Neill who huge fan of unfortunately form is poor but I blame management for this in confidence rocked from not once but twice played out position full back and twice v tipp and clare been destroyed
You can't blame o Neill in he was never ever a full back
The lads confidence imo is rocked but fact management imo didn't do him justice I'd stick with him and tell him their fault not he's and he's not bad player and never ever ever ever play full back cork again
I do agree though that's he playing poorly that would merit dropping
But I just think management need to stay with him
Mcdonnell suffered same fate v KK after last league final and when destroyed at full by Larkin took him while recover
Normal imo even great player like o Neill question himself after poor performance so imo need time as outstanding corner back
I certainly wouldn't play him half back as he can't not dominate in the air
If cork even have hint playing him full back imo he's better not to start as imo nothing worse seeing great player look poor due playing out of position


Full back I said this last two years is a specialist position
Even great Brian cocran imo wouldn't be natural full back or was great great Brian Murphy
A full back doesn't have to be the most natural hurler , he needs man square and be aggressive and great in the air






Killan Murphy was very good most challenge and league games cork last year then dropped harshly imo yet cadogan last year due to dualism was carried imo wrongly panel due past reputation
Cadogan had limited training and game time yet Murphy fully commitment dropped without having bad games
He could play corner or half back


That's imo poor judgement from management


Cormac Murphy should then made match day panel v tipp but didn't yet cadogan did when Murphy outstanding challenge v wexford in KK and limerick in charville
And cork under twenty ones and intermediate team should been on the panel
But no cadogan made it
Now I'm huge cadogan fan as full back football but no way imo is he hurling best cork has now




Point is some players it'd fair say got mot sane chances as others
Cadogan, this talk imp is full back for cork is imo not true and bar man match display debut v tipp I could list many games where he was poor for cork and people seem forget the game v tipp three years ago when despite all he's aggression and athletic ability bonner maher cleaned him out
He is not a tip class full back and while possibly better than Mcdonnell o Neill imo certainly not better than cahalane even struggling


Egan was questioned last year for commitment and focus and correctly so mid summer and had it sorted with cork management but how in name of hurling can you question commitment some when you carried three dual players and then mark Collins was added training last year after football with no hurling done cork all year at any level years


Not imo great barometer to set

I'm a huge huge fan jbm, delighted he stuck another term and cork hurling owes him so so much and as manager in 95 and 99 was brilliant and since cunningham went Dublin only best man for cork
However there's no denying imo certain players have not got many chances yet others get game after game on panel place yet not doing it and poor judgement at times in cooper should been called up during last year league but wasn't til late
Darren Mccarthy got a call up as a forward when in truth fine club player but never a forward and the player probably loose place cork panel over tried there
Mccarthy feel for in club need him as forwards but goal keeper best position



John cronin was immense cork intermediate hurling last year and every cork dual team played he wears heart on sleeve, gets great season cit again
Ist game v Laois he was brilliant in challenge so much jbm praised him yet couldn't even make subs yesterday
If injured fair enough if not makes no sense


Overall moral is in great in cork camp and management overall have done very good so far and deserve credit however leading in to June there's stills huge concerned imo over the panel as a while and there's four players while there great club players, have shown commitment cork and passion unfortunately this is about winning senior all Ireland and like cody when dropped a real talent in carter ruthless calls must be made
Its harsh but that elite sport
Cody doesn't do sentiment as great ex coach KK dempsy said in Denis Walsh great book hurling revolution years many years ago
He said cody was once not prepared make hard calls but soon changed


Jbm thankfully can be ruthless and has shown it at times, imo at times he's ruthless with wrong players and not so ruthless with others
Great managers make calls that are harsh like gatland with driscoll and cody and Fitzmauirce with kerry
Cork have no choice but to make hard calla for championship and I think if few dropped certainly a few no one could say they hadn't a chance
Cian mcarthy imo I don't blame management he had plenty of games
But others are simply not performing imo at the level required

Osullivan left due to lack of game time and considering William keraney was ahead of him for most of the league I would have too if I was him. We are now carrying a full back line with a shane oneill in decline (btw confidence destroyed from being left isolated at full back against shane o donnell and callinan), cahalane who is playing terrible, Kearney very doubtful if up to standard and probably MacDonnell our best defender to fit in at 3 for the championship. That's a line that's wafer thin, can killina burke fill in at corner back? Considering we dropped killian murphy last year who imo is a decent player I think an effort should have been to retain osullivan.
Squad wise especially in defence we have big issues. Imo on all known form we have a decent half back line especially with the excellent ellis in it but full back in particular and the 2 corner back positions remain an issue.

thinkstoomuch1 wrote: »

Against Dublin in all Ireland Semi final two years ago Mcdonnell was at fault for the goal in he never stood tall and defended like full back

Murphy v clsre twice league that year beaten for goals

O Neill numerous times can't stand tall in Galway league in Galway two years ago cleaned two goals then v clare all Ireland three then two last year v tipp

None these players stand tall in stane ground force defenders go wide but they lack presence great jj the great riche mac have

That not mean not strong players
O Neill imo is one best back break tackle with ball and like wise is o donnell
Bit strong going forward and defending strong manly style two different concepts

Like Denis hurley munster rugby players can run strong going forward but he can't defend as strong as centre
Put him on the wing or full back he's fine


Worry is cork had already problems full back and imo fear created another one
Why was kearney added with o Neill sullivan Mcdonnell and Burke there
Sullivan quite rightly must thought the same

No doubt neither O'Neill or Maccie have the physical presence of those names you mentioned but they do generally bring a level of aggression to their defending that wasn't there in the Cork back line in first half on Sunday. Either way, there's no denying 2nd goal especially wasn't anywhere near good enough for the levels we need to get to.

I very much agree with the second part though. There seems to be a lack of balance on the panel in that there's several corner backs, one recognised full back and then a shortage of half backs. Maccie, Killian Burke and Aidan Walsh having to fill in there in the last couple of games does nobody any favours.

CORKDOUBLE wrote: »

Conor Sull very disappointed hes gone a brilliant reader of the gane and so calm in position always reminds me of Wayne THE GREAT Sherlock ....Whats the story with Colm Spillane is he still injured ? also William Egan should be recalled has a bit of experience now ...and I wonder could Dublins Dotsy O Callaghan ring his first cousin Ballyheas Pa O Callaghan and ask him to join the Cork panel ! what a shame that talent is not playing county hurling..does anyone know if he will play county u21 this year ?

Pa doesn't want play senior inter county hurling so he's decisions at end of the day
Doubtful if play under twenty one hurling
Spillane has unfortunately serious injury problems and bar that was senior players imo as inter county written all over him
Superb in the air such that played half forward intermediate last year as due injury lost yard pace but when moved centre back he was outstanding
Only for injury imo would be cork full back and would be fine one imo

Figsy32 wrote: »

No doubt neither O'Neill or Maccie have the physical presence of those names you mentioned but they do generally bring a level of aggression to their defending that wasn't there in the Cork back line in first half on Sunday. Either way, there's no denying 2nd goal especially wasn't anywhere near good enough for the levels we need to get to.

I very much agree with the second part though. There seems to be a lack of balance on the panel in that there's several corner backs, one recognised full back and then a shortage of half backs. Maccie, Killian Burke and Aidan Walsh having to fill in there in the last couple of games does nobody any favours.

The panel is unbalanced as you say. Imo it's party as a consequence of years of inept management at underage level.

Any lad who had the physical strength to play these positions but was deemed too awkward or their hurling was too raw and replaced by lads with nice hurling.

We didn't have the patience or ability coaching wise with our underage teams to develop or nature these type of players.

Nothing wrong with silky skilful hurlers of course...but there has to be a balance if the balance isn't put in place down ranks then you'll end up with the shortfall we see presently imo.

Do you have the teams Corkdouble?