For yet another Munster Championship, Cork appears to be on the brink of despair. It’s true that they have somewhat struggled to rebound from their disappointing start, exhibiting notable progress in their bout with Clare, but perhaps they should’ve taken more from it. However, this is the sunniest perspective you can adopt.
In the previous year, they were rather unfortunate, too. A defeat by a single point narrowly stopped them from holding back Limerick’s progress to the All-Ireland levels.
However, you cannot always blame misfortune. It’s necessary to look past the stories of bad luck. You either reach your desired place or you don’t, and a considerable part of that lies in your control.
Cork triumphed in three of the four most recent under-20 All-Irelands and appeared in five of the last six finals, starting from when it was under-21 before the qualifying age was lowered. Therefore, there were surprised reactions when the first team to face Waterford was announced.
The team still contained four players who began the 2013 All-Ireland: Damien Cahalane, Séamus Harnedy, Patrick Horgan and Conor Lehane. Cahalane and Lehane were swapped out for the Clare match but it is undeniable that Horgan and Harnedy were among the top performers for Cork that day.
This match was of excellent quality and full of goals. Clare came aiming for redemption after losing their hold on Limerick, but Cork managed to stay in the competition until the final whistle.
I’ve felt let down by Cork at various points over the last few years as I anticipated that the current middle-aged group would push on from promising beginnings.
The Colemans, Fitzgibbons, O’Mahonys, and Shane Kingston have a decent amount of experience by now but have typically had difficulties rescuing the team when needed. This year, Cork has once again given away goals and displayed a lack of pattern or strategy in their playing style – quite evident in the Waterford match.
They overused the ball in the outfield despite seeming to have a promising threat in the infield with Shane Barrett and particularly Alan Connolly, who certainly made a good impression.
The matter of discipline has become quite a hurdle. Progressing through the Munster hurling league is already a steep climb, yet Cork finds itself down two players, having had one red carded per game in matches that were already closely contested. One could argue that the dismissal of Cahalane in the match against Waterford was a little severe but for a veteran player with a pre-existing yellow card, this kind of behaviour was an avoidable gamble.
Team captain Seán O’Donoghue’s second unnecessary yellow card versus Clare was clear-cut, occurring right after a solid hook and when no threat was imminent. Consequently, in the succeeding six minutes, the Cork team let in two goals.
An event of note also occurred during this match. Around the 68th minute, David Reidy went after a ball tossed into the left corner, but lost hold of his stick and ended up kicking it off the pitch and into the tunnel in attempt to control it like a football player might.
Six of the Cork players, including the goalie Patrick Collins, rather than moving on, got caught up in a tussle with their Claire counterparts. The game could only resume after a delay of almost two minutes when both Reidy and Mark Coleman had been shown yellow cards. None of this was to Cork’s advantage. They were pressed for time and shouldn’t have been embroiled in a scuffle. Their priority should have been to get the game back on track as quickly as they could.
It seemed like the team as a whole was unduly rattled by decisions made by the referee during the match, which threw off the crowd as well. James Owens wasn’t very consistent post that point but this didn’t seem to affect Tipperary nor Waterford who coped better with the situation.
Such high-pressure situations are common given the youthful talent, large fan base and legacy that Cork has to live up to. It’s a burden of expectation that they should at least qualify from Munster.
However, it’s quite clear that this isn’t an easy feat taking into account that one can lose due to the smallest of margins – a point or a difference in the score level; game can swing in anyone’s favour over the slightest miscalculation – apart from Limerick, there’s a very fine line between the rest of the counties. This is exactly why SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh will be packed.
It’s not out of the realms of possibility for Cork to triumph over Limerick, given their near success last year. Their uninhibited style, particularly their propensity for running with the ball, causes the defending champions more difficulty than simply striking the ball down towards their formidable half-back line. Traditionally, Cork has a knack for unsettling the Limerick half backs, which is a significant advantage if accomplished.
However, Cork’s vulnerability in conceding goals is a concern. Peter Casey’s season-side-lining injury is a considerable blow for Limerick, but Aaron Gillane is still in good form and a serious threat on the inside run. Cork will need to improve their defence, especially after Shane O’Donnell and Mark Rodgers wreaked havoc in their last match.
Additional injury issues have not favoured Cork either. Ciarán Joyce’s absence leaves a gaping void in defence – his performance against Clare was nothing short of exceptional. Furthermore, Robbie O’Flynn’s ongoing health issues rob the team of a vital, swift forward who has always demonstrated immense potential.
On the other hand, Limerick, despite leading the league with maximum points, hasn’t had a stellar season as one might expect. They struggled for most of the Clare game and only emerged victorious due to self-inflicted errors on Clare’s part. Their match against Tipperary, whilst successful, wasn’t without its issues – they made unnecessary complications, suffered from a lack of precision, and Diarmaid Byrnes failed to convert his usual frees. They did end up winning, but they undoubtedly have room to improve.
Cork has an opportunity to capitalise on Limerick’s somewhat inconsistent form. The team should face their opponents head-on in a 15 versus 15 encounter without compromising control of the puckout or allowing Limerick to establish play from the back. Such an endeavour won’t be easy, given the physical demands of challenging Limerick at their own game. This calls for a full 23-man effort, as 15 alone won’t suffice.
Does Cork possess the necessary assets? Likely no, yet I don’t foresee a defeat resembling what Tipperary experienced. Limerick isn’t currently at peak performance, and Cork could possibly clinch a victory if they could reduce their nervousness, rectify rule-related concerns, and keep their calm under pressure. It might not be sufficient to convince me that Limerick will tumble – nevertheless, there stands a possibility.