1. Cork show fight for the battle
The fallout from their Munster final loss against Kerry saw the Cork footballers forced to ship plenty criticism for their display. Yesterday against Galway was a measure of what response they could summon up.
They did not chart a smooth course to success with Galway’s defensive sweeper and strong start to the second-half ensuring Cork hit choppy waters. They trailed by 0-13 to 0-8 in the 45th minute and were still three points down with nine minutes remaining.
However they stuck at it and showed fight for the battle. Their incessant attacks finally yielded a goal from Aidan Walsh, their substitutes all got up to the speed of the match quickly and players like Pearse O’Neill and Ciaran Sheehan became dominant figures at the finish.
There was a defiance to Cork’s play in the second-half when the game got tricky, that was redolent of their 2010 Round 4 success against Limerick. Dublin’s challenge is more imposing next week but entering that tie after a type of victory like yesterday’s should be beneficial to Cork.
INPHO/Donall Farmer
2. Cavan step things up in the second-half
Yesterday was unchartered territory for this group of Cavan footballers. They featured in a senior football championship game in Croke Park for the first time with the county not having lined out at the venue since 1997. Being raging-hot favorites at 1/33 was another tag they had to cope with.
They looked uncomfortable with that tag in the opening period as they struggled to replicate the heights they reached in last weekend’s exhilarating win over Derry in Celtic Park.
Cavan’s punishing recent schedule did affect them and nerves was something that manager Terry Hyland pointed to afterwards. But there was a professionalism with how Cavan shook off London’s challenge in the second-half. Martin Dunne and David Givney popped over points and Niall McDermott’s goal clinched their victory.
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
3. Galway lack the experience and depth to close out game
The Galway footballers were another embracing a new experience yesterday as the county’s senior football side lined out in Croke Park after a five-year absence. But they adapted quickly, matched the Rebels in all sectors in the first-half and had a shrewd defensive system to contain Cork’s attack.
Then after the break they kicked on with Paul Conroy lording midfield while Sean Armstrong and Michael Meehan produced the class to send them five points clear by the 45th minute. Cork fought back but Galway were still three points to the good with nine minutes left.
Their inability to close out the game from there could be traced to the inexperience of a team that is littered with players from recent triumphant U21 outfits. In contrast Cork are a hardened senior side and crucially they could wheel big guns off the bench to finish off the job.
It was tough for Galway to absorb but this defeat could be a vital one to file away for future learning. In comparison to their state after the loss to Mayo in May, their 2014 prospects look healthier.
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
4. London’s great adventure concludes
The London footballers have scant interest in condescending talk but they deserve immense credit for a 2013 campaign that conjured up a heap of memories spanning five games.
Their unprecedented run drew to an end in Croke Park yesterday but they did not lie down and succumb easily to Cavan. They were hit with a whirlwind start by Cavan but Paul Geraghty’s goal settled them and the likes of Cathal Magee and Ciaran McCallion picked off neat points.
They were level at half-time and only two points adrift by the 53rd minute but Cavan opened their shoulders to string together 1-4 without reply in the finale. London had no answer but they had plenty to take pride in afterwards and plenty to develop for next season.
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
5. Cork and Cavan turn their attentions to bigger tests
The two favorites triumphed in yesterday’s opening two encounters in Croke Park as Cork and Cavan booked their berths in next weekend’s quarter-finals. But the August Bank Holiday weekend in Gaelic football is like moving day in a golf Major tournament. The challenges are stark and greater.
Cork and Cavan will not need reminding of that as they consider next weekend’s opposition. Cork face a powerful Dublin side who have ticked every box in front of them in Jim Gavin’s debut season. Cavan meet a Kerry team that will carry more class, particularly in attack, than anything they have faced to date this year.
But it will be occasions they will relish. There will be a huge Cavan invasion of the capital as their fans enjoy the sheer novelty of still having a team to shout for at this stage of the year.
While Cork’s players have always spoke openly about their enjoyment of the raucous atmosphere in the 2010 All-Ireland semi-final. They’ll have to get used to that again when Croke Park rocks next Saturday night.
INPHO/Ryan Byrne
