AHEAD OF THE ALL Ireland hurling final, here are the key areas of performance that both Cork and Clare will be seeking to influence and build a platform to win.
1. The puckout wars
Two citóg goalkeepers. Patrick Collins and Cork have settled on a hyper-modern version of #LeaveItFly puckouts where he booms them off his left side and give it enough wellie to reach the D on the other side. If it worked against Limerick, twice, well then.
At the start of the championship, this facet was being written up as a huge weakness of their game. Now, it’s categorised as a weapon.
Eibhear Quilligan is a left hand on top and striking off the right kinda guy, and he’s making no apologies for it. In the round two game in Munster, he rained ball down on top of Peter Duggan, who had Tim O’Mahony trying to wrassle him, to no avail.
Both Collins and Quilligan will use their house style until the chess pieces are moved around and they are forced to adapt.
2. Hammering the hammer
An All Star from last season in defence, to go along with his one achieved in the forward ranks, there have been few players that Clare fans fall so hard for as John Conlon.
In the first encounter in Munster he held Shane Barrett scoreless, but Barrett clicked into an outrageous seam of form since then and in the All Ireland semi final hit three points from play.
It might make more sense for Conlon to be on Declan Dalton, but Clare manager Brian Lohan will be reluctant to let Cork dictate their shape.
On the other hand, it won’t have gone unnoticed by Clare how Limerick players took turns at exploiting Mark Coleman under Nickie Quaid’s puckout. Tom Morrissey, Shane O’Brien all won balls this way while he fouled Gearóid Hegarty and Cathal O’Neill while waiting under the dropping ball. Expect Peter Duggan to dander over into that general postcode.
3. Don’t foul gaddammit!
On Sunday, 7 July, Patrick Horgan found himself in a peculiar situation. TJ Reid was gone from the championship, knocked out by Clare.
That night, Reid hit 0-7, to take his overall championship tally to 706 points. Various assurances were given from anyone who knew that man that Horgan’s pre-match tally of 699 meant absolutely nothing to him.
But all the same, Patrick Horgan went in at half time still to break the 700 point mark. He was involved in a half goal chance when he received a quick free but then stumbled, gave it off to Brian Hayes but it was disallowed incorrectly for an illegal handpass.
Horgan would run his championship tally to 704 in the second half, but he is fortunate he has Declan Dalton to take the long range frees that – when missed – can sap the confidence.
Clare are not perfect in the free taking front, but Aidan McCarthy has shown remarkable accuracy in his last game when he regained a starting berth for the Kilkenny game.
4. Goal lust
Hurling doesn’t need another classic to justify itself, but the early indications are that we are heading for one all the same.
In the last three games, the average shots per game has been Clare 40, Cork 36.
In their round 2 game in Munster, it finished 3-26 to 3-24 in Clare’s favour at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Cork had been seven points up. Clare reeled it all back in and shot back to go six points up. Both defences were absolutely pulverised.
When it came to majors, both teams were ravenous. Cork more so. Of the 13 goal chances created nine. Clare had four and shot 75% of their share. Some of that was down to Seán O’Donoghue’s red card after two yellows, allowing Shane O’Donnell more latitude.
Big game hunting. They will both be at it this Sunday.
5. The replacements
When it comes to the substitutes’ bench, neither side have been shooting the lights out.
There was one notable exception on either side. With the sun hot in the Thurles sky, Shane Kingston came off the bench for Cork and hit four beautifully struck points. Just how much freedom he had to execute those shocks will live long in the Tipperary psyche, but we’re not here to talk about them.
Altogether, they gathered up 1-11 from substitutes over seven championship games.
In Clare, they gradually brought Tony Kelly back into the fray and he hit 0-2 in the opening day against Limerick, a goal against Waterford, and 0-2 against Tipp.
All in, over the six games they have played, the bench has yielded 2-9.
Both sides will look to bump that up considerably.
I think he’s right! But the stable door has long since closed on that one.
I look forward to hearing what Gary Neville has to say about the Catholic church’s position on marriage. It will be approximately as relevant.
I thought that would have been in the running for comment of the week. Just goes to show.
Quality comment!
About as relevant as yours
Pope warns against money in football from his gold throne.
So true. the man lives in a palace and I imagine it costs a fortune to send him around the world to wave
Actually, this Pope doesn’t. He has moved to an apartment which was previously used by staff. I’m no fan of the Catholic church but at least blame them for what they are guilty of.
Grand so, Padraig McHale
Their are guilty of:
- covering up sex abuse of children for decades
- Fast tracking John Paul ii to saint hood even though he was the man heavily involved in cover ups for 25 years!
- In 2014 refusing to co-operate with UN investigation
- Refusing to compensate abuse victims
- Trying to influence Irish Government legislation by threatening our government ministers that if they don’t vote a certain way they’d be banned from communion.
- Silencing priests with progressive views such as, priests should be allowed to marry, gay marriage should be allowed etc
The Catholic church are hardly in a position to lecture anyone in relation to rights and wrongs in this world.
Who is?
I completely agree Michael. That was precisely my point!!
*Martin, not Michael obviously.
“Actually, this Pope doesn’t” <- whether he lives there or not, the Vatican is a fecken gold laden palace. How is he costing them less by living in yet another residence?
Why not go out and sell your car, computer, sky tv box etc if you’re so concerned about worldly possessions making people greedy and evil. Go live on a deserted island with little luxury and then come back on here and talk about pots and kettles. Although if you sell your expensive computers and other devices then that may be difficult.
Actually he doesn’t. He lives in a small room in a seminary with other priests and brothers. If you’re going to attack the man’s stance, at least do it with the truth.
Add being guilty of the deaths of thousands in Africa due to their stance on contraception
Agreed Mr Bishop,
But the man still has a point.
@John O’Call
“Why not go out and sell your car, computer, sky tv box etc if you’re so concerned about worldly possessions making people greedy and evil.”
Most people haven’t lied, raped, pillaged and murdered others for the computers/phones/homes/clothes etc that they own.
If he doesn’t indulge in the luxuries like his predecessor then fair play but he’s still head of the Catholic Church. Go to the Vatican and witness the opulence for yourself and then tell me this is the religion of charity!
It is most definitely not the religion of charity….but then what religion ever followed its own teaching? I do actually think this Pope is better than his predecessors but that’s not saying an awful lot really. The Vatican is still one giant bureaucracy and no one person can change it even if they really want to.
I don’t like the Catholic church one bit but you can hardly expect them to but the Vatican on Daft.ie or start flogging works of art on ebay ? Or can we.? *moves eyes shiftly * .
@Padraig McHale
Nice work. I’ve never seen an example of nested tu quoque fallacies before.
Thanks Jimbo. Appreciated.
He is guilty by association padraig
They could and should fold their tent and sell off everything and eradicate starvation worldwide
Pots and kettles
Yet our former pope would have taken the cash for an ole champions league blessing
Anything about the Money in Religion and charities?
I can’t believe it but I agree with the pope.
Pity he couldn’t have said that to the private interests in rugby before they destroyed one of its best competitions, the Heineken Cup, all in the name of greed.
I’d be more worried about the money in the Vatican! Maybe they should buy a football team just to add to the corruption! How about Plymouth Argyle otherwise known as the Pilgrims or maybe go straight for a PL club. The saints had a good year!!
The last few Popes would know a thing or two about football.John Paul 2 was a goalkeeper but he and the repugnant Benedict were Defenders! Defenders of paedophiles.
The Vatican and all its wealth and pomp are the polar opposite of the alleged teachings of Jesus.
Lets see P.R Pope do a Bill Gates and donate the Vatican Billions.
Too late popey – far too late.
I chuckle to myself everything I see your profile name and photo :-)
*everytime
Vatican
Keeper – of wealth
Defenders – of filth
Midfield engines – of Propaganda
Attackers – of critics
When he and his cronies honour their supposed vow of poverty I’ll listen…..until then best to say nowt Popemeister!
http://www.nytimes.com/…/vatican-suspends-german-bishop-known-for-spendin…;
What vow of poverty? Only applies to some priests.
Money in football = bad
Money for systematically raping children = fine
He’s only discovering this now?
I’m warning the pope against money in the church. Three collections in one mass Francis, THREE!
I’d much rather see people be greedy in sport than greedy in the drugs business. Sport is a nice, safe place for greed, IMO.
Greed is bad everywhere.
Is Martin bishop a bishop just asking
Careful ladies James Franco is here. What’s the next statement from the church? Opinion on current state of music scene? Maybe a statement about good holiday destinations. Can someone please tell that the world is considerably better educated than it was a couple of 100 years ago they are no longer relevant and we know hypocrites when we see them.
Of course he is right. We need the fA to step in and hand Liverpool the title. Whether by linesman, or maximum 20 million plus player quotas.
I see the red thumbers. Good day to our American brethren.
I wish he told them to stop diving trying to cheat , not that the Vatican can preach to anyone, at least not yet
You see the problem with arsenal is that they just walk the ball into the net
The more I hear from this pope the more I like him, let’s hope he lasts in the oldest corporation in the world.
Trying to close another stable door long after that particular horse has bolted a long time ago.
Barrys or lyons lads? That’s the question!
Even il papa is on Napoli’s side.