All-Ireland SHC quarter-final
Cork v Kilkenny
Sunday, 2pm
Semple Stadium, Thurles
Ref: Barry Kelly, Westmeath
Latest from the medics and management….
The news from the Kilkenny camp ahead of tomorrow’s clash is significant as Ballyhale Shamrocks duo Henry Shefflin and Michael Fennelly return to the starting line-up.
There are three changes in personnel to the team that started against Waterford in phase 3 of the qualifiers as Cillian Buckley also returns, and will start alongside powerhouse Fennelly. Michael Rice, Matthew Ruth and Aidan Fogarty drop to the subs bench and manager Brian Cody has serious quality to call upon, if required.
Cody’s starting line-up contains 13 of the 15 that lined out against Galway in last year’s All-Ireland final replay, with Eoin Murphy and Colin Fennelly in for David Herity and TJ Reid.
Meanwhile, Cork manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy has made just the one change. Jamie Coughlan is named at corner forward, with Cian McCarthy dropping to the bench. Patrick Horgan is available after having his Munster final red card rescinded and his presence will help to offset the loss of Brian Murphy and Paudie O’Sullivan to long-term injuries.
Cork: Anthony Nash (Kanturk); Conor O Sullivan (Sarsfields), Shane O’Neill (Bishopstown), Stephen McDonnell (Glen Rovers); Tom Kenny (Grenagh), Lorcán McLoughlin (Kanturk), William Egan (Kilbrin); Christopher Joyce (Na Piarsaigh), Daniel Kearney (Sarsfields); Jamie Coughlan (Newtownshandrum), Pa Cronin (Bishopstown), Conor Lehane (Midleton); Luke O’Farrell (Midleton), Seamus Harnedy (St Ita’s), Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers).
Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy (Glenmore); Paul Murphy (Danesfort), JJ Delaney (Fenians) Jackie Tyrrell (James Stephens); Tommy Walsh (Tullaroan), Brian Hogan (O’Loughlin Gaels), Kieran Joyce (Rower Inistioge); Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro), Michael Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks); Colin Fennelly(c) (Ballyhale Shamrocks); Richie Power (Carrickshock), Eoin Larkin (James Stephens); Walter Walsh (Tullogher Rosbercon), Richie Hogan (Danesfort), Henry Shefflin (Ballyhale Shamrocks).
Checking the odds…..
Kilkenny may look vulnerable in this year’s topsy-turvy championship but the bookies are sticking with them. The Cats are 2-7 to beat Cork, with the Rebels on offer at a tempting 10-3.
If you fancy the draw, and there have been a few of them this summer, that’s available at 10-1.
Clues from the form guide….
Kilkenny have stumbled through to the quarter-finals despite their struggles against Tipperary and Waterford. They’ve been on the ropes in both games but neither the Premier County nor the Déise had the knockout punch to put them away. And as the championship progresses, there’s a feeling on Noreside that they’ll get stronger as injuries clear up.
Henry Shefflin and Michael Fennelly’s returns to the starting line-up are massive statements of intent from manager Brian Cody. And in the victory over Waterford, Richie Hogan, Richie Power and captain Colin Fennelly showed that they could carry the torch when Shefflin finally calls it a day.
It’s difficult to know what to make of Cork. They beat a wasteful Clare well but ran into trouble against Limerick in the Munster final when Patrick Horgan was sent off before half-time. But the Rebels had registered 10 wides in the first half and were bang in contention before Horgan’s harsh dismissal.
With him back in the team, they can approach this tie with real optimism and how good would they be if Eoin Cadogan, Damien Cahalane, Darren Sweetnam, Aidan Walsh and their injured players were available?
Still capable of producing one big championship performance and have the running ability to trouble an ageing Kilkenny defence.
The game breakers are….
For Cork to win this game, they need to get their runners on the ball in areas that can hurt Kilkenny. This means the implementation of a clever game plan that will allow the likes of Daniel Kearney, Conor Lehane, Pa Cronin and Seamus Harnedy, if he drifts out to centre forward, to get ball in hand and running in direct lines at the Kilkenny defence.
A big game from Lehane would be a massive help to Cork as the young Midleton star has struggled for form in this year’s championship. Jimmy Barry-Murphy has placed his faith in Lehane again by naming him in the starting line-up but now the talented wing-forward needs to deliver.
Kilkenny have gone with an experienced line-up and having Shefflin and Mick Fennelly back is a massive fillip.
The leadership that they bring to the set-up is simply invaluable and all eyes will be on Shefflin to see if the fortnight’s break since the Waterford game has helped his fitness.
The 10-time All Star looked a pale shadow of his former self against the Déise but you write Shefflin off at your peril and as he edges towards full fitness once again, his influence on games will increase.
Gazing into the crystal ball….
The bookies don’t give Cork much of a chance but we do. The Rebels have absolutely nothing to lose against a Kilkenny team installed as hot favourites to reach another semi-final. During the week we had a sneaky feeling that Cork could pull this one off and we were sniffing hungrily around the handicap betting, with the Leesiders +3 available at 13-10.
But Shefflin and Michael Fennelly being named from the start bring a whole new dimension to the game. Their names on the team sheet bring not only a huge presence but also a massive solidity to the Kilkenny line-up. As mentioned already, 13 of the 15 players are present from the team that started against Galway in last year’s All-Ireland final replay.
And there is just one change in the outfield positions, with TJ Reid still struggling with injury as captain and clubmate Colin Fennelly holds onto his place in attack.
If Cork had Brian Murphy in defence, we’d almost plump for them but it’s almost impossible to back against the Cats in championship hurling and for that reason, the Noresiders get a hesitant vote.
Verdict: Kilkenny.
