Walsh still has big calls to make
Very close, was the consensus.
Last Sunday was the fourth time Denis Walsh’s side lost a league game by a point. Factor in a draw with Tipperary and the omens don’t look too promising for Leeside supporters ahead of a May meeting with Knocknagow in Thurles.
Even allowing for the fact that Dublin had more to play for last weekend, Walsh will surely be concerned that more players haven’t staked a claim to starting positions, narrowing his options for the championship.
Donál Óg Cusack will be picked in goal for the Tipp game, and outside him Cork have uncovered a promising defender in Stephen McDonnell, who looks well suited to a man-marking corner-back role.
Walsh has no lack of quality in that line, with Brian Murphy generally acknowledged as one of the best in the business and Shane O’Neill a good sweeper behind his full-back. However, Eoin Cadogan’s unhappy 70 minutes in Dotsy O’Callaghan’s company on Sunday may release him from number three to a more natural slot on the wing.
Though Cadogan brings physical strength to the full-back line, he has been suited by Tipperary’s decision to try big target men on him in recent seasons, and Declan Ryan may have noted the problems posed for the dual star by O’Callaghan’s elusive running. With that in mind Walsh may opt to try McDonnell-Murphy-O’Neill to offset a Premier line which is more likely to feature Eoin Kelly and Lar Corbett rather than big men like Micheal Webster or Brian O’Meara.
Cadogan might then feature with John Gardiner and Ronan Curran in Cork’s half-back line, thus freeing William Egan or Lorcan McLoughlin for duty with Patrick Cronin in midfield.
The alternative plan would be to try Tom Kenny in his 2003 position of wing-back, thus releasing Gardiner to play midfield alongside Cronin.
Up front Cork have tried several different combinations this season, with teenager Conor Lehane the latest to come into the mix.
Denis Walsh ruled the Midleton player out of his plans for Tipperary, however, which means his attack is likely to feature Cian and Niall McCarthy in the half-forward line, and Patrick Horgan and Paudie O’Sullivan inside them. He will also find room for Ben O’Connor, leaving several players jostling for the sixth spot.
Based on Sunday’s evidence Luke O’Farrell looks to be at the head of that queue, given his manager’s praise for his performance and O’Farrell’s calmly-taken goal.
What we can’t anticipate, of course, is the possibility of a tactical stroke.
Tipp have floated Noel McGrath all over the field from centre-forward to devastating effect, and Cork are unlikely to roll over and endure death by a thousand cuts. As a result, we offer this as a starting point for discussion for the throw-in, and the throw-in only, on May 29.
CORK: D Óg Cusack; S McDonnell, B Murphy, S O’Neill; T Kenny, R Curran, E Cadogan; J Gardiner, P Cronin; N McCarthy, C McCarthy, B O’Connor; P O’Sullivan; P Horgan, L O’Farrell.
