Anthony Daly: Plenty for Ben to love in Cork's edge, Galway project is real
Players from both sides jostle each other. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
As soon as I finished up my RTÉ co-commentary on the Galway-Waterford game in Pearse Stadium on Sunday afternoon, I bolted for the Salthill hotel to watch Cork-Kilkenny.
It’s always hard to tell when you’re not at a game but if you were making a judgement from anytime the TV cameras flashed to the stand or the crowd, you’d have thought that the match was on in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and not Nowlan Park.
There was red everywhere. Outside of when Cork play in Páirc Uí Chaoimh anymore, a crowd of over 14,000 for a league match is a massive attendance anywhere else. But the crowd in Nowlan Park here was no surprise with Cork in town.
You could even hear that booming war cry, ‘Rebels, Rebels’ through the screen. I’d say there was no question that Cork had more supporters in the ground than Kilkenny. Yet no matter where you were from, everybody was more than well entertained.
Read More
The last few minutes were like a game of pinball as Kilkenny desperately chased an equalising goal and Cork tried to hold out - but the last quarter felt like that too.
It was typical Kilkenny in how they never gave up but it was typical of the new Cork in how they not just won again, but in how they dogged it out once more.
It was no wonder Ben O’Connor was beaming in his post-match interview on He must have used the word ‘delighted’ about 20 times. And he had every right to.
It was another hugely positive outing for Cork, and another indication of just how strong this panel is. Two debutantes, Barry and Alan Walsh, bagged goals, with Barry also being hauled down for a black-card penalty. Hugh O’Connor didn’t score but I thought his performance was another plus.
Cork scored three goals but they could realistically have raised about eight green flags. Even with Alan Connolly missing a penalty and Aidan Tallis making a couple of fine saves, with his stop from Darragh Fitzgibbon in the first half out of the top drawer, Cork will realise in their video review that they could have had another couple of goals if the last pass had gone to hand.
Kilkenny are always guaranteed to bring that fight and defiance to the table but this was another reminder of how they still need TJ Reid and Adrian Mullen back to make this forward line more of a threat.
At least John Donnelly showed a good bit more than he has been – probably because he’s getting fitter – while the biggest positive for Kilkenny in their last two matches is the development of Liam Moore. His pace and direct running gives this side something extra.
Tom Phelan was also impressive when introduced in defence but you still get the impression that Mikey Carey remains an improvised option at full-back. On the otherhand, is Brian Hayes markable at this level when he’s on form? Hayes only scored 1-1 but he's nearly unmanageable when he’s on the ball in terms of the chaos he creates.
Huw Lawlor was really missed on Hayes here. I’m not wearing my Clare hat here but, outside of Huw – who is brilliant in the air - the only way you can mark Hayes is by having a defender with the pace and physique of Conor Cleary.
A lot of people outside Clare think Cleary doesn’t have much pace but everyone in the county knows that he does. That was obvious last year when Conor was burning it up for Kilmaley in the club championship at wing and full-forward.
It was an enjoyable game on a soft pitch but beating Kilkenny in Nowlan Park – not something Cork normally do – was even more satisfying in how Cork went about the task. There is a real physical edge to their play now. Kilkenny came to match that but Cork certainly didn’t back down.
Thomas Walsh let the play flow – much to Ben’s delight, as he admitted in his post-match interview – while the cards (another favourite of Ben) were in short supply. The black card to Ivan Bolger was a stonewall decision, which is exactly what the black card is for.
Cork have built up some momentum now – especially with that huge crowd behind them – but no better crowd to test that than Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds next week. There may be some shadow boxing involved when both sides look set to meet in the league final. But does Ben do shadow boxing?
We all know how much John Kiely’s side like to lay down markers – just ask Tipp – but Limerick will also be keen to get up to speed again after a functional performance against Offaly in Tullamore yesterday.
Walking back to the car yesterday before hitting for the Salthill Hotel (to see Cork-Kilkenny) I said to myself, ‘There is definitely something building in Galway’.
Galway have often been accused of lacking leadership but that’s what stood out for me the most – leadership was pouring out of their pores all over the field. Especially from the young lads.
Galway could have won by far more if they had been more clinical but this was also an extremely flat and disappointing performance from Waterford - on a par with the no-show against Cork.
Galway were extremely solid at the back, especially Darren Morrissey and Cillian Trayers. Kieran Hanrahan did well too on his debut.
Galway play very deep but they’re not afraid to charge forward from the half-back line when they get on the front foot. That was clear from the goal from wing-back Ronan Glennon.
Jason Rabbitte gives Galway a huge focal point in attack. He had a great battle with Mark Fitzgerald but, with Clare in Ennis in their first championship match in mind, do Waterford want Mark Fitz inside in the full-back line wrestling with Peter Duggan? They don’t.
Waterford badly need Conor Prunty back.
I thought Cian Daniels was excellent in the middle for Galway. He’s another big man. Tiernan Killeen got through a ton of work. His younger brother Cullen, who is still under 20, made his first appearance too. Another U20, Aaron Niland, stepped up again.
This Galway project is very real now, but this was another reality check for Waterford, especially with Galway now having them on a head-to-head. They were beaten hands-down at midfield.
After a positive campaign to date, Reuben Halloran showed very little. Kevin Mahony hardly got a puck. Is Mikey Kiely better outside or inside? Seán Walsh only showed bits and pieces.
Yesterday was another hard day at the office for Antrim against Dublin but the way this league is going now – especially in 1B – I wouldn’t be surprised if Davy Fitzgerald just let that match off and was more focussed on getting a good block of training in ahead of their crunch against Down in two weeks.
Antrim already have Carlow on a head-to-head but that gets complicated if Carlow beat Kildare next weekend and three teams potentially end up on four points. If they do, Antrim’s scoring difference isn’t favourable.
Whatever happens, Kildare are continuing to make huge strides with another impressive win against Down. They’ve now hit six goals in their last two games but posting 3-24 in Ballycran was even more of a feat when Kildare had to play with 14 men for over 40 minutes when Jack Sheridan was sent off. In my mind, Kildare have been the story of the league so far.
Yesterday was another big win for Laois too, who secured their passage back to the second tier after overcoming Westmeath in Mullingar by nine points. Westmeath can still qualify as they’ve games to come against Derry and Mayo, but, crucially, Kerry’s points difference is far better if they can beat Meath and Mayo in their last two matches. In any case, I’m delighted for Laois — too proud a hurling county not to be in that second tier.
Looking back across the weekend, we didn’t get any real champagne stuff, but we can’t expect to see the corks popping when the weather is so bad and the pitches are so soft. But we are getting a taste of what’s coming down the line.
And it’s sweet.
A collection of the latest sports news, reports and analysis from Cork.
