Rebel attack lacked cutting edge
“That sums up our night,” said a Cork supporter sitting near me. And it did.
Cork’s forward line didn’t carry enough of a threat and the Galway defence was largely in control in Thurles over the course of the game.
Patrick Horgan did make life difficult for Ollie Canning in the first half, when he had the legs on him and threatened to do damage, but Cork moved Horgan to the other corner for the second half, and he didn’t get enough of a supply of ball thereafter.
Cork’s half-forward line failed to trouble the Galway half-backs regularly enough and the experiment of trying Kieran Murphy at centre half-forward didn’t work.
Michael Cussen got two good points from the wing and Cathal Naughton managed 1-1 but at no time did they really power through the Galway defence.
There was no pattern to Cork’s forward play and when they did get time and pace to set up attacks there was no speed or crispness to their deliveries. From the stands it seemed to be a matter of striking the ball in and hoping for the best. Cork had some goal chances but Shane Kavanagh blocked Aisake O hAilpín when he looked to score a goal and the same Cork player missed a gilt-edged opportunity, missing a pull on the edge of the square, which summed up a frustrating night for the full-forward.
FROM the start, Galway completely dominated midfield. Ger Farragher gave a controlled display and showed lovely touches as he glided effortlessly to link the play from defence to attack and found time to knock over some nice points as well from play and placed balls. Cork’s pair of Lorcan McLoughlin and Tom Kenny never got to the pace of the play in this sector and Cork’s management made no attempt to change matters until Jerry O’Connor’s introduction with 25 minutes left.
Cork should have clogged this midfield sector by putting extra players there and when Cathal Naughton was eventually asked to play as a third midfielder near the end, Galway’s dominance was supreme. In addition to the midfield superiority, the Tribesmen’s half-back line smothered any attempt by Cork to threaten their second-half dominance. Galway looked busy, eager for work and determined all through, whereas Cork were a little off the pace. Galway had the resolve they showed against Kilkenny in their league game, while Cork failed to replicate the attitude and effort, which saw them see off Kilkenny and Tipperary this year.
ONE of the main differences between the teams was the efficiency and effectiveness of Galway up front.
Joe Canning looked comfortable, scoring a great goal and knocked over some fine points. I can’t remember any real physical tackle being made by Cork up front, whereas Canning hit Brian Murphy shoulder to shoulder – a beauty – in the first half and then casually struck a fine point. Damien Hayes, seen back to his best, covered the ground well, looked eager and gave Seán Óg O hAilpín a torrid evening. All through the Galway forwards had that extra little time on the ball a forward needs – Hayes, with a great run, took his goal chance and Canning, after a fine catch, goaled also. Donal Óg Cusack had no chance.
Cork had goal chances as well – Pat Horgan’s penalty effort went over the bar off the keeper’s stick, but whereas Galway’s forward efforts looked classy, Cork huffed and puffed up front a lot of the time.
All through Galway’s forwards looked shaper, fitter and had more hurling ability. This ultimately decided proceedings. Cork’s defence was under pressure all through, though Shane O’Neill enhanced his reputation.
