Early days yet but solid start from JBM and new-look Cork
On a micro level they wondered how Seán Óg Ó hAilpín would do on his return from a year’s absence. On a macro level they wondered what effect Jimmy Barry-Murphy would have on Cork in 2012 – and about the portents for the future in comparison to the last few years.
If one were to judge on the first half alone the fans would be extremely happy, with positives on both fronts — Cork struck for three goals in the first half and I counted three other openings where they might have found the net but the final pass went astray.
They looked extremely sharp, fit and eager for work, using the ball well.
The hallmark of Cork’s play was quick, accurate short ball that put their men in possession and gave the forwards opportunities to run at their defenders.
One point in the first half illustrated this: William Egan’s way was blocked in the left half back position but he found John Gardiner with a crisp, low crossfield pass.
He in turn delivered a low, hard 50 metre pass to Paudie O’Sullivan, who offloaded to the impressive Conor Lehane for a point.
Throughout the field Cork were dominant, particularly in defence, and the full back line of Shane O’Neill, Stephen McDonnell and Brian Murphy were rarely pressurised: Donal Óg Cusack in goal was never troubled.
Waterford were struggling all over the field but they’d lost a number of first-choice players before the throw-in, and the absence of Noel Connors and Aidan Kearney from the full-back line in particular didn’t help their cause.
The feeling the Cork dressing room at half-time would have been buoyant, as with a 10 point lead it was an impossible task for Waterford to pull the game out of the fire – they just didn’t have the capability to get goals.
Cork slackened off a little in the second half and there was a definite improvement in Waterford’s play, as they ended with 18 points on the scoreboard.
The Deise will struggle up front in the league with John Mullane and Eoin Kelly not featuring for a while, and the experiment of Michael Brick Walsh at centre-forward didn’t work on Saturday.
Seamus Prendergast looks a better fit for this position if Michael Ryan is looking for a ball-winner.
Barry-Murphy and his management will be very happy though, as a win in one’s first league game is imperative for a new manager.
He’ll be pleased with how Cork moved the ball in the first-half and realistic enough to know that the true judgement for his team will have to wait for the sterner tests ahead, towards the end of the competition. Conor Lehane gave a virtuoso performance of point-taking and with 3-17 on the board there’ll be a positive vibe to training and confidence ahead of the next league game, against Dublin in Croke Park.
