It will be a battle, but Thurles Sars have the stars to do damage
That’s sport, and that’s how it should be. You get that hour to perform and if you don’t do enough and get the rub of the green — and we had neither — you just stick out your hand and wish the other team the best of luck. That’s what we did.
It was Kilmallock’s second time in three years meeting them in the Munster Club Championship and what impressed me most was that their big players played big for them. Up front Lar Corbett and Pa Bourke came up with big scores at vital times. It wasn’t just those two though. The man who caused us so much damage last week and as a sub in 2010 was Michael O’Brien. He is a constant danger, has speed, vision, great workrate. Another who hurt us, another supersub in 2010, is Denis Maher. Denis is a big lad, good in the air, equally effective in the half-forward and full-forward lines.
In defence they have Michael Cahill, an effective corner-back for the county who plays on the wing for Thurles Sars. David Kennedy is on the other wing alongside Pádraic Maher in the middle to make a massive half-back line. If Padraic plays as well in Thurles as he did in Kilmallock — two years ago and last week — Cork Sars will be in trouble.
There’s a reason why he was so dominant in Kilmallock, however. That pitch is tight and suits Padraic. He’s a strong man (important this time of year), he has a good hand, a good hurling brain, positioned himself well, but it’s easier do that in a tight pitch. Semple is bigger, more open and Thurles are going to need a lot more help defensively from their midfield than they got against Kilmallock. A major onus on Michael Gleeson and veteran Johnny Enright here.
What of the Cork Sars? Where they could make inroads is with the big men they have in the half forwards. I’d play Cian McCarthy on the wing on Michael Cahill, where he could use his ability in the air to best effect, have Gavin O’Loughlin on Maher in the centre, Tadhg Óg Murphy on the other wing to use his pace. Get ball in to big Michael Cussen, and that’s where the real damage could be done. From what I’ve seen, I’m not sure Thurles Sars have anyone in the full-back line to handle the threat of Cussen. He’s a giant but he’s got good hands and he can finish. If the ball is sent in high there, it will be interesting. Eoin Quigley could be the secret weapon for the Cork Sars in the middle of the field. He’s after finding his feet now. He was uncertain when he first came there from Wexford but this guy is a quality player.
At the other end of the field, however, the Cork Sars defence will have to be really on top of their game and here the experienced Joe Barry and Ray Ryan have a major responsibility. You can have all the forwards you like but in this weather you have to be able to defend. Goals especially, in wintry conditions, are worth more than three points.
Thurles Sars — as I know, to my cost — can get goals. If they can be stopped, if they’re forced to score points, they could be in trouble. So Cork Sars need fellas like Conor O’Sullivan and Darren Kenneally to be alert all the time at the back as Lar is some man to steal into space. A final word of advice to the Cork outfit: don’t concede a 20m free of any description. Pa Bourke will go for the jugular.
Once we came out of Limerick I said the team that would beat Kilmallock would have a massive say in this championship. I still say that, and for that reason I’m going for Thurles Sars after a battle.
