DONAL O’GRADY: Impressive Cork look hungry and disciplined
In particular supporters wondered if Christopher Joyce has what it takes to be the long-term solution at centre-back while Stephen White’s role to his right was also under the microscope.
The half-forward line was the other main concern, a perennial at this stage, as well as the continuing debate about the full-back position.
Many of those worries were eased with this display as Jimmy Barry-Murphy and coach Ger Cunningham had the Cork players spot on and they brushed aside the paltry challenge of Tipperary.
Both Joyce and White acquitted themselves well, as did William Egan, particularly in the first half as they had the luxury of playing behind a dominant midfield.
In the first half Cork’s superior pace, movement, aggression and attacking flair wasn’t matched and their short delivery game, with pinpoint crisp passes, left Tipperary floundering.
Cork looked well coached, sharp, hungry, disciplined and enthusiastic while their opponents ticked none of those boxes. Cork’s defence was never troubled in that opening spell and they knocked over 14 points, including one sublime effort from Stephen Moylan who finished off great combined play involving five players.
Tipperary scored twice before the break and were guilty of a series of terrible wides. Manager Eamon O’Shea made some substitutions but may have been better served by deploying extra bodies to flood midfield. When you are bleeding profusely, as Tipp were, the first step is to stem the bloodflow.
Among the many positives from a Cork viewpoint was the high work rate and point scoring from midfield. Daniel Kearney scored three while midfield partner Lorcán McLaughlin and half-backs Joyce and Egan contributed one each. The half-forward line created massive space coming deep in that first half to take short quick deliveries from their defence and they combined well with the inside line with some clever interchanges.
But Cork fans will have concerns. In such a dominant display only three points were scored by the half-forwards and overall Brendan Cummins was untested in the Tipperary goal. If Cork are to succeed at this level they must create more goal chances. Patrick Horgan and Paudie O’Sullivan must lead by running at defenders while Luke O’Farrell must be more clinical in possession.
Stephen McDonnell looks to be the first-choice full-back at this stage. He is quite strong and anticipates well when the ball is 20 or 30 metres from goal. But he can find the going tough in tight one-on-ones having played out the field underage. If I was part of the Cork management I would invite recently- retired full-back Diarmuid O’Sullivan on board, who has an astute understanding of full-back play, to work with and advise McDonnell.
In the opening half Cummins found his man 60% of the time from puckouts — almost double the normal statistic — giving Tipperary a lot of possession. But their use of second phase ball was extremely poor and Cork’s defence dealt easily with them.
What of Tipperary? The greatest concern for Tipp fans is the form of their players from midfield up who didn’t look to be on the same wavelength. Marquee names such as Patrick “Bonnar” Maher, captain Shane McGrath and Noel McGrath were out of sorts. Things improved a little in the second half but unless the Tipp coach works hard on their touch, support and combination play, particularly their disciplined aggression, vision, steps and option taking and overall fitness, then their graph will continue to fall.
Winning the first league game has a deep psychological significance. It gives the winning camp a huge shot of confidence. The challenge for Cork now is to build on that.
For Tipperary, low on confidence, it’s a case of dismantling the model, beginning from scratch and giving their fans a performance.
