Cork played with freedom and showed their bold approach
I spoke on Saturday of the mutual fear and respect between Cork and Kilkenny and this was evident again in Thurles yesterday. One thing they know down around the Nore — never, ever write off a Cork team, especially a Cork team in Semple Stadium, a place where they love to perform.
The big question mark over Cork coming into this game was whether their forwards would stand up to this Kilkenny defence? We got a very emphatic answer — every one of those six Cork starting forwards scored from play.
I didn’t question the skill of those forwards but I wondered if they’d have the ‘boldness’. They had, and none more so than Patrick Horgan. No doubt about it now, it was worth Cork’s while to appeal that red card.
The tone though wasn’t set by Horgan, who’s been around for a while, it was set by a newcomer to this Cork team. Seamus Harnedy has come from nowhere but what a find! He’s from Gortroe, just outside Youghal. The most famous man previously to have come from that lovely little spot was Art Supple, from the showband era. Seamus could be about to change that. Another fiery little fighter for Cork was midfielder Daniel Kearney. He’s not the biggest of men but boy, he has the biggest of hearts.
The real foundation though for this Cork win came from their defence, with Shane O’Neill at full-back (very lucky to stay on the field after his wild pull on Eoin Larkin at the start of the second-half), Conor O’Sullivan in the corner, Stephen McDonnell in the other corner, all having outstanding games.
The half-back line was solid, Tom Kenny and William Egan excellent in the air on the wings.
However I thought Brian Cody erred yesterday, not in starting Henry Shefflin but in not taking him off — he is clearly not yet match fit.
A bigger error however was made by referee Barry Kelly, who should never have sent Shefflin off as the first yellow card was overly harsh.
Kilkenny have been on life support I suppose for a few weeks now — yesterday, it was turned off. No words I can say though will describe this team, these players; we’ll see new Kilkenny teams, and I wouldn’t be writing them off even for next year, but we won’t see this team.
I don’t think we’ll ever see their likes again — they went out like the warriors they are.
To Clare and Galway, and as a Clare man, I’m delighted to see my county back in Croke Park in an All-Ireland semi-final. I thought this would be a year too early for them, that Galway would be too experienced for them yesterday. How wrong I was. With all due respect to everyone involved, Galway looked like the inexperienced side — in fact they looked like a team that had met yesterday for the first time. They didn’t seem to have a game-plan or a style, were lacking in cohesion and unity and also seemed to be lacking belief and confidence.
How many managers have they? Is it one, Anthony Cunningham, is it two, with Mattie Kenny alongside Anthony, or is it three, Tom Helebert also in the mix? I think there was confusion on the field yesterday but that confusion starts on the training-pitch and in my book, you have one man and one man only in charge. What was all the secrecy about, all the locked doors? What were they doing? In stark contrast, there’s no doubt who’s in charge in Clare. Louis Mulqueen has vast experience on the sideline, Mike Deegan is also a strong character, but Davy Fitzgerald is in complete control.
Signs on, his team plays like a team that knows what it wants to do.
They had a game plan, they had variety in their game, they had adaptability.
And they had leaders. The half-back trio, Brendan Bugler, Patrick Donnellan and Patrick O’Connor, were supreme, Podge Collins — young as he is — led the attack superbly, Conor McGrath was the Conor of last year, Darach Honan showed some brilliant touches. I have to mention the free-taking and general play of Colin Ryan also, so vital to every team now. It was reminiscent of the Clare of old, every player fighting like tigers, a joy to watch.
Clare out-thought Galway on the line, they outfought them on the pitch. They were a team playing with purpose and with confidence and had they lost, had Galway managed to sustain the late run they made, it would have been totally unjust. What they need now is support, a lot more than they got in Thurles yesterday.
Three Munster teams in the All-Ireland semi-finals and justifiably so. Leinster have dominated for a while so it is no harm to have a few new teams and the prospect of a new champion. A good year just keeps getting better.
