The problem for Cork is that they don’t know how to defend properly
He said that what differentiated Charlton’s tenure from previous managements was team organisation, with every player understanding his position and his onfield role. To be successful as a team, first of all, you must be difficult to beat.
The Allianz Hurling League has just passed the halfway point and judging from the performances so far two teams, Waterford and Kilkenny, are akin to those Irish teams with Tipp, Dublin and Galway at various points down the scale - and Cork at the bottom.
Waterford are in the second year of their ‘system’ and it serves them well. Prior to the commencement of this League manager Derek McGrath trialled different systems in warm-up games where they played with various formations.These formations are obviously worked on as well in training in preparation for the ‘rainy day’.
Last Sunday against Tipp Austin Gleeson, wing-back last year, but operating in a holding midfield role against Kilkenny and Cork, began the game at full-forward, playing there for twenty minutes before reverting to midfield. The experiment didn’t really work.
In the second half when McGrath made a few changes and they operated ‘last year’s’ system Waterford outscored Tipp, 1-6 to 0-1.
The modern game dictates that forwards are now the first defenders and Waterford’s industry in this area is highly impressive.
Colin Dunford, Jake Dillon and Shane Bennett quickly drop deep into midfield to make life exceedingly difficult for opposing midfielders, crowding the sector and denying them the time needed to pick out forward colleagues with quality ball.
Young Patrick Curran also showed in this game that he is now familiar with and understands the role required for a Waterford “corner forward’.
His workrate was phenomenal - contesting ball in midfield and in his own half back area, popping off passes to colleagues going forward and running support lines to finish attacks, scoring three points from play.
This doesn’t happen by chance. It is the work ethic ‘bought into’ and driven by management and players alike, and it is now the basic requirement of a Waterford senior hurler.
Kilkenny have followed a similar path for years. Their half-forward line was and still is the hardest working line on the field.
At present Colin Fennelly epitomises this role. In the Kilkenny scheme of things Fennelly is a worker rather than a scorer. He chips in with assists and some points but he is not a ‘finisher’.
Fennelly fully understands the role he is asked to play, funnelling back quickly to defend in times of need and then to carry ball forward to set up attacks.
TJ Reid, Walter Walsh and particularly Eoin Larkin, currently overseas, also show this thorough understanding of the role required.
Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots and one of the most respected NFL coaches of all time, is known for a favourite saying when talking about his players’ role— do your job.
Of course to dothe job one must understand it first. Seeing Cork in their first three games,but particularly against Dublin, I got the feeling that most of the Cork players don’t understand their defensive role.
The Cork forwards don’t make a co-ordinated effort to defend when possession is with the other team, a la Waterford or Kilkenny. They remain upfield, more like ‘traditional’ half forward/full forward lines of previous times.
The game has moved on: nowadays these lines must drop back and work in unison when possession is lost to make things a little easier on their defence.
Jeff Reinebold, one of Sky Sports’ NFL analysts, regularly speaks of the fundamentals required to win big games. At present the Cork defence lack these fundamentals.
Defenders from their earliest days are advised to mark tightly when danger threatens. This ‘fundamental of defence’ wasn’t followed against Dublin.
Tracking runners is another fundamental, while leaving the least dangerous attacker and covering back in front of goal is another basic requirement. At this level defenders must work out quickly when their goal is threatened.
All these were absent last Saturday evening in Croke Park. Dublin scored four goals but each could have been prevented by the respective players ‘doing their job’.
Cork selector Pat Ryan referred to attitude being a problem against Dublin but attitude and effort are givens before any contest.
The problem for the Cork panel is that they don’t know how to defend properly. Cork defend as individuals but in inter-county hurling, particularly Division 1A, a defence must be moulded as a coordinated unit.
If the previously mentioned Belichick was manager of the Cork hurling team his first job would be to review the video of the major plays.
He would see some glaring flaws. His second job would be to call an urgent meeting with his defensive coordinator, whose job would be on the line.
In a recent post-game interview Cork manager Kieran Kingston gave an honest appraisal of their position at present. If they hope to improve they have to begin somewhere. Sorting out the defensive ‘fundamentals’ would be a good start.
