Morgan lavishes praise after sweet success
A dramatic day was eventually decided by a magnificent Brendan Jer O’Sullivan goal midway through the second half. Cork went on to record a splendid victory in the first of the All-Ireland quarter-finals at Croke Park yesterday.
For team manager Billy Morgan, it was as sweet a success as he has ever tasted, and he lavished praise on his charges for their victory.
“In all my time being involved with Cork teams, this was as good a win as any of the others,” he said.
“For sheer commitment, heart and a never-say-die attitude we deserved our victory. Looking back on the game we gifted them two goals and three points in the first half, and to be fair to Galway they had their homework done on us.
“They pulled their half forward way out created the space inside, the quality of their ball going into their full forward caused us endless problems. We struggled to counteract that, and when we won possession they were able to funnel players back and make it very difficult for us to get scores.
“However, for all that there was only four points between us at half time and I said to the lads there was no need to panic. Through our own silly mistakes rather than Galway’s good play, they scored 2-3 and I felt that provided we held our nerve, we were still in the ball game.
“Coming up to half time we were six points adrift but the two points we scored before the short whistle were crucial, and it meant we were well in touch going into the second half.
“We changed our own tactics for the second half. I felt we needed a target man in at full forward and we moved Brendan Jer in there and it worked well for us.
“He certainly came up trumps for us. He kicked a couple of glorious points for us in the first half, but his goal was a magnificent effort.
“It was always coming though because we were beginning to open them up. We took complete control at midfield and once we hit the front there was no stopping us.
“All credit to Galway they brought us back to two points and missed two frees which I felt were rather dubious. They might have made a difference had they being scored, but I thought our fitness was crucial and we certainly finished the stronger side.
“There is tremendous belief in this team and it showed again today that Cork football is alive and well and we now await our opponents in the semi-final. And I’ve no preference who we meet.
“We had a team of stars out there today, but they were a number of performances that were out of the top drawer. Anthony Lynch was a colossus for us at centre back.
“He reminded me of Kevin Moran in his great years with Dublin the way he comes forward and his two points were superbly taken. We’ve been criticised for playing him in the heart of our defence, but anyone who knows anything about football knows that’s his best position and he proved that out there again today.
“John Hayes is another exceptional talent. When I first saw him as a minor I thought he was one for the future. He’s not a player for the future any more but for the present and he showed a maturity beyond his years out there.
“The manner in which he tucked away the penalty would confirm that. Unfortunately we were not getting enough quality balls into him in the first half but that was due to the Galway tactics which I spoke about earlier.
“I’ve always said that as individual players this present group is as good as there is around. Probably their confidence to a bit of a pounding in the last few years, but once we got them believing in themselves, they have matured into a very good side and there is a lot more to come from them. I’m certain of that.
“Looking back on this year’s Munster final we gave a very good display but Kerry deserved their victory, maybe due to our lack of experience. But we have galvanised ourselves for an assault on the All-Ireland and game like the one we played to day can only bring the players on.”
Asked if he fancied a rematch with Kerry, Morgan said he only cared that Cork made it to the semi-finals.
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