Sharpshooter O’Neill can fire Cork to glory
The key attacker limped off near the end of the Dublin game with a hamstring injury, but, despite doubts over his condition, he has been selected at right corner-forward.
O’Neill’s inclusion is a notable aspect of the Cork starting side , but manager John Cleary has also made two changes in personnel. The suspension of centre-forward Shane McCarthy means Mark Collins comes in at no. 11, while in defence Liam Jennings replaces Rory Buckley at full-back.
Collins has featured as a substitute throughout the campaign but for Jennings it is his first taste of action. Both players have profited from excellent senior club form, Collins landing 0-11 in Castlehaven’s recent Cork SFC success over Ilen Rovers, while Jennings was hugely impressive for Ballincollig in their defeat by Nemo Rangers.
Down have had no selection problems to contend with. Manager Pete McGrath has assembled a team of strong players with centre-back John Fitzpatrick and midfielder Peter Fitzpatrick big players in the spine of their team. In attack they are plenty of capable scorers in livewire forwards Paul McComiskey, Paul Devlin and Joseph Murphy. They have had their own luck this season in emerging from the Ulster minefield, when a last-gasp Conor Poland goal denied Armagh in the provincial final. But their earlier win over Tyrone and their dismissal of Mayo in the All-Ireland semi-final featured some vibrant play.
Cork’s form has varied wildly throughout the campaign, from the stunning display that swatted Kerry aside in the opening round to the manner in which they stumbled over the finishing line against Tipperary in the Munster final and Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final. They have enjoyed their share of fortune, yet those one-point wins also ensure they are battle-hardened.
A strong cause for optimism for Cork is that their defence is a highly competent unit. No team has kicked more than nine points against them , with Noel Galvin, Conor O’Driscoll and Bart Daly all impressive operators. The space the Down attack was afforded by Mayo in the All-Ireland semi-final is unlikely to be replicated here.
Up front O’Neill has been a huge figure for Cork and his smashing goal against Dublin was instrumental in setting them up for victory. There may still be doubts about how his hamstring will stand to a competitive game, but his inclusion is a huge boost. In addition Ciarán Sheehan and David Goold have been in wonderful form, while Mark Collins’ recent form could make him a gamebreaker.
Cork will need big games from midfield duo Chris O’Donovan and Kevin O’Driscoll, as Fitzpatrick has been a tower of strength in this sector for Down. His input was a strong reason why their attack was serviced so regularly against Mayo. But, for all their control , they struggled to close out the game late on. In addition their defence was sloppy and their propensity for conceding cheap goals is worrying.
There are question marks surrounding Cork after they scrambled recent victories, but their undeniably dogged qualities will serve them well here. A repeat defensive performance will ensure Down find scores hard to come by and they have the attackers to unsettled the Mourne men’s backline. It’s likely to be tight but with a fit O’Neill on board, Cork have the ability to attain a second All-Ireland U21 crown in three years.
Verdict: Cork
