Countering Dublin’s early offensive the key to a Rebel win

TOMORROW the All-Ireland senior football championship enters a new and critical phase. For the first time since 1999, neither Kerry or Tyrone are present in the last four stage.

The pressure has now shifted onto the team who challenged them the most in recent seasons. If Cork are to capitalise in the absence of rivals, their form needs to improve, starting with tomorrow’s semi-final. The bursts of power this season, Killarney in June and the second-half in Croke Park three weeks ago, have been too intermittent. Tomorrow they must prove that the hectic schedule in July was responsible for any dip in standards.

Conor Counihan has claimed that not having a fit squad this year has been a consistent problem. That selection headache continued this week and there’s a strong chance the Croke Park PA system will be announcing Cork changes at 3.20pm tomorrow afternoon.

There the intrigue lies. If captain Graham Canty is fit, does he move to full-back to take up Eoghan O’Gara, leaving Michael Shields on Bernard Brogan and releasing John Miskella onto Alan Brogan? But if Canty is ruled out, is Eoin Cadogan introduced at the edge of the square to mark O’Gara? What of Nicholas Murphy’s chances of starting, after immense displays in Cork’s last three outings?

Clearly Bernard Brogan’s input will be crucial, given his magnificent form of late. Often league ties can be misleading but last March’s encounter between the counties in Páirc Uí Rinn offered an important clues in solving the Brogan problem for Cork. It’s not just stopping him scoring, it’s stopping Dublin at source and in March, Brogan was starved of possession as Cork ruled the roost at midfield. If Bernard’s input is limited, where will the Dublin scores come from? Miskella looks tailor-made for roaming with Dublin’s only other blue-chip forward Alan Brogan, while Cork are better equipped to stop O’Gara barging through for goals.

Cork don’t place the onus on one man to score. In Cork’s last two championship matches, seven players have kicked at least two points from open play while Brian Cullen is the only Dublin player apart from Bernard Brogan to achieve that feat. Pat Gilroy’s defence has been a trump card this season with Rory O’Carroll and Philly McMahon both outstanding, and Cork need Daniel Goulding and Donncha O’Connor to hit full speed tomorrow.

That spring league clash was also instructive in showing Cork how to smash through Dublin’s defensive barriers. By moving the ball swiftly and directly, rather than slowly and laterally, they blitzed Dublin that night with both Cian O’Sullivan and Ger Brennan struggling. Expect Pearse O’Neill to charge at the Dublin rearguard early tomorrow.

A strong start tomorrow would leave Dublin buoyant and their supporters in full voice. But twelve months ago, Cork also entered an All-Ireland semi-final with a plenty question marks hovering over them. They answered them then and their more experienced players are capable of a repeat performance now.

Verdict: Cork