Walsh takes defeat on the chin

Cork manager Denis Walsh did not make any excuses for his side in the wake of their 12-point All-Ireland SHC semi-final loss to Kilkenny at Croke Park yesterday.

However, disappointment was clearly etched on Walsh's face as he tried to piece together where it all went wrong for his players.

"It's hugely disappointing to be involved in a situation where you have trained a team long and hard, and then we have let everyone down," he mused.

"I suppose we have let ourselves down today more than anyone else, but that is not good enough - what we produced today was not good enough and we have to take it on the chin."

First half goals from Eddie Brennan and Aidan Fogarty had the Cats purring by half-time, despite the injury-enforced losses of Brian Hogan and Henry Shefflin.

Cork managed to win the second half by 0-14 to 1-10, with Pat Horgan proving dangerous in open play, however a third goal from man-of-the-match Richie Power sealed the deal for Kilkenny.

Walsh was quick to point out that Kilkenny's win was not down to the Rebels underperforming, but rather an awesome display by the Cats.

"I have to say again that it was another massive 15-man performance again from Kilkenny.

"I would be absolutely giving them due credit, because I am a fierce believer of that you can do all the preparation in the world, but you must do it between 3.30 and 5pm.

"Fair play to them really. They were massive - sensational and we would have no cribs."

He added: "I couldn't praise them (my players) highly enough. There is no point in cringing or second guessing the situation.

"We weren't at the races, and we weren't allowed to play, full stop, and I suppose that is the best way to describe it.

"We got some good scores in the second half, but I mean the game was over (at that stage) at that was it."

2-12 to 0-5 behind at half-time, Walsh conceded that his side were facing an insurmountable challenge at that stage.

"It's an awful thing to say, but probably the game was over at half-time," he admitted.

"Playing for pride is a phrase that is commonly used. We were playing for more than pride after half-time really.

"We knew going out in the second half that Kilkenny wouldn't let up, and I suppose from that point of view at least we stuck to our guns.

"Let's be honest about it, if we came out and waved the white flag completely in the second half there would be another 12 or 13 points on that score-line today."

One of the main positives for Walsh was Cork's start and the performance in the opening quarter hour, with their defence holding firm against a barrage of Kilkenny attacks.

"There were 15 or 16 minutes gone, everything was going grand and then the goal came.

"Kilkenny were just relentless in their play. They broke up our attacks very quickly and all of a sudden the ball was in the danger area. At any given time, they are only a ball away from making the breakthrough again.

"I have to look at the game again obviously, but I think the facts are that we were lucky to escape in the first half - that we didn't concede a few more goals as they created situations where they could have been out of sight that early."