League peril puts more pressure on Cork's bottom line

Cork will need to win their remaining league matches to book a place in the elite division next season.

Mon, 12 Feb, 2024 - 06:45

John Fogarty

Allianz HL Division 1A

Cork 1-17

Kilkenny 0-21

To paraphrase Ring, a top flight without Cork is half-dressed but that has become more of a possibility on the back of this second successive defeat.

At least they made a fist of it having been nine points down inside the first 23 minutes but only winning their remaining round matches will secure their place in the new Division 1A.

Pat Ryan does not consider that an objective. The Cork executive now do. The manager’s remarks afterwards lay bare that difference in opinion. “To be honest now, I’m not thinking one bit about next year’s league. I’m only thinking about this year’s league.

“(Cork GAA chief executive) Kevin O’Donovan might not want to hear that but I’m only worried about us preparing for championship. Where we are in the league next year won’t make too much difference if we can have a very good championship.”

In fairness to O’Donovan, he has underlined the importance of performing well in the All-Ireland SHC in meeting the crippling financial yoke associated with SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but he has also made no distinction about “Cork winning” to put “bums on seats to sell hotdogs”.

For the bottom line at least, winning league games. The county’s share of the Allianz Hurling League gate receipts last year was €178,191. The year before it was €222,388. Saturday’s 16,274 crowd was in keeping with the handsome attendances Cork have recorded at home the past couple of seasons – almost 20,000 took in their game against Limerick 12 months ago.

In Cork’s financial account for last year, the phrase “going concern” is mentioned 35 times. Consider their current league position another. Cork aren’t alone in being fearful - at least two other Liam MacCarthy Cup managers have been reminded of the need to qualify among the seven top teams. With a guarantee of three home games against Liam MacCarthy Cup opposition in 2025, Division 1A is a club they must join.

Over halfway through the first half, when their hurling was as soft as the launch of the stadium’s new sponsors at the venue that evening (where were the hoardings?), Cork’s troubles were multiple. Laborious, lateral recycling of the ball was lapped up by a Kilkenny team that Derek Lyng highlighted were keen to make up for surrendering a point at home to Wexford the weekend before.

For those in Ennis the week before, it was uncannily like Cork's difficult opening to the second half, which laid the platform for Clare’s victory. “I think a lot of it was we were getting under pressure with short puck-outs and not moving the ball fast enough and in fairness to Kilkenny when they get an opportunity they’re going to use the ball well,” explained Ryan.

Although both men faded in the second half, Ballyhale Shamrocks’ pair Adrian Mullen and Eoin Cody were in mean form in the opening period and at other times Kilkenny seemed as if they couldn’t believe how easy they were having it.

Ger Millerick’s arrival onto the field eventually helped solidify the Cork defence and they kept Kilkenny scoreless for the last 11 minutes of the half, although Tommy O’Connell had to make a last-ditch hook on Mikey Carey to deny him a goal attempt.

O’Connell’s midfield partner Conor O’Callaghan’s additional time goal, set up nicely by a hand-pass by Seán Twomey that took out three Kilkenny defenders, meant Cork were within a score of Kilkenny at the break, 1-7 to 0-13, but their execution on the resumption betrayed them.

Of the three goal openings they had in less than seven minutes, two of them were overplayed and one required a good save by Eoin Murphy from Shane Kingston, who was involved in all three moves.

“Look, I won't blame any lad for going through to take a chance,” said Ryan. “I think we had a couple of chances that were definitely points that we should have been taking, that we made opportunities, I think we had 23, 24 chances in the second half.”

At least Cork were able to square up the game by the 50th minute and went ahead for the first time eight minutes later, Conor Lehane the point-taker on both occasions. It was brief, though, as Kilkenny went level two minutes later and never trailed for the remainder.

Twice, Cork restored parity but Kilkenny’s hand remained steady. Substitute Walter Walsh had a batted shot stopped by Patrick Collins before John Donnelly shortened his grip to send over the winner in additional time. Closing in on goal, an exhausted Kingston was let down by his touch in the end as the crowd bade for an equaliser.

“I suppose at the end of it we were hanging on, if you like,” Lyng reflected. “We had a few chances to finish it off but Cork had a number of chances as well. Just overall very happy with the effort. The performance was decent. At times we looked very good and at times we found life hard out there. We knew Cork were going to come at us hard and just to get the result, very happy.”

Three points in the bag with Offaly coming to UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday week, Kilkenny are halfway towards securing their place in the hurling league’s new elite. That same afternoon, in a tussle that should attract another sizeable audience, Waterford visit the Marina. If they are made feel anything other than unwelcome, Ballintemple could be a much quieter place next February.

Scorers for Cork: P. Horgan (0-9, frees); C. Lehane (0-4); C. O’Callaghan (1-0); T. O’Connell, T. O’Mahony, R. O’Flynn, S. Barrett (0-1 each).

Scorers for Kilkenny: E. Cody (0-7, 5 frees); A. Mullen (0-5); B. Drennan (0-3, 2 frees); C. Kenny, J. Donnelly (0-2 each); M. Carey, S. Murphy (0-1 each).

CORK: P. Collins; S. O’Donoghue (c), E. Roche, E. Downey; T. O’Mahony, N. O’Leary, R. Downey; T. O’Connell, C. O’Callaghan; L. Meade, C. Lehane, S. Twomey; S. Kingston, P. Horgan, R. O’Flynn.

Subs for Cork: G. Millerick for R. Downey (inj 21); B. Roche for L. Meade (h-t); E. Twomey for C. O’Callaghan (42); S. Barrett for R. O’Flynn (inj 44); M. Coleman for E. Downey (49).

KILKENNY: E. Murphy; M. Butler, H. Lawlor (c), T. Walsh; D. Blanchfield, D. Corcoran, S. Murphy; C. Kenny, M. Carey; B. Ryan, J. Donnelly, C. Heary; A. Mullen, L. Hogan, E. Cody.

Subs for Kilkenny: M. Keoghan for B. Ryan (h-t); B. Drennan for L. Hogan (46); K. Blanchfield for M. Carey (51); W. Walsh for C. Heary (55); P. McDonald for C. Kenny (64).

Referee: J. Murphy (Limerick).