Eoin Cadogan: 'They have a massive stumbling block in Dublin, but they have been forewarned'

Former Cork dual star Eoin Cadogan believes Dublin are a massive stumbling block but Cork have been forewarned. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

A “pressure-cooker game” and a “massive stumbling block in Dublin” is what awaits Cork this Saturday evening, according to former Rebel Eoin Cadogan.

The once-dual operator said Pat Ryan’s charges can't have been any more forewarned ahead of the All-Ireland semi-final, a stage in the championship where the sole priority is progression not panache.

“Any talk of silverware and famine is irrelevant coming into another semi-final. Semi-finals are always the pressure-cooker game because when you get to a final, you can go and express yourself. You're there, you've got to exactly where most teams have set out to get to at the start of the year, and so you can leave the handbrake off a little bit more, whereas being beaten in the semi-final is like being beaten in the quarter-final. There's no difference,” said Cadogan, a Gaelic Games ambassador for BoyleSports.

“The perception of supporters would have been that Limerick were going to come through and by God did Dublin put a nail in that coffin.

“John Kiely referenced it afterwards, Dublin’s ball retention off their own puck-out has been excellent. Seán Brennan’s execution and finding of players is top class.

“They know exactly what they're about. There's a clarity in terms of how they want to play, where they're supposed to set themselves up and how they're trying to work the ball through the lines. They're very comfortable doing it because they have the athleticism inside to match Cork as well on Saturday.” 

The same as Seánie McGrath observed earlier this week, Cadogan stressed the quietness of the semi-final build-up on Leeside. But irrespective of the noise level, he added, his former teammates and those that have joined in the four seasons since no longer prick their ears.

“These guys are a lot more grounded than what we might think. They've learnt a lot over the last few years to be ready to go on Saturday.

“They've experienced an All-Ireland final in 2021, a lot of those guys experienced one last year and were devastated in losing that after extra time. They've learnt a lot over the last two years not to get caught up in the hype.” 

The All-Ireland football winner believes the 2025 edition are better than the 2024 class largely because of that aforementioned extra-time defeat to Clare.

“The squad has improved a lot, and I purely put that down to last year's defeat. They have to be hungry. This group has an opportunity to try and put a performance in on Saturday to get over the line and get another crack at an All-Ireland final. They have a massive stumbling block in Dublin, but they have been forewarned.” 

Although Cork have blitzed many an opposition this year, what has most stood out for Cadogan is the collective reply to the Limerick round-robin hammering that had the potential to finish them for the year.

“I was massively worried after it, but the character and how they responded in the Munster final, and going down the straight in extra-time, the most pleasing thing as a Cork supporter was that the lads showed fierce bottle to stick at it and get over the line.

“People will say, ah they deserved that, but unfortunately in sport it doesn’t really work like that. I would like to think that they found a way when others would have wilted.”