Three Key Plays: Where does Dalton's free-taking territory end and Horgan's begin?

THREE KEY PLAYS: Where does Declan Dalton's free taking territory finish and Patrick Horgan's start? Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

1: In the opening minute of the second-half, Cork midfielder Tim O’Mahony was fouled. The free was in Declan Dalton’s territory. He’d nailed one from much further out in the opening half. Patrick Horgan came out instead. Who makes such calls? Is there an imaginary line on the field which the respective freetakers do not encroach on the other’s dead-ball responsibilities?

Irrespective, the angle could hardly have been more central. But instead of shoving Cork seven in front, Horgan directed the sliotar wide, the gap remained at six, and no further doubt was sown in the Premier psyche. When Cork did eventually open their second half account 10 minutes later, they trailed by one.

2: The passage that led to the Premier pulling out of sight spoke volumes of Cork’s collapsed cohesion and game-intelligence. On 53 minutes, Darragh Fitzgibbon raced in from the Hogan Stand side. Cork’s usual slick exchanging of passes and usual directness had long been drowned in the blue and gold maelstrom. Fitzgibbon lofted across the large parallelogram a hit-and-hope ball.

This is what the offensive unit of 17 championship goals coming into today had been reduced to. This is what the offensive unit who took this same Tipp defence for seven goals in their last two outings had been reduced to. The hit-and-hope was turned over. Breen delivered a boomer. John McGrath caught and was fouled. Young Darragh McCarthy converted for a second Tipp goal and six-point lead.

3: You could argue the final was long cooked, given the 12-point difference, but we still feel worth mentioning the four successive Cork scoring opportunities not taken between 61 and 63 minutes. Darragh Fitzgibbon was overruled by Hawk-Eye, the crossbar denied Séamus Harnedy, Alan Connolly threw a wayward pass to Hayes when he should have shot himself for green, and then another effort out the field hit the post. 2-2 not taken. The door not so much shut, as the key turned and locked.