So would Leinster champions Dublin continue their winning ways or would beaten Munster finalists Cork overcome them?
The teams met in today’s All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final and we had all the action.
As always, we’d love to hear your comments. Send them to fintan@thescore.ie, tweet them @TheScoreGAA, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.
RESULT: Cork 1-24 Dublin 1-19
We’re getting set for the big one in Croke Park today. Cheers amongst both sets of supporters as the Cork and Dublin teams have taken to the field.
Here’s the teams that are named to start this afternoon, no changes on either side from their last games.
Dublin: Gary Maguire; Niall Corcoran, Peter Kelly, Paul Schutte; Stephen Hiney, Liam Rushe, Michael Carton; John Mc Caffrey, Joseph Boland; Conal Keaney, Ryan O’Dwyer, Danny Sutcliffe; David O’Callaghan, Paul Ryan, David Treacy.
Cork: Anthony Nash; Stephen McDonnell, Shane O’Neill, Conor O’Sullivan; Tom Kenny, Christopher Joyce, William Egan; Lorcan McLoughlin, Daniel Kearney; Seamus Harnedy, Jamie Coughlan, Pa Cronin; Luke O’Farrell, Patrick Horgan, Conor Lehane.
The referee today is Wexford’s James Owens with linesmen being Offaly’s Brian Gavin (the standby referee) and Galway’s Alan Kelly. Carlow’s Paud O’Dwyer is the sideline official.
Here are the Dublin substitutes:
Alan Nolan, Chris Crummy, Eamon Dillon, Shane Durkin, Oisin Gough, Conor McCormack, Sean McGrath, Maurice O’Brien, Martin Quilty, Mark Schutte, Ruairi Trainor.
And here are the Cork substitutes:
Darren McCarthy, Killian Murphy, Brian Murphy, Mark Ellis, Stephen White, Rob O’Shea, Cian McCarthy, Stephen Moylan, Catahl Naughton, Michael Cussen, Michael O’Sullivan.
Dublin boss Anthony Daly.
Cork’s Jimmy Barry-Murphy.
Great crowd here and a brilliant atmosphere is being whipped up ahead of the 3.30pm throw-in. So tell us who do you think will win?
Dublin 0-1 Cork 0-0: 1 mins – And Dublin are quickly in front with a monster long-range point by Danny Sutcliffe.
Cork 0-1 Dublin 0-1: 2 mins – Cork draw level as Patrick Horgan rifles over the resultant free.
Cork 0-2 Dublin 0-1: 3 mins – Half a goal chance for Cork through Conor Lehane but in the end he does well to tap over a point under pressure.
Cork 0-3 Dublin 0-1: 4 mins – Cork point again through Luke O’Farrell. A fine score after he was picked out by his club mate Conor Lehane.
Great defensive work by Dublin’s Peter Kelly to snuff out a scoring chance for Patrick Horgan and win a free.
Cork 0-3 Dublin 0-2: 7 mins – And Paul Ryan fires over the free into the Hill 16 end.
Cork 0-3 Dublin 0-3: 8 mins – Dublin turn over Cork in defence, Paul Ryan floats in a ball that O’Callaghan gathers before pointing.
Bad wide for Cork from Seamus Harnedy as he was picked out in space by Conor Lehane.
Dublin 0-4 Cork 0-4: 10 mins – Ryan O’Dwyer wins a puckout and Dublin create an overlap for a move that is finished off by a Conal Keaney point. Yet Cork hit back with a good individual effort by Lorcan McLoughlin.
Cork 0-5 Dublin 0-4: 12 mins – Great play by Conor Lehane to block down Liam Rushe and he switches the play across for Lorcan McLoughlin to break through for another point.
Cork 0-6 Dublin 0-5: 15 mins – McLoughlin points again for Cork to put them back in front after Paul Ryan had scored a ’65 for Dublin.
Dublin 0-6 Cork 0-6: 16 mins – David Treacy ties the teams with a fine point for Dublin, moments after his point attempt had dropped short.
Dublin 0-7 Cork 0-6: 17 mins – Then Danny Sutcliffe bounds onto a loose ball and clips over a stylish point.
Dublin 0-7 Cork 0-7: 18 mins – But this match continues to be tightly contested as Conor Lehane flights over a point for Cork in reply.
Dublin 0-8 Cork 0-7: 19 mins – Joey Boland gets off the mark for Dublin after being set up by David Treacy. Great work by Sutcliffe initially for Dublin.
Dublin 0-8 Cork 0-8: 19 mins – Can’t take your eyes off this game. They’re level again as Patrick Horgan scores for Cork.
Great play by Patrick Horgan to set up Daniel Kearney but after he cuts through, he tries a goal effort from 20 yards that is deflected wide for a ’65.
Early Dublin change as Stephen Hiney is replaced in defence by his club mate Shane Durkin.
Cork 0-9 Dublin 0-8: 23 mins – Nice point by Seamus Harnedy as he is first to react to a breaking ball.
Cork 0-10 Dublin 0-9: 27 mins – Brilliant skill by Conor Lehane to control a pass by Luke O’Farrell and he fires over a point. But Dublin hit back instantly through Dotsy O’Callaghan.
Cork 0-11 Dublin 0-9: 29 mins – Patrick Horgan converts a free to stretch Cork’s lead.
Dublin 1-9 Cork 0-11: 30 mins – Dublin hit the net as David Treacy escapes from the Cork cover to boot home after a pass by Paul Ryan.
Dublin 1-9 Cork 0-12: 30 mins – Cork bounce back to level when Harnedy is fouled and Horgan strikes over the free.
Dublin 1-10 Cork 0-13: 31 mins – Great point for Dublin from Johnny McCaffrey from play yet Cork reply with a fine score by Harnedy.
Scoring chance for Dublin but Conal Keaney lashes the ball wide from close range. Hawkeye confirms it.
Dublin 1-11 Cork 0-14: 34 mins – But again Cork hit back with a superb point from Patrick Cronin.
Cork 0-15 Dublin 1-11: 36 mins – Bad clearance by Dublin’s Shane Durkin is seized on by Cork’s Daniel Kearney as he drills the ball between the posts.
Half-Time: Cork 0-15 Dublin 1-11: And that’s how it stands after an amazing first-half. Brilliant score taking from both sides with Cork just in front at the interval.
Dublin 1-12 Cork 0-15: 36 mins – Poorly hit free by Paul Ryan but the ball finds its way to Ryan O’Dwyer and he despatches it between the posts.
Cork 0-16 Dublin 1-12: 39 mins – Cork hit the front after a mighty long-range point from a free by goalkeeper Anthony Nash.
Dublin 1-13 Cork 0-16: 40 mins – Level again after substitute Shane Durkin scores for Dublin.
Dublin aren’t happy that a free wasn’t awarded for what looked like a foul on David O’Callaghan by Shane O’Neill. Patrick Cronin fires wide for Cork at the other end.
Dublin goal chance but Ryan O’Dwyer’s shot is well blocked by Anthony Nash for Cork.
Dublin 1-15 Cork 0-16: 44 mins – Paul Ryan fires over a Dublin free as Cork bring on Stephen White for Tom Kenny.
Dublin 1-16 Cork 0-17: 45 mins – Patrick Horgan points a free for Cork after McLoughlin is fouled with Conal Keaney responding at the other end for Dublin.
Dublin 1-16 Cork 0-18: 49 mins – The gap is back to the minimum thanks to Cork’s Luke O’Farrell pointing.
And Dublin’s Ryan O’Dwyer has just been sent off after being booked for the second time in the game.
He fouled Lorcan McLoughlin with a shoulder to the chest. That’s a big setback for Dublin and could be a big moment in this game.
Dublin 1-16 Cork 0-19: 50 mins – And Cork draw level with Nash slamming over the free from distance.
Dublin substitute sees Mark Schutte in for David Treacy. Cork temporary change with McLoughlin replaced by Rob O’Shea.
Dublin 1-16 Cork 0-20: 52 mins – Jamie Coughlan lofts over a fine point for Cork to put them ahead.
Dublin 1-17 Cork 0-20: 54 mins – 14 man Dublin draw level with a beautiful point from Danny Sutcliffe.
Dublin 1-17 Cork 0-21: 55 mins – Patrick Horgan scores a free for Cork after Patrick Cronin was fouled.
Dublin 1-18 Cork 0-22: 60 mins – Patrick Horgan steps up for Cork to land a vital point from play. Eamonn Dillon on for Dublin instead of Dotsy O’Callaghan.
Cork 1-23 Dublin 1-19: 66 mins – Massive boost for Cork as a long ball in from Patrick Cronin sees Gary Maguire come out to gather it, but Horgan flicks the ball off him and into the net.
Paul Ryan smashes in a 20 yard free for Dublin but Cork block it on the line and clear to safety.
Cork 1-24 Dublin 1-19: 72 mins – Moylan delivers for Cork as he lobs over a point. Ruairi Trainor replaces Paul Schutte for Dublin.
Really feel like we can get two wins from three over there. They’ll have an inexperienced coach, a massive loss with pollard although the likes of jantjies,lambi and goosen aren’t bad, a few aging players and du preez is another huge loss for them.
Bring the likes of Henderson and O Mahony back into the set up and hopefully the likes of McCloskey,Olding,Gilroy,Marshall,Healy,Ringrose can get their chance to prove themselves. Looking forward to it.
1 win would be a success considering it’s never been done before. 2 would require some serious celebrations. And 3 would probably result in the boks going into hiding and would incite a civil war.
Given the publicised politics surrounding the appointment. It will be interesting to see the selection for the Boks. Coetzee will be under significant public pressure to select new players and will they be able to do the job ?
Can’t wait too. The Ireland camp will target a win. Everything else will be a bonus. As ever, worried about the third test. We could be knackered by then with a load of injuries.
Coetzee is a very conservative coach there wont be too many new players blooded.
What’s his record & style of play like? SA where pretty dour under Meyer
Coetzee was a strong front runner only for the fact that all his competitors pulled out of the race when it was made clear selections will need to be made to appease the politicians. Nick Mallet, Rassie Erasmus, Johan Ackermann and a no. of international coaches pulled the pin & rightly so. It was very publicly stated that the new coach needs to work within certain perimeters and achieve transformation targets. In other words results come second…..
What a joke
Well the job was never publicly offered at any point, so therefore no one technically turned downed the job. Rassie did publicly state that if the job was offered to him he would take it but like I said before SARU want him in his current position as the head of the high performance unit. Johan Akerman in my opinion will get the job eventually but on his own terms with his own team when he is ready. As long as SARU operate like they still in the amateur era then the Springboks will always play catch up to the All blacks. As a Springbok fan I’m not too worried just yet, watching our varsity cup teams and baby boks there is plenty talent to keep us challenging at the top table. The biggest problem south african rugby faces is poaching of our underage talent.
Johan will not get the job on his own terms, that’s my point exactly. Poaching is a massive problem, but politics is an even bigger issue, don’t lose sight of that.
He did take the stormers into the play-offs 4 times in 6 years and he won a currie cup with western province. To say he lacks ability is a bit far fetched. If you remember correctly Jake White had only won a junior world cup and had no super rugby experience when he took over the springboks.
Do you think 4 x playoffs in Super Rugby with a golden generation of players is a good return? Currie Cup is meaningless as none of the top players in SA compete in the compo. Facts are, there are way better out there to select, however they have made themselves unavailable… Coetzee has the experience, but is very limited. His hands will be tied when selecting his team & backroom staff.
100% its not a good return but in saying that domestic success does not equate to automatic international success they can be mutually exclusive. The Currie cup that he won in 2012 was when Springboks were still allowed to play in the knockout phase. SARU would never appoint a foreign coach because the general council of 14 unions would never agree to it regardless of policy. Therefore of the current SA coaches, Jake White will never come near the job again, Heyneke lost to Japan so he had to fall on his sword, Nick Mallet is a TV presenter, Rassie and his high performance team should have got the job but SARU dont want to let him go from his position of director of rugby and Johan Akerman is not ready for the job hence him signing a 2 year extension.
I’m sure if any of the above wanted the job a plan would have been made, problem is, they didn’t which is embarrassing considering SA is supposedly a super power rugby nation. 2012 was 4 season ago, yes top Boks played, but only in semi & finals…..
Wow! Wouldn’t even make the cut in T2 rugby…