TOMÁS Ó SÉ didn’t hold back when asked about Cork’s performance against Waterford in Saturday night’s Munster senior football championship quarter-final.
Speaking on The Sunday Game last night, former Kerry star Ó Sé insisted that the Rebels simply must do better, after they came through a nervy Fraher Field encounter with just a point to spare.
Insisting that it gives him no pleasure to stick the boot in, Ó Sé compared the Cork players to a “herd of sheep going into a field for the first time and cutting loose around the place.”
And he said that Peadar Healy has questions to answer, and questioned whether the Cork management and his backroom team are up to the task.
“It’s a tough time being a Cork footballer at the moment.
“You talk about football, tactics, belief and confidence.
“This Cork team haven’t been playing with that for the last two years.
Tommy Dickson / INPHO
Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO
“The players, I feel, are there. I’m playing club football in Cork (with Nemo Rangers), I see the players, I’ve seen them playing.
“They’ve won ten Munster U21s in the last 14 years but there’s some problem between U21 and senior level.
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“Sean White, Sean Powter, Kevin Crowley, Stephen Cronin, Michael Hurley, Sean Wilson, top class underage players. I don’t, for the life of me, understand how Cork can’t blend a team.
“The job of management is to have a team tactically ready. Waterford parked the bus and Cork looked as if they were playing a defensive team for the first time in their lives.
Cork manager Peadar Healy. Tommy Dickson / INPHO
Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO
“They’re capable of putting up big performances but they’re so few and far between.
“The management have a lot to answer for, they’re in charge, they need to lead and instil confidence but it’s not there.
“People in Cork are disgusted with the way things are turning out. Peadar Healy and his management team I’ve no doubt are good GAA men but I’m not sure are they up to the job of leading this team.
“I think the county board have something to answer for, they picked the guys in charge.
“You look back the years and what (former manager) Billy Morgan did with teams and how he inspired them.
Former Cork manager Billy Morgan. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
I don’t think they’re inspired. They look like a herd of sheep going into a field for the first time and cutting loose around the place. There’s no organisation or anything there. I wrote an article two years ago (about them) and you could put the same article into a newspaper today, and nothing’s changed.”
Former Donegal All-Ireland winner Rory Kavanagh backed up Ó Sé’s views, and recalled meeting Cork in last year’s round 4 All-Ireland qualifier.
He said: “I totally agree with Tomás, I’m struggling to get my head around the Cork footballers.
“Where does the blame lie? Players, management, county board?
Former Donegal All-Ireland winner Rory Kavanagh. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
“We played them last year in a qualifier game. We were coming off the back of losing an Ulster final against Donegal, we were a wounded animal going into that game.
“But you always felt, because it was Cork, and the way they were going, that you had a chance.
It turned out to be a lovely, open game, there wasn’t a hand laid on you. Paddy McBrearty kicked 11 points and it typifies the Cork mentality, there’s no cut, no edge, no ruthless streak. It could be a management issue, it probably is, it has to come from the top down but the players have to show some leadership.”
Tomás Ó Sé plays his club football with Cork outfit Nemo Rangers. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
Former Dublin star Ciaran Whelan pointed out that Cork did win the game, but will come in for another “kicking.”
Ó Sé countered: “How many times do you need to get a kicking? They got a kicking against Clare above in Ennis in the League this year and there was a lot of talk about it at the time.
“You’ll often say there are moments and you meet as a group at a crossroads and say, right, are we going down this road or that road? It seems like there are a lot of crossroads.”
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'They look like a herd of sheep going into a field for the first time' - Ó Sé lashes Cork footballers
TOMÁS Ó SÉ didn’t hold back when asked about Cork’s performance against Waterford in Saturday night’s Munster senior football championship quarter-final.
Speaking on The Sunday Game last night, former Kerry star Ó Sé insisted that the Rebels simply must do better, after they came through a nervy Fraher Field encounter with just a point to spare.
Insisting that it gives him no pleasure to stick the boot in, Ó Sé compared the Cork players to a “herd of sheep going into a field for the first time and cutting loose around the place.”
And he said that Peadar Healy has questions to answer, and questioned whether the Cork management and his backroom team are up to the task.
“It’s a tough time being a Cork footballer at the moment.
“You talk about football, tactics, belief and confidence.
“This Cork team haven’t been playing with that for the last two years.
“The players, I feel, are there. I’m playing club football in Cork (with Nemo Rangers), I see the players, I’ve seen them playing.
“They’ve won ten Munster U21s in the last 14 years but there’s some problem between U21 and senior level.
“Sean White, Sean Powter, Kevin Crowley, Stephen Cronin, Michael Hurley, Sean Wilson, top class underage players. I don’t, for the life of me, understand how Cork can’t blend a team.
“The job of management is to have a team tactically ready. Waterford parked the bus and Cork looked as if they were playing a defensive team for the first time in their lives.
“They’re capable of putting up big performances but they’re so few and far between.
“The management have a lot to answer for, they’re in charge, they need to lead and instil confidence but it’s not there.
“People in Cork are disgusted with the way things are turning out. Peadar Healy and his management team I’ve no doubt are good GAA men but I’m not sure are they up to the job of leading this team.
“I think the county board have something to answer for, they picked the guys in charge.
“You look back the years and what (former manager) Billy Morgan did with teams and how he inspired them.
Former Donegal All-Ireland winner Rory Kavanagh backed up Ó Sé’s views, and recalled meeting Cork in last year’s round 4 All-Ireland qualifier.
He said: “I totally agree with Tomás, I’m struggling to get my head around the Cork footballers.
“Where does the blame lie? Players, management, county board?
“We played them last year in a qualifier game. We were coming off the back of losing an Ulster final against Donegal, we were a wounded animal going into that game.
“But you always felt, because it was Cork, and the way they were going, that you had a chance.
Former Dublin star Ciaran Whelan pointed out that Cork did win the game, but will come in for another “kicking.”
Ó Sé countered: “How many times do you need to get a kicking? They got a kicking against Clare above in Ennis in the League this year and there was a lot of talk about it at the time.
“You’ll often say there are moments and you meet as a group at a crossroads and say, right, are we going down this road or that road? It seems like there are a lot of crossroads.”
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GAA harsh or fair? Cork The Sunday Game Tomás Ó Sé