So the Pro Kaddabi makes way on Sky Sports for Cork v Donegal, which throws in at 4pm.
GAA editor Fintan O’Toole is in Croke Park for us and will have a report and plenty of reaction to today’s intriguing qualifier clash.
I’m confined to barracks as we go minute-by-minute meanwhile in what should be a really interesting clash.
How do you see this one going?
Peter Canavan expects the Rebels to have ‘a real lash at it’ while Donegal will be excellent in defence as always.
The talk of an upset here and four Munster teams making the last eight has built all week it seems.
James Horan thinks Cork football needs a huge game and expects to see it at HQ.
Earlier, the sides met in a minor semi-final. And it was first blood Donegal.
The Ulster side ran out 2-13 to 0-13 winners with Cork ending the game a man down.
Read the match report here.
Rory Gallagher on whether the Rebels will give Donegal a bit more space to play than that in the Ulster final defeat: “Every game is different. Cork have a number of gameplans as they’ve shown. Whatever they throw at us, it’s up to us to adapt.”
Here are your teams:
That’s three changes for the Leesiders: Tom Clancy (Clonakilty), Sean Powter and Donncha O’Connor in for Brian O’Driscoll, Patrick Kelly and Colm O’Neill.
It’s Powter’s senior championship debut.
Peadar Healy: “We’ve put a lot of work into our defence and I just hope that work pays off today.”
And we’re up and running with Alan O’Connor winning the first battle for possession.
Cork start well with the ball going though the hands a lot. Paul Kerrigan takes the shot on from an acute angle but it’s a wide from the skipper.
Cork 0-1 Donegal 0-0 The Rebels hit the first score of the game through Tom Clancy. Donncha O’Connor played a nice ball inside.
Cork 0-2 Donegal 0-0 This is a bright start from Cork with Kevin O’Driscoll notching a great score after coming from deep.
Cork 0-2 Donegal 0-1 Paddy McBrearty knocks one over and Donegal are off the mark. A goal was on.
Cork 0-2 Donegal 0-2 We’re level after five minutes. Paddy McBrearty was on the end of a move, in front of the goal, and he lofts over easily.
Neither defence looks particularly stable at the moment.
Cork 0-3 Donegal 0-2 Sean Powter charged through and hit a good point to put Cork in front again but he took a heavy knock.
Cork 0-4 Donegal 0-2 The Rebels win the kick-out again and ultimately the ball ends up in Donncha O’Connor’s hands; like so many times through the years, the ball goes over the bar.
Cork 0-4 Donegal 0-3 Soft enough free perhaps but Paddy McBrearty makes no mistake from the subsequent kick.
Cork 0-5 Donegal 0-4 Paul Kerrigan points after a good run from Cadogan who was in nosebleed territory and then McBrearty with another free. 15 minutes gone.
Cork 0-6 Donegal 0-4 The eldest of the O’Driscolls, Colm, finds plenty of space and points well.
GOAL! Cork 1-6 Donegal 0-4, Paul Kerrigan
What a quality score. The Nemo man cut inside and buried the ball into the top corner with his right foot. A captain’s goal.
Moment’s earlier Donegal failed to take advantage of a goal opportunity of their own.
The talk was that Donegal would be battle hardened for this clash but they look very tired on that big Croke Park pitch. Rory Gallagher has a big job to turn this around.
Cork 1-6 Donegal 0-6 McBrearty kicks his fifth of the day and his is probably the pick of the bunch, on the run away from goal.
The Ulster side are back to within a score of Cork.
Cork 1-7 Donegal 0-7 McBrearty is flying and he’s just hit his sixth of the afternoon. Eoin Cadogan can’t get near him. Kevin O’Driscoll responds for the Rebels.
Earlier, some great Cork work and defending results in a multi-phase Donegal move ending in a pressurised kick which drifts wide.
Cork 1-7 Donegal 0-10 Michael Murphy guides the ball over with the outside of his foot. Lovely stuff.
This is a great game.
As I type, Ryan McHugh adds another. They’re motoring now.
Cork 1-7 Donegal 0-11 Karl Lacey puts the Ulster outfit in front for the first time. Cork seem to have dropped a few gears. A score or two before half-time is badly needed.
Cork 1-8 Donegal 0-11 Tomas Clancy drives forward again to score an important one. Couple of minutes to half time now.
Save! Ian Maguire was played in with a goal likely but Mark Anthony McGinley makes a great save.
HALF-TIME: Cork 1-9 Donegal 0-11 Donncha O’Connor ensures the Rebels go in on top after a great half of football with a late point.
What did you make of that?
Here we go again then. It’s the last period of football of the year for one of these heavyweights.
McBrearty looks lively again but he drags an effort wide for the first time this afternoon.
Yellow card for Donncha O’Connor for a tug of the jersey, I think.
You wouldn’t think it’s such an important game for these counties, judging by the atmosphere at Croke Park, it has to be said.
Cork 1-10 Donegal 0-13 McGlynn scores a lovely point for Donegal before Mark Collins replies with an equally impressive effort. McBrearty then does it again and we’re level.
Cork 1-11 Donegal 0-13 Colm O’Driscoll scores another point after again charging forward into acres of space.
Meanwhile, Paddy Kelly is on for Peter Kelleher.
Cork 1-11 Donegal 0-14 Ryan McHugh draws Donegal level and Eamonn McGee is replaced by Ciaran Gillespie.
Cork 1-12 Donegal 0-14 Aidan Walsh kicks a really great point and Cork go ahead.
Leo McLoone is on for Rory Kavanagh as Donegal continue to change things up.
Cork 1-12 Donegal 0-15 McNeilish with a point to continue this tit-for-tat pattern.
Colm O’Neill is on for Donncha O’Connor with 46 minutes on the clock. Brian O’Driscoll comes on for Tom Clancy moments later.
Cork 1-14 Donegal 0-15 Colm O’Neill makes no mistake from a free to put the Rebels two points ahead, significantly. 19 minutes or so to go.
Cork 1-14 Donegal 0-16 Eoin Cadogan gives away a cheap free and McBrearty puts it over.
Cork 1-14 Donegal 0-17 We’re level again! Eoin McHugh puts it over. 15 mins or so left.
Both teams seem to be tensing up as the pressure cranks up with several snatched efforts on goal.
10 minutes to go.
Cork 1-14 Donegal 0-18 Patrick McBrearty hits his 10th point of the day with a free and Donegal hit the front. Some going.
Mark McHugh is on.
Donegal 0-19 Cork 1-14 Michael Murphy with a free to put the Ulster side two ahead with five minutes to go.
Let’s see what this Rebels side are made of now.
What a block! Huge Cork pressure should have resulted in at least a point. Ultimately Paddy Kelly took on the shot but Gillespie got down for an amazing intervention.
Donegal 0-20 Cork 1-14 Donegal go three ahead with a big Ryan McHugh point and we’re into garbage time.
An awful miss from Colm O’Neill from a free. He went for the point rather than try to work a goal and managed neither obviously.
It’ll be goals from now on, you’d imagine.
Donegal 0-21 Cork 1-15 Paddy McBrearty with another excellent strike to put this beyond doubt. Over the shoulder stuff and maybe the best all day.
Colm O’Neill adds one for Cork and McBrearty is black carded to huge applause.
Full-time: Donegal 0-21 Cork 1-15
Donegal get the job done to set up a showdown with Dublin and it’s the end of the road for Cork.
The Rebels seemed to run out of gas or forget where the posts were after an hour or so.
What did you make of that?
Settled team from last week pretty much. They played well, they played expansive rugby and they deserve a run out again this week.
I was genuinely worried he was going to start Murray and o’Mahoney while also brining Henshaw straight back in.
So it’s great to see Farrell stick to form.
Don’t really get the omission of Murray. A Lion. If Murray plays to his potential we might have a chance. If GSP plays at his very best we won’t win anyway.
@Tombmunster: what are u smoking Murray kicking game would kill ireland he’s past it
@Tombmunster:
Murray hasn’t played well in the past 3 years. Shouldn’t even be in the squad
@Gavin Delves: Murray doesn’t decide the game plan to box kick. That is the way Ireland and Munster have played under Joe and now Farrell. Blaming Murray for box kicking is naive. Do you think he has been going against the game plan for the last 6 years?
@Tombmunster: cos no one will ever watch another ireland match if we have to watch any more box kicks
@Tom Cunningham: your 100%right
@Tombmunster: I can help you there JGP is in form and Murray is living on past glory, regrettably we all have to move on:(
@Tombmunster: so the gameplay is kicking when it’s Murray but passing quickly from the breakdown when it’s anyone else?
@Tombmunster: if you believe murrary box kicks because hes told to then i am afraid you are the naive one.
@Tombmunster: Last time we played New Zealand with Murray on the field we got hammered, last time we played New Zealand with Murray not playing we won, so I think one player is not really going to make much of a difference. It’s more about the collective but ya I don’t think Gibson Park is the best scrum half in the country I would have Marmion, Blake or Casey ahead of him but Farrell seems to like him.
@Chris Mc: so u think players go out and do their own thing?
@Dave Moran: horrific is a bit of a harsh description for a lions captain
@Macca1986: most teams have playmakers at 9 and 10, maybe 8 and a few more positions but mainly 9, 10 and the captain make decsions on the pitch . Plently of Coaches tell those players to play what they see, when your a slow 9 all you see is boxkicks and one up runners then thats what happens. If like JGP you get to the breakdown very quickly and only see a box kick as a last resort then you run with the ball.
@Chris Mc: the same naysayers are back about Murray. They all hopped the fence when he was named Lions captain and were all about him. Good to see the natural order of things returning.
It’s easy to play a high tempo game when your forwards are dominating the opposition. I think JGP is alright but this weekend is the real litmus test and I hope he has a blinder. Should be a cracking game regardless of who’s at 9
@Leroy Jenkins: any forward will tell you when they win the ball the last thing they want is for the backs to give the ball back to the team they just took the ball off.
For front foot ball you need to give your forwards something to run on to and keep them going forward.
If your 9 slows down the play allows the other team set defensively then its much more difficult to keep on thr front foot.
If you dont beleive me rewatch last weeks game and see what happens to frontfoot ball when your 9 slows everything down.
@Chris Mc: this weekend will tell a lot where ireland are, a lot of players last week got an arm chair ride as it was Japans 5th match since the last World Cup
@Mehall: that’s a load of bollox Murray was playing in Chicago when we played some great rugby and won if losing to the all Black’s was a reason to be dropped then by your reasoning Sexton shouldn’t be on the field either. Murray was selected on the Lions, GP wasn’t. Selecting a team based on a performance against a seriously underpar Japan is crazy. I can’t see how people are not up in arms over the dropping of Beirne it’s a disgraceful decision and makes absolutely no sense. He’s mobile, powerful and great on the ground and is playing very well. James Ryan is living on his reputation here, hope he proves me wrong
@Leroy Jenkins: tbf that’s not at all true, all the munster fans were going nuts, everyone else was in shock, it made more sense when he was dropped from the starting team
@Tombmunster: nonsense , Murray too slow at rucks, passing etc. Losing valuable space & time for backs & forwards. And box kicking isn’t the answer any more – JGP is the right call if we want to play at pace. Maybe play Murray if you want to be conservative with lots of rucks and lots of kicking and rely on set piece
@Michael McGrath: I’d have gone for Beirne & Henderson too to be fair – more mobility. The days of the big slow lock are gone except when the lock is particularly big & powerful – unfortunately for Ryan the game has moved on and he’s neither quick nor particularly powerful… at least not yet. We saw this champions cup last year – a monster of a lock can be an effective weapon but if you haven’t got that then you’re going to need pace
@Michael McGrath: I’d have gone for Beirne & Henderson too to be fair – more mobility. The days of the big slow lock are gone except when the lock is particularly big & powerful – unfortunately for Ryan the game has moved on and he’s neither quick nor particularly powerful… at least not yet. We saw this champions cup last year – a monster of a lock can be an effective weapon but if you haven’t got that then you’re going to need pace. The JGP call is the right one
Big call on Beirne. Would’ve liked to see Earls start but Lowe is definitely more powerful when he goes forward. Good side hope they do the business even if it’s just to piss off the soccer fans who’ve been wheeling the “it’s a friendly” bs all week
@Dave Moran: worked the last time we played them in d’aviva
@Dave Moran: ah good to see youre back. We talked about this…why do you do it? Surely the utiles of enjoyment brought about by ‘baiting’ munster fans is dimishing over time? You may be an exception to this law though. If you arw going to persist, can you at least inject a bit of subtlety and or whit into your responses, give us something
@k mcnamara: Glad your happy to see me back mate. Would you believe i was banned the night Leinster beat Munster in the Pro 14?? Anyways, you can say im a troll but i only speak the truth, although some do not agree with my opinions
@Sam Murray: Its a rugby test match and they kill each other as if its a world Cup final.
A soccer friendly is a soccer friendly they literally don’t touch each other
@Dave Moran: ah here, i wouldnt be for banning anyone save personal abuse. I have no issues with opinions, but you know theres 50% of trolling in your posts. Murray is arguably our best ever 9, well past his best but deffo not “horrific”, but JGP deserves his start based on last week but maybe not even the best 9s in ireland now. Youre issue with earls is trolling or not based on fact. As a winger (hes not a centre), hes up there with one of our best and still has something to offer at this level as was evidenced last year…nearly always beats the 1st man, is good in the air and is a good defender. Compare that to lowes international form thus far…when up aginst top level opositon..lets see how hes does on the turn and when hes facing different points of attack.
James Lowe’s defence will be asked serous questions. Not sure he has the answers at this level – especially against the All Blacks.
@James Maguire: I reckon he’ll score one but give away 3.
@James Maguire: the only poor read in defense last week was conways for their try nobody thinks hes a poor defender.
Lowe creates more than he scores and while makes thr wrong call every now and them in defence mote than makes uo foe it in attack.
@Chris Mc: no he doesn’t! Has never shown up for Ireland in attack. Last weekend was a joke of a game the Japanese were nowhere to be seen.
@guineon: I have to agree – I think he’s shown very little (if any) of his attacking abilities for Leinster in Green. His defence has been woeful on the International stage. I’ve a feeling he’ll be hung out to dry on Saturday – I sincerely hope I’m wrong!
@James Maguire: maybe you need to rewatch the game last Saturday? He made 6 offloads from a total of 17. His passing was right on when attacking. Can’t see what you see…
@Con Cussed: He was better in attack, I’d agree – but Japan were dreadful. He wasn’t tested defensively – he will be on Saturday.
@guineon: so when ireland play well the other team are rubbish. So no matter when we do there’s no credit in it. If you cant admit lowe had a good game last weekend then your just showing bias and really lose credibility in your argument.
@Chris Mc: It doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive!
IMO Ireland played well and Japan did not – they didn’t look anything near the side that played the Lions or Australia recently. How much of this was a credit to Ireland nullifying their gameplan in attack remains to be seen, and we’ll know more on Saturday.
@Chris Mc: I’m not bias at all. I just want the best players to play and nobody can realistically argue based on James Lowe’s Ireland career that he is one of the top 2 wingers. Any time he plays against a half decent and switched on team he’s shown up as a poor defender and doesn’t do enough in attack to cover that.
Balcoune is a more exciting attacker and to my knowledge has never been a shambles in defense. Earls rarely ever lets the team down, larmour has struggled at 15 defending but is much better on the wing. Brings more in attack too.
It’s reasonable for people to be disappointed he’s selected
James Ryan = undroppable no matter the form or impact on the game.
Tadgh beirne = underrated and overlooked again
All blacks = as poor as they have been in years under foster but still good quality.
I’d nearly sell the house in this market and put all of it on ireland under farrell not winning the world Cup, heck making the final … actually to get to the semifinals. No chance.
I’d be delighted at a QF exit now to be fair giving the circumstances they are up against making the last 8 in a sport where there’s only 8 top sides would be great going.
@baw baw: I look forward to not hearing from you again then since you’ve written Ireland off. Don’t bother following them until after the World Cup.
@baw baw: clearly your not an irish supporter, slating farrell but just to cover your bases saying the alblacks are poor so even if we do win its down to them and not us ( by us i mean ireland) begrudgery is alive and well on the 42
@baw baw: some man to go selling the house!
@baw baw: I’m assuming you are a man with strong GAA routes as that level of misery takes time to bed in. Head back to that parochial village of yours put the house on the market as you never know you might just get lucky and if not, it’s not like your going to lose much!
@Pol Mac An Sionnaigh: I’ve never played it and nope rugby is the sport I play and have played from small.
No misery just sheer disbelieve at how much of a pigs ear can be made of the one sport we should be there thereabouts in.
And to answer the above I’m hoping for change so will hang in watching and if I deem so commenting on irish rugby thanks. And the other comment i was being factual in saying the all blacks have dropped off their standards and considering ireland beat them at a higher point that this will be a measure of how poor Andy farrells ireland are put together. Performance and style wise it’s much better selection wise it’s horrendous and the mantra of harder to get off the team than on it is coming back ten fold.
Cheers lads great chat
@baw baw: how much for the house?
@baw baw: pigs ear??
OK our world cups have been terrible but we have been at the top of Europe on many occasions in the last 20 years.
@This time its personable!: 4.8million and its 2 bed in city-west so shes priced to sell
@baw baw: nice and reasonable, does it have single glazing? I suspect at that price it probably does?
@baw baw: OK I see your clear appreciation for the sport and my comments were mainly for a bit of comedy and a dig at the ever increasing gouding gga fan. I think cycles happen in international rugby but the down turn rarely lasts in NZ. They regenerate faster and better than anyone. Their head coach is not there to create but guide the best fifteen rugby players in the world. Their pro structure is there to produce the best in coaching and players to insure cream rises. The world cup only happens every 4 years so timing is everything but if it was a yearly league NZ would be undefeated. That’s to be expected against a country which has higher playing numbers, understands the sport better and has best 3 academies in the world… Figí, Samoa and Tonga!
Lowe is going to be under huge pressure from the start, can see our defense drifting over to cover, could end up with a gap through our centers that Keenan needs to plug, which will leave space in behind. I think Beirne should start, one of our most complete players. Bit worried about the quality of the backs on the bench; Carberry is in as he is the designated successor to Sexton not because he is the form player, Murray ring rusty, Earls decision making suspect.
If jgp and lowe get injured early on,I’d give us a great chance of winning.I’ll be saying my prayers on Saturday morning
@Hugo: when you say give us a great chance of winning i take it your a kiwi?
@Chris Mc: nope,Ireland supporter why do you ask?
@Hugo: this is an utterly disgraceful post and I’m delighted the lads proved the likes of you wrong.
Good starting 15 , no real issues there . Bench isn’t great . Murray , o Mahony , and carbery shouldn’t be anywhere near the team on current form .
You’d have to wonder about dropping Beirne
To the bench , strange decision.
Must be down to his work in the tight cos he offers more than James Ryan in open play .
Looking forward to this, decent team with a good shot at winning if they can keep it together, Henderson was good when he came on, you couldn’t really fault JGP or any of the back row last week, cant control how good or bad the opposition will handle a game, there are really no tactics we can employ to mindfully beat this team, hope they play what’s in front of them, would ignore the Hacka, ftp. Good to see AF select based on form in the squad, on the whole with the players available all the calls are warranted. Big day for the players in their first outing, I would imagine all will be targets. Would love to take the hop out of their globe-trotting step.
Pleased that he didn’t bring back Murray and Henshaw, given how little rugby they’ve played recently
JGP had a good game vs very poor opposition. Picking him over Murray is an odd call. Ryan shouldn’t even be on the bench over Baird, let alone starting over Beirne. Super important game for Lowe, a good showing and he’s come of age on the international scene.
Listed team above is incorrect
@Padraig Corcoran: what is incorrect about it that’s the team
@Gavin Delves: …he was right at the time. They had Beirne in for Ryan.
@Michael Murray: Aye. A know a comment like mine does not age well!!
@Padraig Corcoran:
..5h!t happens……can’t see you losing sleep !!
It shows the strength in depth in Ireland when we have a bench like that and perhaps better players injured or waiting in the wings.
@Derek Cassidy: the bench is weak. Not much impact there
Only 1 Munster starter and on the wing – how the mighty have fallen