FREETAKING DOMINATED THE agenda before yesterday’s game in Thurles and the theme continued right through the afternoon.
When you see James McGrath’s name on the match programme as the referee, you know that scoring opportunities from frees will come your way. Patrick Horgan and Colin Ryan are two of the best freetakers in the game but it was Horgan who got the more chances to show what he could do yesterday.
The Cork and Clare players tried their best to get into the game but McGrath blew the whistle in the first-half every time players collided. It frustrated the fans, particularly those from Clare as Cork were fortunate with a few they got awarded.
McGrath refereed the game to the letter of the law and while that may please the assessor sitting in the stand, it doesn’t contribute to a match that flows. This wasn’t an epic Munster semi-final, it was far too tense and there were too many halts to the play to allow that.
The other element of freetaking that was in the spotlight was those awarded to Cork close to goal. It was a major source of controversy before the game but Cork dealt with it very cleverly. I don’t think it was a major plan that Patrick Horgan would take them – more a decision made by himself – but it did succeed in taking the heat off Anthony Nash and ensuring there was no flashpoint as he came upfield.
Hoggy’s two goals were crucial for Cork. He caught Clare totally unawares with the first which was a completely instinctive strike. Then his penalty in the second-half killed off their comeback.
Last year Clare were hugely effective with Tony Kelly and John Conlon coming out around the middle and that’s where they created attacks from. Patrick Donnellan and Colm Galvin would have liked more bodies beside them yesterday and Cork revelled in the space there.
Daniel Kearney and Aidan Walsh showed their athleticism and appetite. Kearney got three great points and was on the ball a lot more in the last two games. Aidan Walsh really stood up for Cork. He’s been finding his feet for the hurlers before exploding yesterday. His powerful running from midfield gives Cork something they haven’t had since Tom Kenny excelled in that role.
Cork won’t be happy with the two goals they conceded yesterday, not dealing adequately with high balls that rained and allowed the ball to hang around the square for too long which always spells trouble. But overall they are flying.
This was another really good win and they have a great panel of players. There’s plenty ammunition in their forwards and they’re a group who can really catch fire. Jimmy Barry-Murphy was right to point out afterwards that this Cork team has won nothing.
That’s not an indictment of these Cork players, just a fact people may be unaware of as Cork haven’t won a Munster final since 2006. It proves they’ll be really hungry to win, especially when the game is on in Cork.
Dejected Clare player Colin Ryan. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Clare head to the qualifers but there’s still plenty hurling left in them. I think they are a small bit behind other teams at the moment. They stuck rigidly to their system yesterday but I believe they’ll tweak it and will work better in the qualifiers.
Getting Tony Kelly back to centre-forward is key, he was too restricted yesterday. I’d fancy Davy to get them at least back to the All-Ireland quarter-final stage and it’ll be a different scenario then.
Everyone had been keeping an eye on Wexford recently and viewed Saturday night’s Leinster semi-final as a chance to see how far along they were in their development. They have really good quality players and it was an opportunity to see where they were.
They fell short in the experience stakes. Dublin had that over them and it showed. Anthony Daly will be really happy at how his side overcame a 10-week break from action. They never looked like they were going to lose the game and passed an assignment that wasn’t easy.
Conal Keaney’s presence at full-forward was vital in the first-half and then he came out around the half-forward line to good effect after the break. Alan McCrabbe showed the importance of a good freetaker and they’ll hope to get guys like Danny Sutcliffe back fit for the replay.
Reaching a third Leinster final in four years is a sign of progress. They’re a really competitive hurling county now. I’d expect Kilkenny to come through next Sunday and that’s going to make for a really interesting Leinster final.
John Gardiner: Cork are flying after Clare's tactics backfire on a Semple day of frees
FREETAKING DOMINATED THE agenda before yesterday’s game in Thurles and the theme continued right through the afternoon.
When you see James McGrath’s name on the match programme as the referee, you know that scoring opportunities from frees will come your way. Patrick Horgan and Colin Ryan are two of the best freetakers in the game but it was Horgan who got the more chances to show what he could do yesterday.
The Cork and Clare players tried their best to get into the game but McGrath blew the whistle in the first-half every time players collided. It frustrated the fans, particularly those from Clare as Cork were fortunate with a few they got awarded.
McGrath refereed the game to the letter of the law and while that may please the assessor sitting in the stand, it doesn’t contribute to a match that flows. This wasn’t an epic Munster semi-final, it was far too tense and there were too many halts to the play to allow that.
The other element of freetaking that was in the spotlight was those awarded to Cork close to goal. It was a major source of controversy before the game but Cork dealt with it very cleverly. I don’t think it was a major plan that Patrick Horgan would take them – more a decision made by himself – but it did succeed in taking the heat off Anthony Nash and ensuring there was no flashpoint as he came upfield.
Hoggy’s two goals were crucial for Cork. He caught Clare totally unawares with the first which was a completely instinctive strike. Then his penalty in the second-half killed off their comeback.
Last year Clare were hugely effective with Tony Kelly and John Conlon coming out around the middle and that’s where they created attacks from. Patrick Donnellan and Colm Galvin would have liked more bodies beside them yesterday and Cork revelled in the space there.
Daniel Kearney and Aidan Walsh showed their athleticism and appetite. Kearney got three great points and was on the ball a lot more in the last two games. Aidan Walsh really stood up for Cork. He’s been finding his feet for the hurlers before exploding yesterday. His powerful running from midfield gives Cork something they haven’t had since Tom Kenny excelled in that role.
Cork won’t be happy with the two goals they conceded yesterday, not dealing adequately with high balls that rained and allowed the ball to hang around the square for too long which always spells trouble. But overall they are flying.
This was another really good win and they have a great panel of players. There’s plenty ammunition in their forwards and they’re a group who can really catch fire. Jimmy Barry-Murphy was right to point out afterwards that this Cork team has won nothing.
That’s not an indictment of these Cork players, just a fact people may be unaware of as Cork haven’t won a Munster final since 2006. It proves they’ll be really hungry to win, especially when the game is on in Cork.
Clare head to the qualifers but there’s still plenty hurling left in them. I think they are a small bit behind other teams at the moment. They stuck rigidly to their system yesterday but I believe they’ll tweak it and will work better in the qualifiers.
Getting Tony Kelly back to centre-forward is key, he was too restricted yesterday. I’d fancy Davy to get them at least back to the All-Ireland quarter-final stage and it’ll be a different scenario then.
Dublin back in the final
Everyone had been keeping an eye on Wexford recently and viewed Saturday night’s Leinster semi-final as a chance to see how far along they were in their development. They have really good quality players and it was an opportunity to see where they were.
They fell short in the experience stakes. Dublin had that over them and it showed. Anthony Daly will be really happy at how his side overcame a 10-week break from action. They never looked like they were going to lose the game and passed an assignment that wasn’t easy.
Conal Keaney’s presence at full-forward was vital in the first-half and then he came out around the half-forward line to good effect after the break. Alan McCrabbe showed the importance of a good freetaker and they’ll hope to get guys like Danny Sutcliffe back fit for the replay.
Reaching a third Leinster final in four years is a sign of progress. They’re a really competitive hurling county now. I’d expect Kilkenny to come through next Sunday and that’s going to make for a really interesting Leinster final.
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5 talking points after Cork’s win over Clare in Munster senior hurling semi-final
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