Cork footballers need to push on now against Tyrone and Donegal (2024)

CORK'S win over Clare in Ennis will not remain long in the memory however the ramifications for the players will remain for the rest of the season.

Cork won this one by two but it should never have been that close.

With three to qualify from the group Cork now find themselves in good shape to push through the round-robin series however some points from the remaining two games wouldn’t go astray – just in case Clare manage to beat one Tyrone or Donegal.

Early exchanges in the opening few minutes would have led the faithful on both sides to believe that this was going to be a cagey affair as both sides seemed shy about taking a pop at the posts but that would change when Conor Corbett slotted over the game’s first point, Cork began to purr.

A tasty score from Colm O’Callaghan and Brian Hurley’s first game the Rebels a gap and the game opened up a bit more.

Cork’s adoption of a new system to spread the game (lining three or four players on the sideline during attacks – in the shape of a horseshoe) was meant to open space for the attacking set and on a couple of occasions it worked well however direct, counter-attacking football paid more dividends as Corbett’s goal on 17 minutes showed.

Cork were very good at stripping the ball in the middle and defensive thirds as a host of Clare’s attacks were snuffed out before the home side got a shot at the target. In fact this defensive strategy would ultimately decide this game as Clare lost far too much ball with the posts in sight.

Cork were dogged and resilient throughout the game with the attackers and defenders linking well – that said, on occasion, the Rebels were far too willing to hold possession and sacrifice position – difficult for the neutral to enjoy.

While Cork will take plenty from this win they also will need to focus on some of the flaws in their performance – and first among those would be the way they left an inferior Clare side back into this one.

Cork, led by five at the break and should have been comfortable from there but some missed frees, a missed goal chance and some less-than-spectacular defending at the half-back line meant that Clare were able to get back into the game – to the surprise of almost all in the ground.

Cork were well worth the spoils of victory but they had to fight hard for it at the finish.

Credit the lads that came off the bench, especially Stephen Sherlock and Mark Cronin (four points between them) for helping the side get their just deserts on the night.

Sitting in front of the press box was Brian Dooher and the Tyrone joint manager would have been impressed with some of the attributes that Cork showed on the night.

ATHLETIC

Breaking with the ball in hand the Leesiders were really impressive.

Their willingness to open the opposition defence with clean, precise foot and hand passes as well as sending numbers forward would frighten most teams as Cork do have athletic and powerful runners.

Dooher would also have been impressed with the way Cork stripped the ball from their opponents without conceding too many frees.

Cork will need to work on their ability to recycle the ball without stifling their attacking momentum and encourage their attacking defenders to run from deep more often – Cork are a real threat when they do this.

Cork’s best opportunity to defeat the two fancied sides, Tyrone and Donegal, is to go at them. Cork have to be prepared to go for the win in those games and open the game up which may result in a Cork loss but won’t necessarily damage anything other than the squad’s pride.

Cork have something of a free shot in their final two games and it would be great to see if the management and players can take those shots to express themselves in a manner that all in the stands can see suits the group that currently wear the Blood and Bandage.