2 weeks Ago By Andrew Ryan
SPORT is littered with examples of teams who’ve suffocated under the weight of great expectations.Cork were convincing winners of the National Hurling League.Cork won the National Hurling League final against TipperaryBrendan Moran/SportsfileBut Babs Keating does not believe they are favourites for the All-IrelandPiaras Ó Mídheach/SportsfileBut do not hold your breath if you’re convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the Liam MacCarthy Cup is heading to Leeside for the first time in 20 years.
The body of evidence available is not substantial enough to justify the confidence being expressed in Cork from so many quarters.The notion that they’ve surged ahead of the field is premature, to say the very least.What happened in the Division 1A final against Tipperary a fortnight ago is something I am largely inclined to ignore.
For a start, the goals Cork scored in that 13-minute spell in the first half won’t be so easily mined against a serious backline at Championship level. Their second-half display left a lot to be desired too.The argument that they took their foot off the gas is one that doesn’t hold water because a Cork team would not be brazen enough to do so in front of their own partisan crowd at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Cork know all about how difficult it is to get a result in Ennis, which has never been an easy place for visiting teams.It was set up for them to win there two years ago and they failed. The majority of the team who played that day will start again against Clare this afternoon.
Throughout the league, Pat Ryan showed his hand.But Brian Lohan held his cards close to his chest. Dropping down to Division 1B did not concern him.
Clare’s entire season to date has been geared towards this afternoon.People can talk as much as they like about the absence of Shane O’Donnell, who had a terrific 2024.Without him, Clare would not have reached the All-Ireland final.
But as good as he was last year, there were also periods — including in the final — when his influence was curtailed and others stepped up to the plate.At the end of the day, Clare aren’t taking to the field with 14 players.We know what to expect from Tony Kelly.
But they’ll be looking particularly towards David Fitzgerald and Peter Duggan to have a big say, as they have done previously against Cork.Home advantage should relieve much of the pressure from Clare.If this game was being played in Thurles or Limerick, I would have a much stronger conviction for a Cork victory.
Having that crowd behind them will be a massive benefit to the All-Ireland champions.Cork were gifted several goals on the way to their huge 6-20 to 0-23 league win in Ennis six weeks ago.I can guarantee you they’ll get nothing soft from the Banner backs today.
Clare will have all guns blazing when they come out of the dressing room.It would not surprise me in the slightest if Cork are shot down.DOESN’T BODE WELLTwo weeks ago, Tipp played in a National League final in a neighbouring county that was attended by 43,243 people.
Nevertheless, picking out a bit of blue and gold in the stands or the terraces was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.Do I see any prospect of Limerick being beaten in Thurles this afternoon?No, because the life has gone out of Tipperary.It does not bode well for Tipp that Liam Cahill is depending on two fellas, Darragh McCarthy and Sam O’Farrell, who played an Under-20 game against Clare in Sixmilebridge on Wednesday night.
My information is that Limerick’s recent training camp in Portugal gave them a new lease of life.Do not be fooled by their form in the league.They’ve ignored it in the past and it didn’t harm them.
Kyle Hayes will not let them down at centre-back. Will O’Donoghue is full of life at midfield. Adam English and Shane O’Brien have earned their places in the forwards.
And Cian Lynch is a worthy captain because his team-mates would die for him.Nickie Quaid has surprisingly been deemed fit enough to start in goal.But even if he missed out, I’m not convinced it would have been as big a handicap as many suggested.
Their strength in defence remains formidable, with the likes of Seán Finn and Dan Morrissey also ready to come in from the bench if needed. And in Quaid’s absence, Shane Dowling was an able deputy.His skill level is still unbelievable and, at 32 years of age, he deserves great credit for coming back after so long and proving himself to be such an asset when they were in a bind.
STAYING COYFor the time being, John Kiely might shy away from talking about regaining the All-Ireland title.But the Treaty County did not go all the way to Portugal just to prepare to play Tipperary in the first round of the Munster Championship.When you see the options available to their manager, that could make the difference over the course of a demanding campaign.
Waterford will be on the agenda when they enter the equation next week.But in terms of the overall picture in Munster, it is hard to look beyond the triumvirate of Limerick, Cork and Clare..
