Cork and Clare couldn’t be separated after an epic finish to the first All-Ireland hurling final three weeks ago, but which side is best placed to take the replay? Two JOEs argue the toss.
Declan Whooley says… It seems like a long time since Domhnall O’Donovan struck a last gasp equaliser for Clare last time out and while the build-up seems to be lower key for the replay, it promises to be another intriguing clash between the Munster rivals.
While the final 15 minutes in the drawn encounter was as dramatic as we have ever seen at Croke Park, the preceding 55 was not exactly vintage. Clare were by far the most impressive at that juncture and the common consensus is that the Rebels won’t play as badly again while questions remain as to whether the Banner men can reach such a level of performance again.
Ever since the Munster defeat at the hands of Cork, Clare have been ultra-consistent with their game plan, getting the better of all challengers. Even with the surprising change that saw the removal of Pat Donnellan as sweeper three weeks ago, it very nearly saw them triumph. However, after the concession of three goals, the focus is very much back on the Clare full-back line and the space afforded between both lines of defence.
Davy Fitzgerald will have been plotting in fine detail over the past three weeks – and also perhaps if he can perfect his evil stare – but he will be under no illusions as to the task facing him given it is highly unlikely that the Cork attack in particular will be as ineffective as last time out.
That may seem harsh for a side that scored 3-16, but the starting corner forwards Luke O’Farrell and Jamie Coughlan failed to score, Pa Cronin had a very quiet game on the 40 before he exerted a greater influence on proceedings in the full-forward line and Pat Horgan was held to just two points from play, though his final effort was worthy of winning an All-Ireland Final before O’Donovan had the final say.
Cian McCarthy has been called up by JBM to take the number 11 jersey, and along with Pa Cronin should add to Cork’s puck-out options, a real problem area the last time out, especially in the opening period. Conor Lehane, who had a fine game, could well cause more consternation in the corner, though he is likely to switch a number of times before the 70 minutes, or more, are out.
While Clare got the better at midfield, Daniel Kearney had a good outing, contributing two points and was a dangerous runner from broken play. His partner Lorcan McLoughlin had his most low-key game of championship by 2013, but should he up his performance to the levels we have seen earlier in the summer then the Rebels would at the very least expect to break even, which would spell real danger for Clare’s chances, where Conor Ryan gave a master class.
I expect Clare to play to a similar level to the drawn encounter, but ultimately I feel Cork will prevail for two main reasons. Firstly, as mentioned, I expect the forward unit to improve immeasurably and secondly, Clare’s forwards don’t carry the same scoring threat as their counterparts in red. Yes they will all chip in with points, but their inability to raise the green flag could cost them dearly. Cork aren’t serial goal scorers themselves generally, but you feel if needs must, they have the crafty forwards to plunder a goal should the situation arise.
The heart, and more importantly the head, say Liam McCarthy is set to make his way to Leeside for the next 12 months.
Conor Heneghan says… The general consensus following the drawn game between these sides three weeks ago is that Cork will be in a better position going into the replay because they didn’t play anywhere near their potential and have the greater scope for improvement.
It is a theory based to some degree at least on a similar situation last year when Kilkenny blew Galway out of the water the second time around having been lucky to get a draw in the first place. There is some merit to the theory but it is a little ignorant of the fact that last year, overall, Kilkenny were a better team than Galway and this year, in my opinion at least, Clare are a better team than Cork.
It didn’t look that way when the Rebels had plenty to spare when the sides met in Munster but since then Clare have steadily improved and since the victory over Galway in the quarter-final, have reached a level that, when they’re firing on all cylinders, no other team can match at this stage.
You could argue that Cork can match it because, well, they ended on level terms with Clare last time out, but Clare were probably six points the better team in that game before being stung with three goals in the second half, an unusual statistic for a usually watertight Clare defence.
Davy Fitzgerald threw a bit of a curveball in the first game by abandoning the sweeper and although it threw Cork off a bit at first, it was probably to their advantage when they ran directly at the Rebel rearguard in the second half.
Before that, however, Clare were completely on top so it remains to be seen what role Pat Donnellan will fulfill but whether or not he drops back to mind the house, a lot of the Clare players will have taken heart from how dominant they were over their individual markers and how in top they were in certain sectors of the field.
Even without a man protecting the full-back line, Pat Horgan barely got a sniff despite producing a few moments of individual brilliance, ditto Conor Lehane and Pa Cronin. Seamus Harnedy and Daniel Kearney were excellent but apart from that, Clare were far superior in the middle eight and if they achieve supremacy in that sector again, they’ll be well on their way.
The worry for Clare is that they are so methodical in their approach that they don’t create that many goal chances and don’t seem too bothered about doing so either. Cork knew they had to go for the jugular in the second half the first day and you’d wonder whether Clare would react in a similar way in they found themselves in the same situation.
On Off The Ball last night, Jamesie O’Connor made an interesting point about playing Conor McGrath, probably Clare’s best finisher, closest to goal instead of Darach Honan and, considering the impact Shane O’Neill had for Cork the first day it is a switch that would require Cork to adapt like they had to against no sweeper three weeks ago.
Cork is Cork and another All-Ireland final will hold no fear for the Rebels but there is serious character in this Clare team, as was evident in the dramatic way in which they rescued a draw from the jaws of defeat the first day.
There’ll be no rescuing this time around as for me, tomorrow will be the Banner’s day.
