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Irish Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Cork player ratings: Shane Barrett starts strong but too many fail to reach final crescendo
1 Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig) At fault for Tipperary 's crucial first goal when mis-controlling a shot that was going over the crossbar. Should have been more decisive under a long ball for Tipp's second goal. 4/10 2 Niall O'Leary (Castlelyons) On a lot of ball in the first half when Cork were mostly comfortable at the back. Scored and made a point on his forays into attack. Ultimately couldn't handle Darragh McCarthy. 5/10 3 Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers) Coped reasonably well under the dropping ball in the first half but was losing his battle with John McGrath when he picked up a second yellow for conceding a penalty. 4/10 4 Seán O'Donoghue (Inniscara) Tipp were happy for O'Donoghue to be the first receiver on short puck-outs and his distribution was patchy. His least impressive game of an otherwise excellent season. 5/10 READ MORE Cork's Seán O'Donoghue in action against Tipperary's Jason Forde. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho 5 Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr) Fought hard as usual and kept going to the end. Held Jake Morris to a couple of points from play without negating his influence. Morris must now be favourite for Hurler of the Year. 5/10 6 Robert Downey (Glen Rovers) Absolutely commanding in the first half, dominating in the air and on the ground, but the centre didn't hold in the second half when Tipp started playing the ball in front of him. 6/10 7 Mark Coleman (Blarney) Made a blistering start, sweeping up around the Cork half-back line and starting attacks, but couldn't maintain that influence and faded as the game wore on. 6/10 8 Tim O'Mahony (Newtownshandrum) After a terrific season this was his least effective performance. Made an early assist and had a couple of score involvements late in the first half but otherwise offered little in attack. 4/10 Cork's Darragh Fitzgibbon. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho 9 Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville) Was the most influential of the four centre fielders in the first half, but Cork lost a grip in the middle third in the second half. Fought hard against the tide. Finished with three points from play. 6/10 10 Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold) For a young player starting just his third championship match he had a brilliant first half, scoring three points and assisting two. Couldn't get going after half-time and was eventually replaced. 6/10 11 Shane Barrett (Blarney) Superb in the opening half, rifling three points from play, including what seemed at the time like a vital goal in first-half stoppage time. Finished with 1-4 but couldn't influence the second half. 7/10 Shane Barrett celebrates scoring a goal for Cork. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho 12 Declan Dalton (Fr O'Neill's) Just like last year, he followed a terrific semi-final with an ineffective performance in the final. Landed a trademark long free in the first half, but faded badly before being replaced. 4/10 13 Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers) The most effective of Cork's inside forwards in the first half, scoring one from play and making another. Missed a free just after half-time and was replaced before the hour mark. 5/10 14 Alan Connolly (Blackrock) Got his only point shortly before half-time but had struggled to get his hands on the ball before that. Ironically, fluffed the only goal chance he created by making a poor handpass instead of shooting. 4/10 Cork's Brian Hayes in action for Cork. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho 15 Brian Hayes (St Finbarr's) Was smothered in the air by Ronan Maher. One of his flicks from a long puck-out resulted in a first half score, and was fouled for two frees, but was essentially neutralised by Tipp. 5/10 Bench Seamus Harnedy was lively as always, hitting the crossbar with a rasping shot for goal and scoring a late point. Damien Cahalane coped well as an emergency full back, apart from one ridiculous foul for charging. 5/10 Management Cork coped well with Tipp's extra defender in the first half but when the momentum of the game shifted violently after the break they didn't have any solutions. Too many players failed. 5/10
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
All-Ireland hurling final: Joe Canning's Cork player profiles
1 Patrick Collins Age : 28 Club : Ballinhassig Debut : v Limerick, 2021 His long puckouts to Brian Hayes are a key weapon for Cork , but Collins is good at medium-range deliveries too and his puckouts to Tim O'Mahony were particularly impressive in the semi-final. In some situations, like for Limerick 's goal in the Munster final , he needs to stay on his feet longer. READ MORE 2 Niall O'Leary Age : 27 Club : Castlelyons Debut : v Tipperary, 2019 O'Leary is a no-fuss kind of player: tight and tough. I don't think Cork will worry about match-ups in their full-back line. O'Leary loves a one-on-one battle and he'll be trusted to pick up whoever comes into his corner. One of Cork's best players in the league, he has carried that form into the championship. 3 Eoin Downey Eoin Downey of Cork will need to be at his most alert against John McGrath. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Age : 22 Club : Glen Rovers Debut : v Tipperary, 2023 For many years after Diarmuid O'Sullivan retired, number three has been a problem for Cork. Downey has nailed down the position now. Occasionally he looks vulnerable in the air, but I don't think it's a weakness. He had a brilliant final last year, but John McGrath's movement and intelligence will ask some questions. 4 Seán O'Donoghue Age : 29 Club : Inniscarra Debut : v Clare, 2018 Lost the captaincy at the beginning of the year and it looked like he might be under pressure to hold his place. However, O'Donoghue has been brilliant this season. Marked Darragh McCarthy in the league final and was lined up to mark him again in the championship until McCarthy was sent off in the first minute. 5 Ciarán Joyce Dublin's Rian McBride is blocked by Ciarán Joyce of Cork during the All-Ireland SHC semi-final. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Age : 23 Club : Castlemartyr Debut : v Limerick, 2022 Even though he likes to do a bit of hurling, Joyce is Cork's go-to man marker in the half-back line. I expect him to tag Jake Morris and the outcome of that duel will have an impact on the result. Has also done well at centre back during the championship when Robert Downey was injured. 6 Robert Downey Age : 25 Club : Glen Rovers Debut : v Limerick, 2019 Has had an injury-interrupted season but made an impact off the bench in the Munster final and was commanding against Dublin, especially under the high ball. Andrew Ormond will pose a different test this weekend and I think Tipp will target Downey's channel with pace. 7 Mark Coleman Age : 27 Club : Blarney Debut : v Wexford, 2016 Had a good final last year and his overall form this season is much better than last year. Very good going forward and delivers quick ball into his forwards, but not as effective going towards his own goal. Sam O'Farrell will have defensive duties in his own half, though, and that will suit Coleman. 8 Tim O'Mahony Cork's Tim O'Mahony scores his side's sixth goal against Dublin in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Age : 28 Club : Newtownshandrum Debut : v Clare, 2018 O'Mahony is the engine of the team and when he's going well Cork seem to go well. When he didn't have an influence against Limerick in the round-robin game, Cork had no foothold in the middle third. He's been outstanding in the last two games, returning to the form he showed in the league. 9 Darragh Fitzgibbon Age : 28 Club : Charleville Debut : v Tipperary, 2017 Cork played him at centre forward for a lot of the year, but I think centre field is his best position. O'Mahony's capacity to break up the play makes him a perfect foil and gives Fitzgibbon the freedom to attack. Had a huge game in the Munster final when Cork really needed their leaders to stand up. 10 Diarmuid Healy Age : 21 Club : Lisgoold Debut : v Clare, 2025 Did exceptionally well in the Munster final and though he's a young player in his rookie season, there seems to be no question about his temperament. Had a quieter game against Dublin in the semi-final, but he has a very bright future. Tall, athletic, rangy with a good eye for a score. 11 Shane Barrett Cork's Shane Barrett holds off Dublin's Conor McHugh. Photograph: Tom O'Hanlon/Inpho Age : 24 Club : Blarney Debut : v Dublin, 2020 Was one of the favourites for Hurler of the Year going into last year's All-Ireland and came back to that kind of form against Limerick in the Munster final. His shooting was off against Dublin, but even on a day like that he's always busy and asking questions. Will force Tipp to think about their options at number six. 12 Declan Dalton Age : 27 Club : Fr O'Neill's Debut : v Tipperary, 2019 After a frustrating year with injuries, he came storming back to form in the semi-final against Dublin. He also had a hugely effective semi-final last year but failed to back it up against Clare. That experience will stand to him. Takes the pressure off Patrick Horgan with long-range frees. 13 Patrick Horgan Age : 37 Club : Glen Rovers Debut : v Tipperary 2008 Deserves to win an All-Ireland and maybe it will finally come on Sunday. Cork don't depend on him nearly as much as they have over the years, which is better for everyone. Has not hit his usual percentages with dead balls but still good for a couple of scores from play. 14 Alan Connolly Alan Connolly was outstanding for Cork in the semi-final against Dublin. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Age : 24 Club : Blackrock Debut : v Limerick, 2021 Had a spectacular match against Dublin but he doesn't always deliver. He strikes me as a confidence player who needs the first couple of possessions to go well. If that happens, he could be electric. Always thinking about a goal and has scored five against Tipp in his last three games against them. 15 Brian Hayes Age : 24 Club : St Finbarr's Debut : v Tipperary, 2023 With the biggest game of the year left, he's my Hurler of the Year. Everything goes through him in the Cork attack, whether it's a long puckout or a ball sent in from the middle third. His improvement over the last 14 months has been phenomenal and nothing seems to phase him. Bench With Séamus Harnedy not fit to start, he's a huge option to come on. As well as him, they have plenty of experience on the bench: Shane Kingston, Conor Lehane and Damien Cahalane have all been around a long time. Backroom team Pat Ryan (Manager) Donal O'Rourke, Brendan Coleman, Fergal Condon, Donal O'Mahony Pat Ryan has never looked for excuses on Cork's bad days and he's never blamed the players. That's a great trait in a manager and the players will appreciate that. The way he has handled himself and the team has been hugely impressive.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Flanagan read 'every comment' after Cork incident
Five-time All-Ireland winner Seamus Flanagan admitted he "regrets" an off-the-ball incident in an Allianz Hurling League game with Cork in February. Flanagan came under scrutiny for appearing to strike Niall O'Leary with his hurl in the 1-16-all draw after footage of the incident was posted on social media. The incident was missed by match officials and the 28-year-old avoided a ban from the GAA but Flanagan was kept on the sidelines after he was sanctioned internally. "It was one moment in my career that I regret," Flanagan said on the GAA Social podcast. "It was a lapse in judgement. We've all been in the heat of battle and said something or done something we shouldn't." Flanagan said he read every comment on social media about the incident after fan footage went viral, and said that he "let the team down". "The aftermath on social media, I looked at every piece of it. I looked at every comment, with people calling me and that. "You're saying 'if I just didn't lift the hurley, would my season have gone differently?'. "It was probably the start of my downfall for the season. Other players came in and done really well, and I maybe lost touch with management because of it. "I wouldn't class myself as a dirty player, but it was a big regret for me." Flanagan added that he feels inside forwards aren't protected by officials and that played a role in the incident. "There's so much off the ball that you have no control over. "You're getting verbal abuse, physical abuse. I'm well able to give it, but it's one of the moments in my career that I regret the most. Listen to the GAA Social with Shane O'Donnell and Seamus Flanagan on BBC Sounds.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Flanagan read 'every comment' after Cork incident
Five-time All-Ireland winner Seamus Flanagan admitted he "regrets" an off-the-ball incident in an Allianz Hurling League game with Cork in came under scrutiny for appearing to strike Niall O'Leary with his hurl in the 1-16-all draw after footage of the incident was posted on social incident was missed by match officials and the 28-year-old avoided a ban from the GAA but Flanagan was kept on the sidelines after he was sanctioned internally."It was one moment in my career that I regret," Flanagan said on the GAA Social podcast."It was a lapse in judgement. We've all been in the heat of battle and said something or done something we shouldn't."Flanagan said he read every comment on social media about the incident after fan footage went viral, and said that he "let the team down"."The aftermath on social media, I looked at every piece of it. I looked at every comment, with people calling me and that. "You're saying 'if I just didn't lift the hurley, would my season have gone differently?'."It was probably the start of my downfall for the season. Other players came in and done really well, and I maybe lost touch with management because of it."I wouldn't class myself as a dirty player, but it was a big regret for me."Flanagan added that he feels inside forwards aren't protected by officials and that played a role in the incident. "There's so much off the ball that you have no control over. "You're getting verbal abuse, physical abuse. I'm well able to give it, but it's one of the moments in my career that I regret the most. Listen to the GAA Social with Shane O'Donnell and Seamus Flanagan on BBC Sounds.
Irish Times
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Kerry play follow the leader to topple Armagh
What stood out more than anything for Darragh Ó Sé during 'a brilliant weekend of football' was leadership. 'It's a hard thing to define,' he writes, 'but you know it when you see it.' And he saw it in spades from the victors, not least from the 'exceptional' David Clifford , during Kerry's win over Armagh. Seán O'Shea, Mark O'Shea and Seán O'Brien shone too, the rest of the team playing 'follow the leader', and that was that, Armagh were out. Kerry's 'masterclass' may, says Seán Moran, make them All-Ireland favourites now , but, as he quotes Kieran McGeeney, 'it's always the final chapter when it comes to sport that determines the content of the book'. Performance analyst Paul O'Brien takes us through that 15-minute 'masterclass' that saw Kerry score 0-14 without reply. It was, he says, 'astonishing' that they reached the 30-point mark as early as the 56th minute when Clifford hit a two-pointer. 'Game over.' It was season over for Dublin on Saturday when they lost to Tyrone, Dessie Farrell stepping down after. Who'll succeed him? Well, Ger Brennan is now at a loose end after leaving his Louth job at the end of a season that saw him lead the county to its first Leinster title since 1957. Gordon Manning fills you in. READ MORE And ahead of this weekend's hurling semi-finals, Gordon talks to Cork's Niall O'Leary about their meeting on Saturday with Dublin, 'the most prolific goalscoring teams left in the competition', and he hears from Kilkenny's Huw Lawlor about coming up against Tipperary on Sunday. In rugby, Gordon D'Arcy looks at how the Lions are shaping up in the approach to their first meeting with Australia, while Robert Kitson goes through the five main selection decisions Andy Farrell has to make . Back in this neck of the woods, Ireland set off today for Tbilisi where they play Georgia on Saturday , John O'Sullivan hearing from defence coach Denis Leamy in advance of the game, while Louise Lawless talks to Lynne Cantwell, the IRFU's first head of women's strategy , about her vision for the women's game in Ireland. And Leinster will meet La Rochelle for the seventh time in six seasons after Tuesday's Champions Cup draw put them in the same group, and among Munster's opponents will be old foes Castres. Johnny Watterson brings you all the details, including how Connacht and Ulster fared in the draw for the Challenge Cup. TV Watch: The Lions play the second game of their Australian tour this morning, Queensland Reds their opponents in Brisbane (Sky Sports Action, 11am). Coverage of Wimbledon continues through the day on BBC1 and BBC2, and this afternoon the women of Iceland and Finland get Euro 2025 under way (RTÉ 2 and UTV, 5pm), before hosts Switzerland play Norway (RTÉ 2 and BBC 1, 8pm).
