Cork hurlers close in on league final but footballers suffer serious reality check
The Echo Sport PodcastShow Notes
The Cork hurlers secured only their second league win at Nowlan Park since 1987 after an impressive showing in desperate conditions.
In what was arguably the Rebels' most impressive performance and result this spring, they returned from a mid-league game with the right attitude and a serious goal threat. The three green flags raised by Brian Hayes and rookies Barry Walsh and Alan Walsh (no relation!) were decisive and Cork could afford a missed penalty by Alan Connoly and another handful of chances wasted.
The new faces included goalkeeper Paudie O'Sullivan and Hugh O'Connor, in his first start, but the likes of Seán O'Donoghue, Tim O'Mahony, Ciarán Joyce and Tommy O'Connell were powerful in an arm-wrestle on Noreside.
Cork were short a host of regulars, including Shane Barrett, Seamus Harnedy, Diarmuid Healy, Mark Coleman, Declan Dalton and Rob Downey, but competition for places is clearly starting to intensify.
They're off to Limerick on Saturday night but the chances are the rivals will collide in the league final and before their April Munster championship showdown at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Don't expect either side to give too much away next weekend at the Gaelic Grounds!
Unfortunately, the footballers' trip to Derry ended in a disastrous 20-point hammering. It means Cork, Meath and Derry are now deadlocked in the Divison 1 promotion race but the Rebels' scoring difference is far worse.
If they beat Kildare and Tyrone in the last two games they could still go up but it's all to play for again now. We look at what went wrong in Celtic. At least they have a warm-weather training camp to reset before they return to action at Páirc Uí Rinn.
Thankfully, the ladies footballers kept their league final drive on track with a one-point win over Waterford. Katie Quirke again came up with the big scores, including the late winner, for Joe Carroll's unbeaten charges.
We also look at the start of the local leagues and break down the major decisions taken at GAA Congress and how they'll impact Cork teams.
Now in its fourth season, every week Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, Jack McKay, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from The Echo Sport Podcast
The Echo Sport Podcast crew breaks down the Premier Senior and Premier Intermediate Hurling finals on this week's show, as well as previewing a busy Bank Holiday weekend as the Cork GAA season hits its thrilling conclusion. The big prizes on Sunday afternoon went to Glen Rovers and Ballincollig. Neither game fully caught fire but the Glen won't care after edging the first county final against the Barrs in 38 years thanks to a pair of Eoin O'Leary goals and a steady showing overall. O'Leary's haul of 2-2 took him to 5-13 for the season and surely on the radar of the Cork selectors. The Glen were just that bit better balanced than the Barrs, who did have a late shout for a penalty to force a draw, and it was a sweet victory after being relegated in 2023. It also atoned for county final losses in 2018, '19 and '20. Barrs were 0-12 to 0-10 up at the break having finished the first half well but O'Leary's opening goal turned the tide. Patrick Horgan finished with 0-3 from play but so too did midfielder Rhys Dunne. Ethan Twomey clipped a staggering 0-5 from play in the second half for the Barrs but it wasn't enough. Ballincollig were a point down at half-time against Dungourney after a slow start but took control in the second half to make up for losing the PIHC final 12 months ago to Ballinhassig. Adam Wills rifled the goal, his brother Stephen Willis picked up Man of the Match for his clinical shooting from play while Theo Morgan and Cian O'Driscoll nailed 0-3 apiece. In defence, James Dwyer, Ross O'Donovan, Barry Coleman and Fenton Denny were also immense. It's a blend of hurling and football next weekend, with the Premier Junior Hurling final on Friday night pairing St Catherine's and Kilshannig. On Sunday afternoon, there's a football double-header, Cobh versus Canovee at Premier Junior, followed by champions St Finbarr's against great rivals Nemo Rangers in a repeat of last year's Premier Senior decider. Now in its fourth season, every Monday, Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field. You can listen on Echolive.ie/podcast or anywhere you get your podcasts. Don’t forget to log onto www.IrishExaminer.com as well to catch up on their analysis including The Replay, the new highlights show anchored by Seanie McGrath, Dalo’s Hurling Show and The Gaelic Football Show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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