Show Notes
Rebels flying high after Donegal win
The Echo Sport Podcast crew is back to discuss another bumper weekend of Cork GAA action.
Now in its fourth season, the podcast sees the Echo team discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field. In the wake of Saturday’s incredible All-Ireland SFC win over Donegal, Denis Hurley is joined by Barry O’Mahony and John Horgan.
Going in as outsiders in the round 2A clash in Ballybofey, Cork were given little chance of taking the direct route to the quarter-finals, especially when they trailed at half-time, but a flurry of two-pointers swung the game the way of John Cleary’s men.
All things considered, Barry O’Mahony reckons that it was the county’s biggest football championship win since the 2010 All-Ireland, with the county board’s decision to sanction a flight to Derry vindicated.
Cork now have the luxury of a gap until the quarter-finals at the end of June, with the round 3 fixtures this weekend set to eliminate four of Monaghan, Westmeath, Donegal, Dublin, Kerry, Armagh, Mayo and Meath. Waiting along with Cork for the last-eight ties in Croke Park are Galway, Louth and Derry, underlining the sense that it is the most open football championship in years.
In the recent past, Cork have been guilty of following a good result with a poor one and the challenge now is to change that record and reach a semi-final, something that has not happened since 2012.
That year, both the Cork hurlers and footballers made the last four of their respective championships and the hurlers can complete the first leg of such a double this Sunday if they beat Offaly in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final in Thurles.
Despite the expected absences of Tommy O’Connell and Tim O’Mahony, Cork will be strong favourites to get the better of the Faithful County, though Offaly did impress in qualifying from the Leinster round-robin.
Notwithstanding Limerick’s defeat to Dublin last year, the panel expect Cork to respond strongly to the Munster SHC loss to the Shannonsiders. Also in action this weekend are Keith Ricken’s minor football side, who take on Derry as they seek to build on an impressive campaign to date.
While the minor hurlers lost their semi-final to Tipperary, it was their seventh championship game and laid a foundation for the further development of the players involved. You can listen at https://www.echolive.ie/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.a 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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