Cork Hurlers - Part 2

[red&blue]

The big positive anyway from reading the last few pages is that Cork have plenty of options on all lines of the pitch. Really good panel which is brilliant.
The big task now for the management is to get that balance correct both in terms of the starting 15 plus who comes on. And if a game is going in a certain direction to be able to adapt plans accordingly.

We were saying the same thing this time last year and, no offence to the two of them, ended up bringing on Conor Lehane and Shane Kingston in the final

 

[CmonTheTown]

We were saying the same thing this time last year and, no offence to the two of them, ended up bringing on Conor Lehane and Shane Kingston in the final

There's a lot of similarities between the current league and this time last year. In reasonably good shape, winning games, playing nice hurling and a rabid hopeful following.

There is some evidence that Cork might have a bit more resilience this year, but we're really not going to know anything until it's put up to them. I really hope BOC starts a few more players in the next 2 games, as injuries will occur. Along with everything else last year, the injuries did pile up a bit. Presently, Ben has the luxury of the next 2 games to flesh the team out some more. There's nothing like playing actual opposition, even in league mode.

 

[Corkonian1]

It was tough leaving him out of my 15 especially after he showed he still has it last week, but as I said, a guaranteed impact sub is sometimes more effective than starting.
Kill teams with the pace of Barrett, Fitzy and Dudsy and bring shamey on to steady the ship and put away any hope of a comeback.

I would be inclined to go with starting Seamie like Dipper79 suggests as at least 1 natural aerial ball winner is very likely required especially early on in the heat of tough championship matches. He won't last 70 minutes, and back to back games in a week will depend on the amount of time he plays per game. I thought before the league he may share the position with Tim but now it's more likely to be with Dudsy, maybe we'll see Harnedy start v Tipp but Dudsy start v Limerick.

In defence I also believe Cormac O'Brien or Ger Millerick should start instead of Niall O'Leary as they are both better defenders and Tommy O'Connell has to be starting as he shows more tenacity and mobility combined than Tim and we also have no idea of Joyce as a mid-fielder unless he's played there and stands out in the remaining league.

 

[red&blue]

There's a lot of similarities between the current league and this time last year. In reasonably good shape, winning games, playing nice hurling and a rabid hopeful following.

There is some evidence that Cork might have a bit more resilience this year, but we're really not going to know anything until it's put up to them. I really hope BOC starts a few more players in the next 2 games, as injuries will occur. Along with everything else last year, the injuries did pile up a bit. Presently, Ben has the luxury of the next 2 games to flesh the team out some more. There's nothing like playing actual opposition, even in league mode.

League games are very false, especially between munster rivals, take last Saturday, despite the melee they harfly put a hand on each other, it was exactly the type of league game we won handy last year and are doing so again so far this year

I would hope Ben has targeted the Kilkenny game as a real testing ground for his ideas on the team and the tactics. But even Kilkenny might box clever and let us hurl away

Tipp and Limerick in the space of a week in April will tell us all we need to know. I hope we will be ready

 

[Killyoursons]

We were saying the same thing this time last year and, no offence to the two of them, ended up bringing on Conor Lehane and Shane Kingston in the final

I see what you're saying, but I would add two things. First, Lehane and Kingston had both scored off the bench against Waterford and in the Munster final, so they were two obvious subs to introduce to see if Cork could get a score or two.

Second, the AI final was an almost total meltdown, the kind of situation where almost any player could have been subbed, so it was quite possible that whatever substitutions might have been tried would not have worked. (Though I did think Eoin Downey was a concern, and the most suitable replacement for him would have been Millerick. In terms of winning puck-outs, the best option was Harnedy and maybe O'Flynn. In terms of energy in the middle third, O'Connell and again O'Flynn.)

 

[Thistlecrack]

Limerick game in Championship moved from 4pm to 2pm on the Sunday

 

[Gregory_Mike]

League games are very false

Unless we beat Tipp in April, nobody can say progress has been made.

 

[Matlock]

Unless we beat Tipp in April, nobody can say progress has been made.

Even if we get out of Munster?

Tipp lost badly to us in April last year like!

I think that no one match is a measure of progress.

 

[hurley68]

Even if we get out of Munster?

Tipp lost badly to us in April last year like!

I think that no one match is a measure of progress.

If we lose to them in April, I cannot see us getting out of Munster.

 

[Matlock]

If we lose to them in April, I cannot see us getting out of Munster.

You can lose a match and still finish top three though. Again, Tipp lost to us in Munster last year and won the All Ireland, why is it impossible for us to do the same this year?

I think that there is too much emphasis being put on it to be honest!