It was not great value for my long trip to Ennis yesterday but then I would have been very foolish to have expected a lot more on the 4th of February with an experimental team playing. Apart from midfield I had no problem with the team picked and still don't.
I think two complete novices in midfield in Ennis against more experienced opponents was not the right call.
Clare deserved their win, they were faster , crisper than Cork and they took their scores well. I do think that their neck high tackles would have resulted in spells in the sin bin in rugby never mind hurling.
I think the Cork team had four certain championship starters, O Donoghue, Joyce, Horgan and ROF , although the latter still has quite some way to go to get back to his best.
There may be a couple of others but probably no more that that.
I thought Niall O Leary struggled throughout and will be under huge pressure this year.
I thought O Connell was excellent but am not convinced he is a wing back, I would like to see him get a game in midfield.
I thought Eoin Roche had a fine game, steady throughout, no mistakes, tight on his man and gave nothing away easily. I think on the performance he will push for a corner back slot.
Unlike a lot on here I was very pleased with Sean Twomey. He worked hard, won a lot of possession , made a goal through excellent play and was available throughout. H did drift out of the game for a while and his decisions were not always right but that will improve with games. He is still only 23 and has not played at this level as much as he should because of injury.
I thought Shane Kingston had a good second half in paricular won a lot of ball but on the day was left down by his shooting, if his accuracy had been better he would have been praised by all imo.
I thought Lehane struggled throughout and just could not get into game in any meaningful way. A couple of nice pieces of skill is not close enough to a worthwhile contribution over seventy minutes.
I though Brian Hayes was living on scraps and would judge him at all based on yesterday.
Shane Barrett certainly made a contribution when he came on and I know I keep beating his drum but I think he will play a big part this year. Luke Meade also did very well in his quiet way.
Play Brian Roche with an experienced midfielder or Eoin Carey with an experienced player but two novices didn't work .
I certainly would not discount either.
We must remember that R Downey , Millerick, Coleman, Cahalane still must come back.
TOM , Ethan Twomey, Fitzgibbon, Meade will all be pushing for midfield.
Dalton, Harnedy, Barrett, Connolly will all be hoping to start in games as well.
The competition will be intense.
Far too early to be upset over a game in early February.
We may still not be good enough when everyone is available but yesterday is no guide.
I think two complete novices in midfield in Ennis against more experienced opponents was not the right call.
Clare deserved their win, they were faster , crisper than Cork and they took their scores well. I do think that their neck high tackles would have resulted in spells in the sin bin in rugby never mind hurling.
I think the Cork team had four certain championship starters, O Donoghue, Joyce, Horgan and ROF , although the latter still has quite some way to go to get back to his best.
There may be a couple of others but probably no more that that.
I thought Niall O Leary struggled throughout and will be under huge pressure this year.
I thought O Connell was excellent but am not convinced he is a wing back, I would like to see him get a game in midfield.
I thought Eoin Roche had a fine game, steady throughout, no mistakes, tight on his man and gave nothing away easily. I think on the performance he will push for a corner back slot.
Unlike a lot on here I was very pleased with Sean Twomey. He worked hard, won a lot of possession , made a goal through excellent play and was available throughout. H did drift out of the game for a while and his decisions were not always right but that will improve with games. He is still only 23 and has not played at this level as much as he should because of injury.
I thought Shane Kingston had a good second half in paricular won a lot of ball but on the day was left down by his shooting, if his accuracy had been better he would have been praised by all imo.
I thought Lehane struggled throughout and just could not get into game in any meaningful way. A couple of nice pieces of skill is not close enough to a worthwhile contribution over seventy minutes.
I though Brian Hayes was living on scraps and would judge him at all based on yesterday.
Shane Barrett certainly made a contribution when he came on and I know I keep beating his drum but I think he will play a big part this year. Luke Meade also did very well in his quiet way.
Play Brian Roche with an experienced midfielder or Eoin Carey with an experienced player but two novices didn't work .
I certainly would not discount either.
We must remember that R Downey , Millerick, Coleman, Cahalane still must come back.
TOM , Ethan Twomey, Fitzgibbon, Meade will all be pushing for midfield.
Dalton, Harnedy, Barrett, Connolly will all be hoping to start in games as well.
The competition will be intense.
Far too early to be upset over a game in early February.
We may still not be good enough when everyone is available but yesterday is no guide.
decent team
