Progress is so Clare to see as Cork screw it up
CLARE were on fire in Thurles last Sunday – they were far superior and the scoreline flattered Cork in a big way.
From the opening minutes Clare were totally in control.
The big difference from the Tipperary game for Clare was that they sat John Conlon back a lot deeper in defence – and unlike the Tipp game, on Sunday they didn’t look like they were going to concede goals.
Clare were totally in control in the tackle. They bullied Cork in the ruck ball, which was a massive factor.
You could tell around the ground how frustrated the Cork supporters were with their team, with how they weren’t winning the 50-50 balls.
Clare attacked everything from the first second and a big change I see in them this year is the variety of the short ball, the running ball and then the long ball every so often on top of Peter Duggan.
But it’s hard to understand how Cork were allowing Clare so much freedom in the middle third of the field. Cathal Malone and Ryan Taylor were free so much for the short ball coming from the Clare defence.
And I don’t know why Cork didn’t do anything about this.
Another thing I found strange was how Cork allowed Clare to use the short puckouts – Cork had an extra player when Ian Galvin was sent off, yet the Clare backline were able to get the ball and
work it out.
It makes no sense whatsoever and it constantly hurt Cork.
It has become very clear that the short ball and the running ball is working for Clare. I remember between 2013 and 2016 the Clare public killed us for using the short ball.
Over the last few years Clare were mainly a long ball team and it didn’t suit them but variety is the key to success for the county.
It’s great that the Clare public seem to have accepted that type of play!
Rory Hayes was Clare’s best defender, it was unreal the way he attacked the ball.
Conor Cleary was tough at full-back and he’ll give you everything.
Tony Kelly again popped up with some good scores and he needs to be given that freedom to go out the field way more. Shane O’donnell worked very hard again and David Fitzgerald also did pretty well.
I’ve said for a long time that Clare have the players and should have done better in the last few years. They seem to have found something over the last few games – and as a Clare man it’s great to see them winning big games.
It’s been too long since we’ve won anything. There are two big games ahead against Waterford and Limerick but Ennis is worth a few points and I expect a massive Clare crowd roaring them on.
If Clare can beat one of them it’s a Munster final, which is where I expect this team to be.
As for Cork, they won’t be happy. They were out-played and out-fought and left with massive questions to address.
I know Kieran Kingston well, he’s a nice guy. I’m sure he’s finding it tough with the Cork public, who won’t be happy with the performances in the last two games.
Cork have really good players but for some reason they are way off. Only the players and management can sort this out.
I’m not sure if two wins would even be enough to get them through but they need to stand up and fight.
It’s 17 years since Cork last won the All-ireland. History is great but Cork have got to forget about that and how they used to do things. It’s about what they can do now to win a senior Allireland again.
They’ve done a lot right in their underage groups but you need to win the big one. It’s an interesting few weeks ahead for the Cork hurlers.