Rebels stand up for each other
THERE is no denying that Cork should have won their opening league game against Galway in Salthill last Sunday. They were the better team over the 70 minutes, but failure to make the most of their chances meant they were forced to settle for a share of the spoils with the Tribesmen.
That they had reason to be disappointed with the outcome is beyond dispute, but they will be pleased enough with the performance and had they been told beforehand they’d get something out the match, they probably wouldn’t have been complaining.
The fact is that winning away games on the road in the league is never easy and Galway, the reigning Connacht champions, were entitled to be reasonably optimistic about their chances of putting Cork to the sword.
Yet, they were outplayed for long periods of the contest, and it was only in the early stages of the second half, when Cork were arguably guilty of taking the foot off the pedal to a certain extent, that the home side enjoyed a decent spell of supremacy.
As well as clocking up fourteen wides, Cork created three clear-cut goal chances on the day, only one of which was converted by Paul Kerrigan, who ironically had a fairly miserable time with his shooting otherwise.
In fairness, Aidan Walsh’s effort early in the first half was foiled by a good save from Galway custodian Rory Lavelle and with the referee having applied the advantage rule, Cork gained a modicum of consolation when Colm O’Neill pointed a free after Luke Connolly had been off target with a glorious opportunity at a critical stage in the second half, but the bottom line was that Cork could have raised three green flags, whereas Galway never managed to test Rebel netminder Ryan Price.
Cork’s overall dominance is further underlined when one considers that Galway’s widecount amounted to four, making it easy to appreciate why the result doesn’t paint a true picture of how the contest unfolded.
Their wastage of possession apart, it was an encouraging start to Cork’s campaign in Division 2, and it augurs well for their hopes of quickly reclaiming their place in the top-tier of the league, having been relegated last season.
After Peter Kelleher and Stephen Cronin were forced to cry off due to injury, Luke Connolly and Fermoy’s Tomás Clancy were included in the starting fifteen at full forward and wingback respectively.
Both acquitted themselves well, but the two players who shone brightest for Cork were Colm O’Neill and John O’Rourke, who provided much of the inspiration up front after being sprung from the bench about ten minutes into the second half.
In light of their proven quality, it was no surprise that O’Neill and O’Rourke came up trumps when called upon, and the likelihood is that the management will be reluctant to hold them in reserve for next Sunday’s clash with Kildare in Newbridge.
It’s going to be another stiff test for Cork, judging by what