Back down to earth with a bang
charges had plenty to prove and wasted no time in settling a few scores.
Aside from Fitzgibbon, Millstreet’s Mark Ellis and Kanturk’s Anthony Nash were the only other north Cork representatives in the starting 15 as Kieran Kingston looks to blood some players and find a settled starting pack.
For Dublin, a raft of late changes from the programme may have given the impression that all was not well in the Dublin camp, align this with the widespread speculation about Cunningham’s management style and the refusal of some high profile players to stay with the squad and it wouldn’t be a stretch to believe this was a side in disarray. However as we are always told, hurling is played on the pitch, not in the newspapers.
Dublin put to bed any speculation about unity with a comprehensive dismissal of Cork. In front of a large crowd at the old ground, Cork played second fiddle for the majority of this clash, only managing to really impress in a five minute spell early on.
Cork got off to a nice start with three quick points from Alan Cadogan, Patrick Horgan and Meade with Nash pulling off a brilliant save early on. Horgan himself had an early chance to goal but unfortunately lost control of the ball just when he needed to strike.
Dublin had a point from Eoin Conroy to ease the nerves and took the lead fortuitously when Ryan O’Dwyer saw a long ball go in off some part of his body. Dublin seemed to get a lift from the goal and pushed on at the same time Cork lost their mojo.
Cork added four more points before the interval along with a brilliant goal from Shane Kingston on 30 minutes however the visitors bagged another 10 points, mainly from the stick of Donal Burke.
The full-forward bagged eight points in all in a reasonably good display of free taking. Dublin could have been much further ahead if they had taken any of a selection of poor wides they had thrown in before the break. 1-7 – 1-11 at the turn.
Cork went in at the break down just four which was probably a little flattering to the Leesiders, however, when wing-back Mark Coleman landed a monster free on the resumption there was a sense that they had what it took to drag this one out of the fire.
That sense of optimism soon faded however as Cork conceded a terrible defensive goal. Confusion reigned in front of Nash and any of three Dublin players could have stuck the ball home, as it happened it was Conroy that had the honour of putting the first nail in the Cork coffin.
Cork struggled from that point on as Dublin slotted over point after point to ease to what really was a well-deserved victory.
Cork will make the trip to Nowlan Park in round three looking to get back to something like they were on the opening day against Clare. For Ger Cunningham and Dublin, well people might not be so quick to right off the Liffey siders in the near future.