Four point Cooper releived for Rebels to have retained status
CORK won a game last Sunday that they didn’t want to play. The words of Man of the Match Bill Cooper on the final whistle after his side secured their 1A status for another year. Cooper played magnificently in the middle of the park with the style and power we often associate with players much more seasoned than he.
Cooper bagged four points but was instrumental in a host of other positives that came out of the game for a Cork side that have stuttered a little since the season began all of three months ago already.
“It is a game that no one really wants to be involved in but we had a good enough performance there today and we came out on the right side of it so that is important for next year and also important to finish off the league on a good note.
“We have a savage amount of work to do over the next six weeks. Most of the other teams in the Munster Championship seem to be flying and Waterford were missing some of their big players there today so it will be a tough Munster Championship ahead.”
All that said, the result last Sunday was something of a monkey off this Cork side’s back.
“It is a good one to win. You just don’t want to be heading into the next bank of tough training on a downer so that is good. That said it is what it is. It wasn’t a great league campaign.
“We were up and down with performances, but at least we got that right today.
“We will hope to push on from here now, but there is a lot of hard training sessions and hard work to go through yet to compete with the other sides in the Munster championship.”
Cooper, as one would expect was extolling the virtues of the team ethos, but he was also pleased at his own contribution on the day.
“I was happy enough with my own performance today. You know when you play a side like Waterford they have a strong midfield with players nominated for hurler of the year last year so it is an important third of the field to be competitive in.
“Thankfully today we got on the end of a couple of balls today but really there was a lot of ebb and flow out there.” Cooper is becoming a real stalwart in the middle for Cork as his partnership with Darragh Fitzgibbon begins to show real signs of promise. Power, pace and no shortage of guile seems to come naturally to the pair as they carry the rebels forward in this vital area of the pitch.
The duo are not the finished article just yet, far from it they would agree themselves. However right about now the pairing look like Cork’s best and most positive option heading into what will be uncharted territory for all involved in the Munster Championship so they will need to build a stronger, more telepathic bond as their opponents get tougher game on game. It is a good one to win. You don’t want to be heading into the next bank of tough training on a downer MAINMAN
Views differ but all main contenders were from Cork. The popular sentiment was for Bill Cooper and to be fair to the Youghal man he was really good, but I think that Newtownshandrum’s Tim O’Mahony was the star attraction. Powerful, uncompromising and confident with the ball. A real star on the rise.
TALKING POINT
Cork played well. Started well, fought hard and finished strong. All round a good display. But the main talking point here was the dismissal of Maurice Shanahan seconds, and I mean seconds, after coming on. With Shanahan went his side’s chances of victory. A moment of madness he will regret for a while.
KEY MOMENT
This game was in the mix to the 65th minute, but a scoring blitz from Cork which saw them hit four quick unanswered points ended this one as a contest sending Waterford down. A deserved win from a solid 75-minute display.
REF WATCH
One main incident to deal with for John Keenan and he dealt with it well. Shanahan’s dismissal was decided quickly and efficiently with no complaints from any party. The man in the middle let the game run with just a few cards. Can’t remember any reason for the crowd to be on his back.