Charleville can deliver in replay
Charleville v Courcey Rovers Monday, October 29 Páirc Uí Rinn, 3.15pm
SO where to from here?
Charleville headed to Páirc Uí Chaoimh last Sunday favourites to book a place in the Cork senior hurling championship and while the north Cork club left county headquarters without the spoils of victory they do get a second bite at the cherry this weekend.
Charleville started the brighter, but failed to trouble the score keeper with any sense of regularity as last Sunday’s game failed to deliver on most scales that fans would consider important.
A lack of scores, too many wides (21) and poor link up play was the scourge of the first encounter between the sides however endeavour, passion and a never say die attitude from both sides meant that all fans who made the trip were kept firmly on the edge of their seats right to the 64th minute.
Neither side lost anything in the draw – neither side deserved to lose, or for that matter deserved to win, but both definitely deserve the chance to go again. Charleville will prepare for the replay with even more intensity and gusto than they did for the first game.
Clearly all in the Charleville camp will be disappointed with the way things went at the first time of asking, but that sense of disappointment will need to be put to the back of their collective minds as they try to right the wrongs of day one.
Charleville won’t be able to improve much on desire or passion or even on the basic skills of the game as those qualities are always evident when Charleville come to town however shooting under pressure will surely take up plenty of their time this week as they go in search of a tally at least double the 1-9 they managed the last day.
Shot selection and options
with the ball in hand will also be top of the training notes for Ben O’Connor and his backroom team as the north Cork side look to cut down the stat (16 wides) that will be most disappointing to all concerned.
On the positives, Charleville managed to hold the opposition to just 12 points with only five wides registered by Courceys – so just 17 scoring opportunities afforded to a quality side. Charleville fought hard all over the pitch and that will be required again on Monday as Courceys will also be much better than they were at the first time of asking.
On the personnel front O’Connor is likely to start with the same 15 however don’t be surprised to see perhaps one rabbit pulled from his box of tricks.
Danny O’Flynn will have another week to get over the heavy knock to his hand suffered in the semi-final win over Fr O’Neills while Darragh Fitzgibbon will be asked to rise at least one more time for his side after having a brilliant 10 months on all fronts.
Tim Hawe in the corner is usually good for three or four spectacular scores and, while they weren’t evident last Sunday, it would be a surprise if he didn’t manage to bag at least a trio this time out.
On the free taking front Mark Kavanagh is usually the talisman and he will be required to keep the scoreboard ticking over if this one grinds down to a dogfight.
Charleville got to see Courcey’s Tadgh O’Sullivan up close and personal last weekend so there can be no excuses if he racks up a hefty tally this bank holiday Monday.
O’Sullivan got eight in a low scoring game so the danger is there for all to see if this one opens up.
Players of the calibre of Finbarr Cagney, Jack Meade and Darren Butler in the full-back line will need to be on their guard to deal with O’Sullivan, Olan Crowley and Sean Twomey with the latter well capable of sending over three or four in the blink of an eye.
If I was to predict the place that this game will be won or lost for Charleville I would say at the half-forward line for them and the If the Avondhu boys can get their act together then they could win this by five or six points half-back line for Courceys.
Charleville will be strong 40 yards out with Fitzgibbon running through, O’Flynn coming out from full forward and Hawe coming deep to collect some ball.
To counteract the Charleville scoring threat Michael O’Donovan, Martin Collins and Jerry O’Neill were assigned the duties last time and they will likely get the nod again this time round.
Both sides dropped an attacker back the first day which didn’t help with the flow of the game so it will be interesting to see if at least one of the contenders will go for broke and play with the traditional six up front.
Overall there is little doubting that the red and white flags will pile up the N20 again this Monday as the club that continues to impress looks to take one of the biggest steps a Cork hurling side can take.
Nerves will obviously play some role again this weekend and considering the prize on offer it is hard not to feel sympathy however there will be no quarter given if a side smells blood in the water so it is imperative that Charleville start well and power on – something they have been well capable of doing all season.
Charleville to win isn’t the bravest pre-game call ever made however if the Avondhu boys can get their act together then they could win this by five or six. Páirc Uí Rinn may help with that gap but a below par performance like the one served up last day will see them lose – of that I have little doubt.
Verdict: Charleville