Cork boss Ben O’Connor shows his displeasure at a late call going against his team last Sunday
On Sunday night, the talk after the Munster hurling final was of refereeing decisions and Cork manager Ben O’Connor being uncomfortable with refereeing decisions. I think he needs to concentrate more on his forwards and the fact there was no point from play in the second half against Limerick.
No score from play outside of Brian Hayes’ goal.
The one aspect that surprised me from people contacting me was that some Limerick supporters felt the team weren’t as fluid as other days. They were a bit disappointed they didn’t win by 10 points. How times change!
Brian Hayes celebrates Cork’s only score from play in second half with William Buckley
But Cork did exactly as we said in the preview — they contested every ball, didn’t sit off. Defended tightly and aggressively. Aaron Gillane was substituted without a score to his name.
So they did half the job. But just forgot they had to score as well.
Yes, Darragh Fitzgibbon was a significant loss. Cork were missing their captain and star man and all that he brings.
But this Championship has plenty to go yet. It looks like Cork will have a big part to play.
Meanwhile, the Limerick players celebrated like they’d never won a match before. It shows the enthusiasm that they have — and after winning so much.
It was a great occasion. I really enjoyed it. It was so tight, so well contested by both teams. Limerick have a great sense of unity. They’re nearly a professional outfit now. Cork threw everything at them and still couldn’t beat them.
We spoke about it from day one how Limerick had a different attitude about them this year.
After two years of early summers, I could see that their game plan was to go for everything. They won the National League and bedded in a couple of new players. Shane O’Brien and Aidan O’Connor really found their feet. Their defence remains rock solid and have had no real injuries now going into an All-Ireland semi-final. And they had that performance from Nickie Quaid in goal.
They’re a long time on the road, this team. Have won a lot. Have a lot of admirers. That they can continue at the level they are at — you’d wonder how?
John Kiely’s team have a lot of admirers but Ben O’Connor’s Cork are still live contenders
It has to be all down to their preparation. I watched the warm-up very closely on Sunday. It was like watching synchronised swimming in the Olympics.
Paul Kinnerk took charge of it, the detail and harmony of the players was something else. Caroline Currid was out there as performance coach and giving her tuppence during the warm-up. It’s rare to see a team that can be controlled to such an extent, almost like robots.
While other teams are trying to copy that, that is Limerick’s strength. When the ball is thrown in, everybody knows their role on the pitch.
I still look on Cork as very serious contenders. They have a huge talent pool.
If you take out the couple of unbelievable saves by Quaid, Cork would have won the match.
They brought back the tradition of marking, which doesn’t suit Limerick.
I just got the feeling their manager was losing his head a bit. Ben O’Connor’s job is to rectify his own team’s problems. Complaining after the fact doesn’t count for anything.
He’s only putting himself under a lot of pressure. Putting the team under pressure. Looking for excuses.
That only causes confusion. Distracts.
Cork need to keep their focus if they are going to have a chance of going all the way.
Watching the Leinster final, I was trying to analyse it in my head. I was left wondering, ‘What in the name of Jaysus are Dublin at?’
Micheál Donoghue’s Galway left you wondering what Dublin were at in Leinster final
I have fierce confidence in them as hurlers. But they got lost in the whole Croke Park thing.
In 1994, when we got to the All-Ireland final, I took the Limerick team to Croke Park, except they wouldn’t let us on the field or in the dressing room. After an hour of pleading, we were let in. It was only meant to be on the sideline. But we played a- match and said ‘f**k em’.
Galway’s Darren Morrissey lifts the trophy
Croke Park can have an impact on players but Dublin should know it well at this stage. When Kilkenny were hammered by Galway in Salthill they said they had a virus. Well it looked like Dublin had a hurling virus.
It was diabolical.
Galway were top class. Deserved this title. But so many of their scores weren’t contested. The first goal Galway got, you wouldn’t get it at a school break.
Then they picked up a pile of injuries. I fancied them but I was shocked by their performance.
Surely there is better to come.
It’s time the GAA put managers up in the stands
ONCE again, we had a big debate about refereeing decisions. There is more pressure being put on officialdom nearly than the players in matches. I thought James Owens was very, very effective in the Munster final.
This ‘let the game flow’ is not in any rulebook. There was a dispute about a second penalty, that Limerick deserved one in the first half. I’d dispute that. Shane O’Brien was barging Niall O’Leary as well.
But something will have to be done about the actual amount of contact between management and the fourth official or linesmen. There was as much activity along the line as the field.
James Owens surrounded by Cork players last week but he gave a very effective performance
They’re looking now for two referees. We have four officials as it is – but they have to be let do their job. All that interaction with managers or management teams, it’s tantamount to intimidation. And it wasn’t about last Sunday, this is going on a long time, going back to Davy Fitzgerald and Ger Loughnane. When I was manager, I sat in the dugout and didn’t criticise the ref – but was still criticised.
Down in Cork, Limerick manager John Kiely was in the ear of the fourth official. Then Ben O’Connor came in. Interference like that can’t be let go.
All these issues are covered by rule and protocol. But they’re not being administered.
Rugby union put their main management up in the stand. Is it time for the GAA to go the same way?
With so many frees, you have this idea that it’s the fault of a referee for blowing too much. Rather than saying the players need to be better disciplined.
Now the debate is whether there should be two referees, when all you have to do is apply the rules as they are, on the pitch and on the sideline.
Look at Owens coming off the field and getting that abuse from Cork supporters. It can be rectified. But is the will there to do it?
Two stalwarts gone way too soon
IT would be remiss of me not to mention the loss of Denis Coughlan and Philip Browne, two stalwarts of different codes.
I played against Denis. I didn’t know him personally but he was one of the greatest players of our time. Philip Browne also was an international athlete and showed great leadership as head of the IRFU. I very much admired him as a person, the standards that they reached on his watch. And a young man as well. In their own way, they were both stalwarts of Irish sport.
I’d like to offer my sincere condolences to both families.
