Kilkenny overwhelmed Cork today in the All Ireland senior hurling semi final, this result was no surprise to me, based on real facts over the last few years, Kilkenny have demolished Cork whenever they have met in serious competition. That said, Kilkenny have dished out the same punishment to all other pretenders to their throne. Long term Cork will have to do a serious analysis and come up with a plan that will have teams contesting Minor and under 21 All Ireland finals again before they can contest Senior finals.
The game was a real contest for the first 15 minutes ,after which, Kilkenny steamed over Cork (Cha Fitzpatrick quote), simply Cork did not have the physical power to match their opponents , at half time Kilkenny were home and dry leading with a scoreline of 2 – 12 to 0 – 5 points.
Cork did fight back in the second half with some nice point scoring, how much was contributed by a relaxing of the vice grip that Kilkenny held, is difficult to judge, and they managed to keep their scorecard ticking over maintaining the large gap.
Kilkenny probably won every individual battle on the field of play, Niall McCarthy was one of Corks better performers and his was a real contest with an equally determined Tommy Walsh. Pat Horgan gave a good display scoring 6 points during a spell of the second half, Donal og played his usual solid game and could not be faulted for any of the goals, he has brought goalkeeping to a new playing level during the past 10 years and I can foresee him remaining at the top for a few more years.
Other seasoned campaigners like Sean Og O’ Halpin ,Ben O’ Connor and Jerry when introduced were seen at a competitive level in a match forgotten by Cork players. The referee was excellent , and left the game flow at all times.
It is difficult to see either Tipperary or Waterford coming anyway near the Kilkenny standard , they would appear from past results to be on a similar level to Cork.
By: Hawkeye

Popularity: 62%

CorkGaa.ie will be broadcasting live updates of the Cork v Kilkenny All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi Final on Sunday 8th of August via Twitter. You can view the live updates on the right hand sidebar of the CorkGaa.ie website (scroll down a bit). Alternatively you can follow us on Twitter to receive the live updates.

Popularity: 59%

Cork are set to meet reigning All Ireland Hurling Championship this Sunday 8th of August at Croke Park in the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final.
Throw in will take place at 3.30pm
The Cork team is named below and the Kilkenny Team is also named below the Cork Team.
If anyone is travelling to Croke Park and is staying over night, if you need to book a hotel, we recommend using the Park Hotel website.

Cork Team:

1. Donal Og Cusack (Cloyne)
2. Shane O’Neill (Bishopstown)
3. Eoin Cadogan (Douglas)
4. Brian Murphy (Bride Rovers)
5. John Gardiner (Na Piarsaigh)
6. Ronan Curran (St. Finbarrs)
7. Seán Óg Ó hAilpín (Na Piarsaigh)
8. Tom Kenny (Grenagh)
9. Cathal Naughton (Newtownshandrum)
10. Michael Cussen (Sars)
11. Kieran Murphy (Sars – Capt)
12. Niall McCarthy (Carrigtwohill)
13. Pat Horgan (Glen Rovers)
14. Aisake Ó hAilpín (Na Piarsaigh)
15. Ben O’Connor (Newtownshandrum)

Subs:
16. Martin Coleman (Ballinhassig)
17. Shane Murphy (Erins Own)
18. Ray Ryan (Sarsfields)
19. William Egan (Kilbrin)
20. Jerry O’Connor (Newtownshandrum)
21. Lorcan McLoughlin (Kanturk)
22. Graham Callanan (Glen Rovers)
23. Paudie O’Sullivan (Cloyne)
24. Cian McCarthy (Sarsfields)
25. Anthony Nash (Kanturk)
26. Eoin Dillon (Milford)
27. Pa Cronin (Bishopstown)
28. Michael Walsh (Kildorrery)
29. Mark O Sullivan (Dripsey)
30. Luke O’Farrell (Midleton)

Kilkenny Team.

1. P.J. Ryan
2. J. Dalton
3. N. Hickey
4. J. Tyrell
5. T. Walsh
6. B. Hogan
7. JJ. Delaney
8. Cha Fitzpatrick
9. M. Fennelly
10. TJ Reid
11. H. Shefflin
12. E. Larkin
13. E. Brennan
14. R. Power
15. A. Fogarty

Popularity: 77%

Whilst both sides ran up large scores , the Gaa suffered a major setback in their efforts to popularise Hurling, just a miserable 27,000 turned up to watch four of the top 6 senior county teams in action. Can anyone enlighten me what went wrong? those that did empty their pockets were indeed privelaged to see a great game between Tipperary and Galway.
The Cork and Antrim clash was free scoring with Cork doing enough to keep a margin of a few few points in front all the way from the first whistle until the final one. A Niall McCarthy goal before the half time break looked to be the straw that broke Antrims back, Neil Mc Manus and Liam Watson scored 15 of Antrims total and Watson was red carded in injury for a second alteration. Cork’s scoring list was well spread out with Niall McCarthy leading the way with 1 – 2 from play ,, Kieran Murphy 4 points, Paudie O’Sullivan 3 points, Ben O’Connor, Tom Kenny, Cathal Naughton, all with 2 points and 1 point each from A O’Halpin,and W Egan. a total of 8 points came from frees/65′s. There is a date with destiny awaiting Cork in th semi final against Kilkenny, That Kilkenny have the team of the decade their is no denying, 3 munster teams now stand in their way to try and prevent them accomplishing a historic 5 All Ireland titles in a row. Can Cork deliver ?, what must be seen as a last stand before some veteran players bow out.
By:Hawkeye

Popularity: 61%

The Cork Senior Hurling team will play Antrim in the All Ireland Quarter Finals on Sunday the 25th of July, 2010 where throw in will take place at 2pm. The Cork team is named below.
1.D Og Cusack
2.S Murphy
3.E Cadogan
4.B Murphy
5.J Gardiner
6.R Curran
7.R Ryan
8.T Kenny
9.C Naughton
10.B O’Connor
11.M Cussen
12.N McCarthy
13.P O’Sullivan
14.A O hAilpin
15.K Murphy.

Popularity: 52%

This was an exhilarating game of hurling which was contested at Semple stadium Thurles to decide the 2010 Munster senior hurling champions, the game was decided in extra time after the sides finished level for the second Sunday in a row, a goal from Dan Shanahan ( Dan the Man ) which broke Corks resistance and saw Waterford crowned worthy Munster champions.
Waterford were comprehensively ahead on the scoreboard at half time 0 – 8 to Corks meagre total of 0 – 4 , this score was achieved without any Cork forward scoring from play in that 35 Min’s, I wonder does it set a new statistic for Cork senior hurling teams. The match was a continuation of last weeks 1st half dour proceedings where Waterford contained the Cork forwards with tight marking aided by the tactic of overcrowding the middle third of the playing area. The Waterford forwards were able to peg on double Corks total with much less possession, if memory serves me correct ,I believe they did not incur their 1st wide until the 2nd half of normal time.
Cork replaced Patrick Horgan, ( who again met a determined inform Noel Connors) with Paudie Sullivan, A last ditch goal line clearance from Connor’s when Horgan almost had the ball in the net must have been worth 6 points to Waterford and an impending substitution for Horgan. Cork chipped away at the lead and when Ben O Connor goaled from where a point seemed the only option, Cork held the lead for the 1st time, which resulted in a new found vigour and one felt they had the capacity now to put the game out of Waterford’s reach with a few more scores, however as in the match last week ,Waterford struck back with their new found determination under Davy Fitzgerald, the match ebbed and flowed into extra time although Eoin Kelly had 3 scoring opportunities in the last few minutes to win the game.
Extra time was low scoring as the weather deteriorated, just 2 points from Waterford to 1 point from Cork in the first 10 min period, the winning margin of a goal was scored with about 6 Min’s left of the second period and Waterford increased their defencive structure to maintain the advantage. Over the two games they are worthy Champions, Cork did have some good moments but seemed to lack a killer instinct. John Mullane was once again Waterfords main danger to Cork, and Michael Brick Walsh must have felt 7 foot tall with his one handed take’s from the sky. Hawkeye

Popularity: 70%

The Cork Senior Hurling team to play Waterford in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship final replay has been named, the game will take place on Saturday, 17th of July in Semple Stadium, Thurles and throw in is at 7pm.
The team is as follows:

1. Donal Og Cusack (Cloyne)
2. Shane O’Neill (Bishopstown)
3. Eoin Cadogan (Douglas)
4. Brian Murphy (Bride Rovers)
5. John Gardiner (Na Piarsaigh)
6. Ronan Curran (St. Finbarrs)
7. Sean Og O hAilpín (Na Piarsaigh)
8. Tom Kenny (Grenagh)
9. Cathal Naughton (Newtownshandrum)
10. Ben O’Connor (Newtownshandrum)
11. Niall McCarthy (Carrigtwohill)
12. Michael Cussen (Sarsfields)
13. Kieran Murphy (Sars – Capt)
14. Aisake O hAilpin (Na Piarsaigh)
15. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers)

Subs:
16. Anthony Nash (Kanturk)
17. Shane Murphy (Erins Own)
18. Eoin Dillon (Milford)
19. Conor O Sullivan (Sarsfields)
20. Michael Walsh (Kildorrery)
21. Ray Ryan (Sarsfields)
22. William Egan (Kilbrin)
23. Graham Callanan (Glen Rovers)
24. Lorcan McLoughlin (Kanturk)
25. Martin Coleman (Ballinhassig)
26. Pa Cronin (Bishopstown)
27. Mark O Sullivan (Dripsey)
28. Paudie O Sullivan (Cloyne)
29. Tadhg Og Murphy (Sarsfields)
30. Luke O’Farrell (Midleton)

Popularity: 74%

The Cork Senior Hurling Team which is to play Waterford in the Munster Final Replay after last weeks 2-15 all draw will be named here later today.

Popularity: 75%

The dice is set for another clash between two evenly matched teams, both Cork & Waterford having their highs and lows during different spells over the past 7/8 years with respect being mutual. There is no doubt that the game next Saturday is 50/50 with very few anxious to wager heavily on either team. Davy Fitzgerald did try to build up Cork’s case in an interview shown on TV prior to the throw in, he suggested that they were overwhelming favourites, fair play to him for trying to relieve his own team’s pressure, now the shoe may be on the other foot.
Last Sunday was a real pressure game where only 1 or 2 forwards contributed any significant scores from the two teams, hunting in packs was a feature of the game and this could be a valid reason for knocking some of the more skillful players off their perch. The backs on both sides left a longer lasting impression of players standing up and being counted.
Cork’s Pat Horgan and Kieran Murphy being particularly disappointing, both will be lucky to retain their places for the replay, injuries may play a part in the line up, looking at it from the Waterford side , you would be happy that Noel Connors and Eoin Murphy were mighty impressive and certainty held the upper hand , Murphy is probably one of the most underrated corner backs in the game and reminds me of namesake Brian Murphy who played corner back with the Cork hurling and football teams in the 70′s .
Waterford have a greater percentage of strong men like Declan & Seamus Prendergast , just learnt that their mother hails from Cork , that would make sense if its true, they show the rebel heart. Saturday’s replay may feature another increase in the physical stakes if Dan Shanahan ,Ken McGrath, Michael Cussen are in the starting line up. Dan the man will be itching to blow Eoin Cadogan away if they face up to each other . John Mullane could have destroyed Cork the last day, but he did not achieve a good percentage of score’s from possession. I believe if Cork have a marker for him , then Brian Murphy should be dedicated to that job, he is the only Cork player with pace and tenacity to match Mullane. Tony Brown and Niall McCarthy are both players capable of lifting any team , if they come face to face again ,should cancel each other. Both teams have other individuals like Eoin Kelly, Stephen Molumphy and Mullane of Waterford, Ben O’ Connor ,Aisake, and Cathal Naughton,who , on the day are potential match winners. Then there is the selectors with respective managers, which side will make the right call at the right time? By:Hawkeye.

Popularity: 77%

Cork and Waterford served up a another 35 mins of super hurling , that said, there was 35 mins of dour never say die combat, at half time Waterford led by a point 0 – 7 to 0 – 6, Cathal Naughton had a couple nice points for Cork and Shane O’ Sullivan contributed a couple for Waterford including a good one from 35 metres out on the sideline. Ben O’Connor was somewhat off target in this 1st half. The second half started with Waterford going in to a 4 point lead, Cork slowly pegged them back, after which Michael Cussen was introduced to the attack and he made an immediate impact , scoring and distributing . The game then swung in Corks favour and Aisake O’Halpin contributed a fine solo goal , shortly after Cork had another goal created by Fraggy Murphy with a telling pass inside to the on running Ben O’Connor, Ben feigned a pass across the goal to the un-marked Aisake, at the last moment he sent a telling shot to the roof of the net which put Cork in the driving seat with 15 mins left on the clock . However, at this stage Davy Fitz introduced his basketball team to counteract Cork’s ,bringing on Dan the Man , his brother Maurice and Ken McGrath. A clever piece of play from Michael Walsh gave Eoin Kelly a pass from which he broke the net with a fine goal. However with the game in 3 minutes of the 4 allowed for injury time ,Waterford seemed to be running out of time ,but the hand of god (pardon the pun) stepped in and awarded Waterford an invisible free close to goal. Eoin Kelly blasted it low and hard only for it to be saved by a 7 man wall, but up stepped that canny rod man Tony Brown, who netted it in an unusual fashion. The draw was a fair result and the referee was decent apart from the last minute free. He may have a reason which was not obvious to all the radio and tv commentators. If Saturday’s replay brings half the pleasure, then we have seen the full game .
By:Hawkeye

Popularity: 71%