TERAPROOF:User:kevinsmithDate:22/09/2009Time:10:03:06Edition:22/09/2009TueEchoTues2209009Page:52 Zone:EE

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52 SPORT RACINGGAA EVENING ECHO, Tuesday, September 22, 2009 EVENING ECHO, Tuesday, September 22, 2009 RACINGGAA SPORT 53 O’Sullivan East- hails the Croke Park offers Injection of rivals eye WHEN Liverpool won their first European Cup in 1977, Cork side Bob Paisley sat down the final spot next morning in the boot CORK County Board chairman Jerry room with his army of By JOHN CASHMAN O’Sullivan yesterday paid a glowing lieutenants to try to, as he East-Cork GAA tribute to the county’s senior foot- home comforts on put it, work out how they new blood ballers despite ultimate honours were “going to win it THE first semi-final of the Abernethy eluding them in Sunday’s All-Ireland again.” Cup (East Cork Senior decider, ZULWHV ),17$1 2u722/(. Championship) will be played between Cork’s wait for Sam Maguire is The problem forCork manager hosts Midleton and Cloyne at now set to reach the 20-year mark as and his selectors as Clonmult Memorial Park this evening, they suffered more heartache at the they wakeup after last night’s with a 6.15pm throw-in. hands of the Kingdom. But O’Sullivan homecoming and they reflect on The competition is organised annu- is adamant that under the guidance the big occasion coming so near and yet so far is try- could make a ally by the divisional Juvenile Board of Conor Counihan, Cork have made ing to win the All-Ireland title for and is their major fundraising venture enormous strides this year. the first time, and seeking to find of the year. “There was huge progress made players who can be added to the Back in the 90s, matches in the this year. The Cork lads are as good squad to give it an extra dimension. competition generally took place in as any team in the country. They’ve Of course,it must be pointed out spring time and often acted as ideal beaten the best and in the first thatthe Rebels are not far away at preparation for the county senior quarter of an hour they showed what all from being the finished article, hurling championship. they’re capable of. though the failings in Croke Park on However, due to an increased fix- “But after that it didn’t happen and Sunday had been flagged as poten- difference ture list and the involvement of many you’d have to give a bit of credit to tial achilles’ heels in advance. players with inter-county and division- Kerry as well. It is disappointing for THE best way for the Cork Thetask must now be to hope al teams, it’s recently proved very diffi- the lads. They played so well all the players to deal with that, like when Steven O’Brien, cult to pencil in games in the earlier year and they didn’t do themselves Sunday’s All-Ireland final Michael McCarthy and Paul Mc- part of the year. justice and that’s the disappointing loss to Kerry is to review the Grath made their presence felt on Nevertheless there is still a consid- thing.” first 15 minutes of the the panel in 1989 after the losses of erable level of interest amongst play- Sligo man Marty Duffy was placed game. the previous two years, Counihan ers and supporters with this evening’s under the spotlight last week, when can integrateacouple of other new local derby meeting destined to his appointment as All-Ireland final In doing so they will, according to players. provide an intriguing hour’s hurling. referee drew criticism from several top sports psychologist Canice To give him credit, he did agood Both sides bowed out of the county quarters. On Sunday he made some Kennedy, come to the conclusion job of that this year – five of the side championship a while back. Midleton dubious calls, yet O’Sullivan believes thatmost others have already, that thatstarted on Sunday werenot in have since being involved in a titanic his input was not acritical factor in this is avery special group of Cork the first 15 for any game in 2008. battle against neighbours Carrigtwohill swinging the game for Kerry. players who will enjoy success in In the regard of discovering new in the relegation semi-final. “There were a couple of occasions years to come. talent, we are lucky in thatthe Cloyne avoided being dragged into where Ifelt Cork were hard done by, One or two of the panel/team may All-Ireland U21 and junior football the same equation as they had earlier but I’m sure Kerry felt the same at not be around to witness it but trophies reside down here, as well as accounted for Carrigtwohill before other times during the game. The talent will, eventually, win out and the , so Cork football is making their exit to St Finbarr’s. way the game has gone so fast, the Cork will win All-Ireland titles. on a high right now. It’s likely both sets of selectors will referee has a very difficult job to do. Some critics feel that Cork play- Another help was the successful choose from strong panels as they “He has to make decisions on the ers hit apsychological wall when McGrath Cup run at the start of the aim to book a place in the decider spot and that’s not an easy thing to they reachCroke Park thatstymies year, PatrickKelly being the most against the winners of the Bride do. People were talking about Tadhg their play and stifles their confid- successful example of players in- Rovers v Killeagh semi-final. Kennelly’s challenge early on and it ence. volved in that who forced their way Later this evening in Cloyne a new looked nasty.But I don’t think Tadhg Not so, according to Mr Kennedy. into serious consideration. county wide seven-a-side hurling com- Kennelly is that kind of player, and at “Looking from the outside in I The fact that Cork are not allowed petition will be launched. The brain the end of the day it’s a physical would be relatively confident in say- to use established starters means child of Cloyne man Thomas Cahill, game that is being played. Of course ing that thereis no psychological Cork’sColm O’Neill scores their only goal during their All-Ireland final clash against Kerry in Croke Park. that players who otherwise would the competition is expected to take there will be knocks in it.” barrier forCork playing in Croke Picture: Brian Lougheed not be able to get a serious crack can place at various venues during the In the wake of every All-Ireland Park. Maybe they wereawed by the do so. month of November. final defeat the issue of intercounty place acouple of years ago, but not “The Kerry captain said in his losing in Munster wasn’t the end for The Sigerson has also already Entry fee per panel of 10 players is retirements crops up, but O’Sullivan anymore. speech that Kerry stuck to the game them. proved to be a good source of new F100 with proceeds going towards the is optimistic everyone in the squad “The reasons I’dgive arefirstly plan. They were kicking the ball the Sports “They used the extra games to talent – , Paul O’Flynn ce- Irish Guide Dogs Association. will return for next year’s campaign. the manner of their victory over way they had practiced all through psychologist greateffect. They tried out new tac- mented places in the squad as ares- Back on the playing fields in the He also stated he would be ‘amazed’ Tyrone suggests thatCork don’t the first half and thathelped them Canice tics in Donaghy’s absence, saw more ult, while it helped to Imokilly barony there is an attractive if Counihan opted not to stay in the ‘dread’ or ‘fear’ Croke Park. whittle away Cork’s lead. Kennedy. of their bench and were ableto push on and gain a starting spot. U21 A grade Championship semi-final managerial hot seat for another year. “They were absolutely fantastic “Perhaps Cork werenot comfort- properly assess their options. While Colm O’Neill was a partof on the agenda later this week with “I hope all the players do stick that day and took Tyrone apart. able with such a blistering start and “Cork had a player come on last the Sigerson side, U21 duties meant Midleton meeting Killeagh at 7.30pm around. They have too much to offer “A nd secondly in the first 15 maybe alittle doubt creptinto play- Sunday who hadn’t played champi- thatitwas not until Down had been under lights at Carrigtwohill. yet. They’re young men. Conor has minutes of Sunday’sgame they ers’ heads and thatdistracted them his era that ‘Corkcould beatthem onship all year…. that’s astonish- beaten in Portlaoise in thatfinal on There will aswift return to action for another year to go as manager. He were outstanding. They started the and gave Kerrythe opportunity? every day except Sunday’. ing. But had they gone the circuit- the May Bank Holiday Monday that the eventual winners as Sarsfields hasn’t said anything about it but I’d game brilliantly, took it to Kerry “A lso Kerrydo have athing called “A ll-Ireland finals arenot about ous route perhaps they’d have he was abletojoin up with the await in the decider at Ballynoe on the be amazed if he didn’t continue.” and were flying. ‘environment comfort’ when it the match. The pitchis still grass, learned more about themselves and seniors. following Wednesday, September 30. Despite the dejection of Sunday’s “So that suggests to me that it’s comes to Croke Park. the game is still 70 minutes long. thatmight have helped them settle Others to similarly graduate from The eventual champions from the reversal, O’Sullivan hailed the not apsychological thing with Cork “What thatmeans is that it’slike The difference is the hype. more on Sunday. thatside wereCiarán Sheehan and east are then due to meet the new city achievements by the county in vari- at all,” he added. their second home, they are so used “The pressure formatch tickets, “Kerry focus on the big one,the . Walsh wore number 30 Kerry’s Marc Ó Sé is tackled by Cork’s Donncha O’Connor during their All-Ireland SFC final clash at Croke Park on standard-bearers in the county ous grades this season, which was a But there’s no escaping the over- to the place. They’ve played in the for banquet tickets, the hype around All-Ireland all the time and Munster on Sunday and, apartfrom afew Sunday. Picture: Eddie O’Hare quarter-final the following weekend. major boost after the bitter conflict whelming reality thaton Sunday last six All-Ireland finals, they know where you live and work. It’sabout to them is just a stepping stone. Per- minutes at the end of the Kerryre- Finally, Castlemartyr, the recently last winter. Cork’s optimism turned to dust and the drill. the occasion, and Kerry have more haps Corkneed to adopt thatmen- play, did not see championship wing-back, and he is also in with a While the status quo of Alan good job at wing-backfor the junior crowned divisional junior A grade “Well what’s happened happened ashes, consumed by Kerry’s fire and “They know the layout of the experience of the occasion. tality. game-time. shout. Quirke starting with Kevin Murphy side, played in the McGrath Cup this champions, maintained their recent and we have to get on with it now. It’s betrayed by their own substantial dressing-rooms, the way the grass “They are not going to get distrac- “But Cork aren’t too far away. That will no doubt changenext O’Driscoll’snamesake Colm was, on the bench will probablyprevail year and will surely do the same winning sequence with a3-13 to 2-11 in the past and hopefully we won’t shortcomings. feels, probably wheretheir friends ted by the photos,the suits, the in- They have shown that they can beat year with the aid of exposure in the likeGalvin, agoal-scoring herolate for another year,O’Halloran could again, with a few league outings for victory in aJHL division 1game experience anything like it again. After starting the game so bril- and families are sitting during the terviews etc. They have that experi- Kerry, they did so this year and league, something thatshould also on in the U21 campaign, getting the usurp Paddy O’Shea as the third good measure. played at Rathcormac over the week- O’Sullivan also expressed his im- liantly Cork’s confidence evapor- game. ence. And Cork will be the better for they are getting closer all the time. benefit Sheehan, whose power and winner to break Down’s hearts, and choice. Macroom duo David Goold, broth- end. mense satisfaction with the swift ated as their total of wides mounted “That all lends itself to an air of their experiences at the weekend. “This will hurt forawhile,of guile would be abig addition in the the Tadhg MacCarthaigh’s man Elsewhere, thereis alot of poten- er of Fintan, and Sean Kiely were Without ever reaching the dizzy manner in which Cork’s club champi- alarmingly. calmness. It helps a team’s confid- “A nd we have to remember that course it will, but after reviewing forwards. gained some valuablesenior cham- tial, but that is something thatcan two who were picked by us last year heights of their championship final onship programme progressed this And with every passing moment ence levels and their composure and this Kerryteam is the team of the the first 15 minutes of Sunday’s Going backto the CIT side,Noel pionship experience with Carbery only be tested when players are as possibly possessing enough qual- win, the reds did just about enough to year, despite the extended inter- in that dismal second half, with they are less likely to lose control. decade, there’s no disputing that.” game the Cork players should have Galvin of Ballincollig, a corner-back this year. thrown into battle and given a ity to make the step up, but unfortu- take the league points on offer, thanks county. Next Sunday sees the (YHQ every new wide,Cork’s champion- “On their day Cork areasgood as There is the very real factor of renewed confidence when they get on thatside, will definitely securea Expect him to receive achance or chance to deliver on it. nately for both, they have been in the main to two goals from substi- LQJ (FKR Cork SFC decider take ship pennant grew progressively Kerry. They’ve proven that and Kerry obviously tailoring their sea- back for next season,” added place on the panel. two in the league to show that he is Clonakilty’s Colm Callanan is a hampered by injuries,Kiely more tute Mark Bowens. place in Páirc Uí Chaoimh between smaller in the rearview mirror. Kerryknow it. But maybe those son to peak in September, using the Kennedy. Thesaviour in the U21 against worth a place on the 30. guy who looks likehe could operate so,so it will be interesting to see if Castlemartyr will step into the St Finbarr's and Clonakilty, after a “I think that maybe Corkdidn’t little things did help Kerry, those qualifying series to their advantage, ● Canice Kennedy is a sports psy- Tipp, getting the late goal to deny Of the goalkeepers who are out at the level, while Kanturk’s John they are given their chances. county junior hurling championship season in which club players were have agame plan forwhatthey little advantages they have. something perhaps Cork might have chologist based in Douglas.Hehas them the title, has versatility but is there and not currently part of the McLoughlin, another U21 winner, The opportunities arealmost end- arena for the first time in 45 years fed a more regular diet of action. would do if they went four points up “A nd Kerryknow how to win in benefited from. worked with athletes of the calibre best suited to the corner,while Ilen panel, Bishopstown’s Ken O’ would be agreat option to have in less for Counihan and his manage- when they take the eventual city win- “It is fairly unique to have the in the first 15 minutes – as happened Croke Park. They are better than “Winning Munster titles is still of Olive Loughnane as well as teams Rovers’ Conor O’Driscoll, another Halloran is the clear stand-out the full-back line if he chose football ment team, the hardpartismaking ners in a quarter-final tie fixed for county final so soon after.” – and that maybe cost them,” sur- Corkinthat facet. Dinny Allen fam- big news around here but maybe and players across avariety of ableto fill a few roles,is best suited choice,and he has experience of over hurling. the calls on who gets on the panel Cobh on Saturday, October 10. mised Kennedy. ously said about the Kerry team of not so to Kerryand they knew that sporting codes. to playing as an attacking being on the extended squad. Richard O’Sullivan, who did a and who doesn’t.