Will be interesting how both teams set up - all games this year seem to have been on dry days. Rainy day and who adapts better?
Finals are often about who shows up - two young teams and a young team can freeze on the day.
Clare look vulnerable defensively when teams run at them and that may suit Cork. If a team plays a sweeper it means there is a man free further out the field. Up to the management to devise the best way to use that man.
Limerick played with a sweeper yesterday but even when they fell behind looked like they were playing with four forwards for a lot of the game and against seven backs you will struggle. They still managed 18 scores playing badly and if I was a Clare supporter that would worry me.
Cork have a better hurling half-forward line than Limerick. They beat us comfortably in part because they not only had those hurlers in attack, but those hurlers did a serious job of harrying the Clare backs when they were in possession as well.
The thing is though, Limerick have far better players when it comes to that aspect of the game. That’s one of their major strengths, and yet yesterday they couldn’t close down the Clare backs and midfielders like they did in Thurles last year. On that basis I would seriously question Cork’s ability to repeat the performance in tackling and pressurising that they gave in that first game. If they can’t repeat it, the game becomes a shoot out, and that suits us down to the ground.
[quote=“Watch The Break, post: 819807, member: 260”]Cork have a better hurling half-forward line than Limerick. They beat us comfortably in part because they not July had those hurlers in attack, but those hurlers did a serious job of harrying the Clare backs when they were in possession as well.
The thing is though, Limerick have far better players when it comes to that aspect of the game. That’s one of their major strengths, and yet yesterday they couldn’t close down the Clare backs and midfielders like they did in Thurles last year. On that basis I would seriously question Cork’s ability to repeat the performance in tackling and pressurising that they gave in that first game. If they can’t repeat it, the game becomes a shoot out, and that suits us down to the ground.[/quote]
Cork are the only side able to beat ye at your own game in that regard,the likes of Bugler will give away lots of frees which unlike Limerick yesterday Pat Horgan will punish.
I cant see Clare getting beat. They are a superb team, who are well drilled and play a system that suits their skill set really well. They have some serious talent on the bench aswell.
As Sid stated already, Cork forwards relished the space they were afforded in first half of semi when Dublin played an orthodox six. Once they reverted to seven backs, the Cork forwards struggled as they dont have the physical presence to thrive in the reduce space.
Nash, O’Neill and O’Sullivan have been heroic for Cork this year and are the main reason we are in the final. I would disagree with Kev on McDonnell. He is struggling for form and would have been substituted against Dublin but for a lack of alternatives.
The Cork half back line is very poor at this level and are lacking pace. It is near on impossible to see then cope with the pace and movement of the Clare forwards.
I genuinely see Clare winning this by 6/7 pts plus.
Clare looked phenomenal yesterday. Their touch, striking, organisation and movement were just ridiculously good.
In saying that though, Limerick won most of the puck outs, had loads of possession, and the impact of the missed frees cannot be underestimated. Had the missed frees been scored it was a one score game. The confidence and momentum sapped from the team by the missed scores was huge, and once Clare had built their lead there was a desperation to Limericks play that made their problems worse. Cork won’t miss those frees or 14 of 20 scoring chances in the first half. Cork also have Murphy back and if they want to nullify Kelly they can detail Murphy to mark him again -Murphy plays midfield for the club and will be capable of following Kelly wherever without being out of his depth. Very hard to call.
Re following Kelly , people should look at his scores again, he was in a tight situation for each of them, at MF he is impossible to mark , and Davy’s system where Ryan alternates between 6 and a holding MF allows him this scope to roam from deep
This bunch of young men seem to be pretty unique. They appear to have maturity beyond their years. Cool heads, Leaders everywhere and of course a complete belief in the system that their management have created.
However Galway nor Limerick have tested the Clare full back line properly. By that I mean accurate passes hit directly in front of the likes of O’Farrell and Lehane. McInernry is a fine hurler but not great when turned. Cork will get some exposure here I feel… whether it will be enough or not I cant decide yet.
[quote=“Kinvara’s Passion, post: 819878, member: 686”]Clare can win this.
This bunch of young men seem to be pretty unique. They appear to have maturity beyond their years. Cool heads, Leaders everywhere and of course a complete belief in the system that their management have created.
However Galway nor Limerick have tested the Clare full back line properly. By that I mean accurate passes hit directly in front of the likes of O’Farrell and Lehane. McInernry is a fine hurler but not great when turned. Cork will get some exposure here I feel… whether it will be enough or not I cant decide yet.[/quote]
Cannot see the Cork half back line capable of delivering such ball.
Nash’s puckouts aside, I think the danger for Clare is Cork targeting our half-backline with short passes to Harnedy, Cronin, and Lehane. They’re very good at working the ball out to their own '65 and I can see them looking to draw the Clare midfield out and leave space in front of their half-forward line for that trio to move into.
Clare probably have more pace in the full-backline than the half-backline and isolating the Clare half-backs in one on ones is probably the way they’ll go if they can manage it in open play. It’s the best way to take Donnellan out of the equation as well.
[quote=“Watch The Break, post: 819807, member: 260”]Cork have a better hurling half-forward line than Limerick. They beat us comfortably in part because they not only had those hurlers in attack, but those hurlers did a serious job of harrying the Clare backs when they were in possession as well.
The thing is though, Limerick have far better players when it comes to that aspect of the game. That’s one of their major strengths, and yet yesterday they couldn’t close down the Clare backs and midfielders like they did in Thurles last year. On that basis I would seriously question Cork’s ability to repeat the performance in tackling and pressurising that they gave in that first game. If they can’t repeat it, the game becomes a shoot out, and that suits us down to the ground.[/quote]
its interesting that you say the part in bold.
i do not believe that tackling and pressurising is at all any way a strong point of Cork, in not denying they cant mix it if necessary as yer man Fennelly for KK found out when kearney kicked his helmet across the Thurlus sod.
In order to have a team in such a mindset you must first put them in the position that the opposition have the ball, Cork do not operate that way, They will simply try to outhurl Clare and prevent their half backs from getting possession.
limerick played the game on Clare’s terms yesterday and that was a serious mistake and Clare in the HB line simply destroyed them phsyically, Cork wont want to get into that kind of trench warfare and messing, they cant… KK tried to drag them down to that level but it didnt happen, Dublin were a physically stronger team than us but Cork ran a drag with their FB line with the speed of the ball and the simply supreme skill and hurling ability that our forwards have… the clare HB line is very very good, however what’s behind them is average at best and i do not think they will handle the movement of Cork at all,
I presume Davy will go out an repeat his plan that has worked so well against Galway and Lk, should be interesting, Cork in general dont pay as much attention as to what the opposition are at and just go and do their own thing. and that’s hurl… its worked so far
I would say that if it turns into a shootout then it would suit Cork just as much as Clare. I would tip Clare to win this, however Cork have surprised me so far against Kilkenny and Dublin, particularly in the way they managed to avoid being dragged into the oppositions way of playing and being locked out by Dublin’s defence, who I rate highly. It will be interesting to see how Cork deal with Donnellan as a sweeper in front of McInerney as that should hamper the direct ball the likes of Horgan thrive on.
Not necessarily ball coming from HB line, I was more getting at the short accurate passes from the midfield to the half forward line area. Ye did it successfully against Dublin.
I hope Clare win but I don’t think they will.
Clare have been impressive against a typically flaky Galway team and a misfiring Limerick but when Cork asked the serious questions of them earlier in the season, they fell away badly. They’ve improved, no doubt about it but so have Cork and their performances in stiffer tests stack up better than those of Clare.
The last time Cork lost an AI final to a team that wasn’t Kilkenny was 1956 when Wexford took them.
The only other teams to beat them in a final are Dublin, Leix and London.
I don’t think Clare will be joining our exalted company.