Well done Waterford. Worthy winners. Game was done when cahalane got the road but was incessant pressure on our defence caused him to lose his discipline. Was it he gave Moran the flick into the balls very early on? He could have been gone at that stage if it was spotted, silly shit.
Good few Cork lads well below par. McGrath had his honework done and got matchups bang on. Coleman got a real education.
Hope WD go on to win it now, nowt against GY but always had a soft spot for the deise lads. I think anyone calling it as a foregone conclusion now could be in for a surprise. Obvious caveat about Gleeson brothers. Hopefully both will play
One thing Cork will look back at and wonder about is why were Cahalane and McDonnell careering up the field so much? They got completely carried away.
If Brick doesnât get hurler of the year there is something seriously wrong with the people choosing. The infouence he has on his team is beyond anything i can remember. Its absolutely unbelievable. And this year, as he slows and ages, has been his best in his present role as he perfects it.
Intriguing how Corks discipline broke down yesterday. There wasnât a single free awarded to Waterford by Wexford referee James Owens until the 23rd minute. Thereafter some of them completely lost their composure as Waterford secured 8 frees from Mr Owens in the remaining 47 minutes.
Indiscipline in more ways than one. Nash opting to bomb balls out of the stratosphere in on top of the full forward line went against what we take to be the perceived strengths of Cork and played right into Waterfordâs hands. Cork wilted.
We were surrounded by Cork people yesterday, mostly sound to be fair. It was widely acknowledged that Owens was absolutely riding Waterford in the first 25 minutes. Not a single free. In fairness to Dan he ran onto the pitch and highlighted it after Owens gave Cork a free for the Waterford player landing was it Cahalane on his arse. I havenât watched it back yet. Owens started reffing both sides after that. Cork fairly lowered the blade a bit in the 2nd half. Two Gleesons really fucking stupid. Didnât even realise there was an issue with Austin until I got home. Nobody in our section did. Thought Cork were going to go on and win it after 5 or 10 minutes into the 2nd half when they knocked over a few points on the trot. Nice young time but not ready to win an AI yet. If Austin Gleeson is not suspended Waterford will win the AI.
Cork making themselves feel better by saying progress has been made and that this is just the start. âItâs a young teamâ. While it may be a young-ish team, roughly half that team were there 4 seasons ago when they reached the all Ireland. Of the starting XV yesterday - Nash, McDonnell, Joyce, Ellis, Cooper, Harnedy, Lehane, Cadogan and Horgan were all either on the team or the wider panel in 2013.
No, progress would have been getting back to a final and winning it. But if it makes the Rock and his pals feel betterâŚ
Of course progress has been made. Cork had the bones of 9 players starting who didnât feature in the 2013 All Ireland Final. They won Munster silverware in 2017. They were embarrassed in the 2013 Munster Final. Theyâre in a far better position now than they were in 2016. Progress.
Although your wider point is partly correct about it not being overly young about half those lads - specifically Lehane, Joyce, Ellis, Harnedy and Cadogan - have a good few years to give while Horgan had probably close to his best year ever and Nash is a goalie.
The real issue is that a number of the backs arenât good enough.
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