Lyng will want points from Cork trip
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
Allianz Hurling League Division 1A
Round 5
Cork vs Kilkenny
Saturday, 5PM, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Referee: Johnny Murphy
There was much anticipation on Noreside about the arrival of Limerick last week, but supporters and players hopes were dashed thanks to a nasty band of weather rendered the pitch at UPMC Nowlan Park unplayable. The clash with The Treaty will be rescheduled, looking at the current calendar, a St Patrick’s weekend fixture could well be the best space for it. For now, that’s on the back burner and one to look forward to while attention is solely focused on a trip to Leeside to face last season’s beaten All-Ireland finalists, Cork.
Both teams will take to the SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh pitch having played three rounds of Allianz league action, with Kilkenny one point better off at this stage of the campaign. While Derek Lyng has two wins and a loss in division 1A, his Cork counterpart Pat Ryan has one of each result under his belt. The Rebels began their campaign with a trip to Slaneyside to tackle the Yellowbellies and emerged from Chadwicks Wexford Park with maximum points following a 15-point win over Keith Rossiter’s charges. The Leesiders had the aid of a strong breeze in the opening period and built up a comfortable ten-point lead by the short whistle, with Brian Hayes in tremendous form along with Pádraig Power, who raised a first half green flag, following great work from the aforementioned Hayes.
Declan Dalton won and converted a penalty in the early stages of the second half, double punishment for Wexford who also lost Conor Foley to a black card for the foul on the Cork player. The Rebels lead was fourteen points when they lost Dalton to a red card when himself and Rory O’Connor were given their marching orders following an altercation. This was the only sour note for the visitors on a wet night in Wexford.
Next up for Cork was a home clash with Limerick. Again, conditions were shocking, but Ryan’s men dug deep to snatch a point, thanks to a late brace of scores from Darragh Fitzgibbon. The 80th minute leveller was The Charleville players 10th point of the evening, and ninth placed ball as the Sports Direct sponsored team battled back from five down to claim a draw. Cork will wonder how they started so brightly, notching seven points in the opening quarter, but only tagged on one further score before the interval. The Kilkenny management team will have noted this and will hope that something similar occurs on Saturday evening. Cork were dealt a blow when Pádraig Power departed clutching his wrist and was replaced Patrick Horgan which drew a big cheer from the home supporters in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
The home side were five in arrears when they struck a major in the 43rd minute courtesy of a Shane Barrett goal. This score got the Leesiders back in the contest and they continued to trouble the Limerick defence for the remainder of the contest and Fitzgibbon’s accuracy proved crucial in added time.
While Kilkenny were sidelined last weekend, Cork were facing up to their first defeat of the campaign, under the lights in Thurles. The Rebel radar was a little off in FBD Semple Stadium, as they came unstuck at the hands of Liam Cahill’s men. Shane Barrett created a chance on eight minutes, which resulted in Brian Hayes tapping the sliotar beyond Tipp keeper Barry Hogan. However the hosts registered two majors of their own, both of which would have concerned Cork manager, Pat Ryan. Both Premier County goals had one thing in common, players awarded the freedom of Semple as they carved out the major scores.
Substitute Dylan Walsh’s green flag raiser was crucial, as Cork had looked like they were gaining momentum when tying things up a few minutes earlier, their supporters found their voices. In defeat, again it was Darragh Fitzgibbon who top scored for the Leesiders, notching 0-11 including seven scores from placed balls.
Derek Lyng will no doubt have it drilled into his team that maintaining discipline will be vital, with Charleville’s Fitzgibbon in such ominous form from the placed ball. I would imagine that Patrick Horgan will want to continue his scoring battle with TJ. While this may only be league fare, the Glen Rovers man will hope to secure minutes at home in the clash with the Cats. In attack, it’s not just Horgan, the likes of Shane Barrett and Brian Hayes have looked lively in the league. In midfield, Tim O’Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon have been performing well, we have already discussed the latter’s scoring prowess, but Newtownshandrum’s O’Mahony can strike over from distance if given time and space.
When the Kilkenny team was announced for the postponed clash with The Treaty, the line up had Eoin Murphy making his first appearance between the sticks. i think we will see the Glenmore man this weekend. Like us, Cork have a netminder of good quality, Ballinhassig man Patrick Collins. The Rebels keeper was a key figure in their run to Croker last season and will hope to showcase his talent when the Noresiders roll into town on Saturday evening. The attackers in black and amber will have noted Ger Millerick’s struggles against teenage sensation Darragh McCarthy in Thurles, the Fr O’Neill’s man coughed up five from play to the Tipp player last time out. Mossy Keoghan, Eoin Cody and others may relish the open spaces of Páirc Uí Chaoimh and are in decent nick ahead of tomorrow’s fixture. This season’s captain, Robert Downey should return to the starting XV in defence and the Glen Rovers clubman will strengthen a defence that looked a little shaky in Semple Stadium.
As mentioned, Derek Lyng and his management team had selected Eoin Murphy to start last weekend, and another player due to make their first league appearance was Tommy Walsh. The Tullaroan player is widely expected to be the third cog in the full-back line come championship time and like Glenmore’s Murphy, Walsh could get the nod tomorrow. Midfield has been an area of contention for some time on Noreside. Could we see Emeralds Killian Doyle and O’Loughlin’s be given time in the engine room tomorrow? Dicksboro’s Harry Shine is another that will hope the postponed Limerick game sees him given a chance in the corner on the banks of the Lee.
TJ Reid, Adrian Mullen and team captain, John Donnelly are all lying in wait for the Cats and Cork could be the perfect venue to reintegrate even one of these stars. The management have shown that they are not shy of giving minutes to younger, less experienced hurlers. Peter McDonald, Padraic Moylan, Luke Hogan amongst others have all seen game time and I would expect the bench to contain some of these players and others tomorrow.
Hopefully the weather is kind and whistler Johnny Murphy lets the game flow on Leeside and March begins with points being gained in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
