User:rorynoonanDate:21/03/2013Time:08:14:40Edition:21/03/2013Thuthurecho210313Page:56Color:
EE - V1
User:johnroycroftDate:20/03/2013Time:12:07:27Edition:21/03/2013Thuthurecho210313Page:49Color:
EE - V1
Evening Echo
SPORT
Thursday,
March 21, 2013
SPORT
Rockies seek GAA fan support
OPINION HALF-TIME indicators in GAA matches can be so, so misleading.
49
There we were on Saturday night GAA in Pairc Uí Rinn, and for both matches we had BLACKROCK Hurling it all sorted at the sós beag. ball club have been and Footselected as The footballers one of four finalists, were trailing by and the only two, with one of Cork representative their leading forin the Etihad wards on crutches. Airways ‘Raise The Donegal, two in Bar’ competifront, looked set tion. to drive on and inflict a third defeat The prize includes in just over 12 a months on a Cork ship fund of €10,000, sponsorteam. fundraising Then in the hurling prizes such as Etihad game, with flights and JBM’s charges five All-Ireland tickets, to various guest short whistle against the good at the speaker engagements a young Clare from the side, we were set world of sport, a for a happy hurling table quiz night night on Leeside. with Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh Wrong, a chairde, on both counts. as compère as well as training gear It did appear that and club kits. the majority in the stands came “The prize package to watch the stickis unpremen. However it cedented and could was the gritty perbe of enormformance of the ous benefit to the big-ball operators club in these that had them enjoying tough times, but we their experineed support ence. from the wider GAA community in Yes, I’m aware Cork to get over the All-Ireland the champions may member Conor Hurley line,” club be a stage said. hind their championship or two be“We have already mode, but received the 20-minute votes from our great spell in the second rivals St Finhalf when seven barr’s and members unanswered Rebel of other Cork flags were raised GAA clubs which had many back is fantastic to believing in Conor see.” Counihan’s side. Prior to the opening Word is spreading clash, the on Twitter Setanta commentary and Facebook and the ing their pre-match team were do- Donegal’s Michael pealing to all in Cork club is apMurphy in action against preparations to get behind about any changes them. Eoin Cadogan (left) from the match National Football League, Division and Andrew O’Sullivan programme. When 1, clash at Páirc Uí You can vote for The of Cork during their news filtered Rinn last Sunday. Rockies at through Donncha Allianz www.etihadgaa.ie O’Connor wasn’t until March 25. Picture: SPORTSFILE starting I tried to explain guy Andrew O’Sullivan where this had come from. They hadn’t heard of him, and might I add some of the local experts in our company didn’t exactly paint the man from Castletownbere in All-Star terms. A few of his previous sins were used to embellish their descriptions. Suffice to say that when it was all over the ‘Butcher’, as he is affectionately known, was summoned to the sideline for the presentation of the man of the match award. Did he deserve such a high accolade? Given his display showed up the pre-match doubters he was entitled to it. Andrew’s honesty of effort, allied to a massive work-rate, forgetting his second-half and not point, are all indicators that we get another audition. will see him To these eyes, the pair the term intentionally — and I use urday could be the catalyst to im- 16th minute that really impressed — of players pressing in future collapse. outings. were Eoin Cadogan and Michael With Alan Quirke impression that Sometimes this column has a tendthey might be a Shields. returning from tad overseas The Douglas player ency to be OTT, The main discussion but the atmosphere on the short side for hurling. had Michael contest army duty in six weeks, the Murphy as his companion that prevailed ted was the capitulationas we deparWhile I am in for possession of immediately after critical mode, is the champi- that for much onship of Cork in of the contest and there something the last 25 minutes. incident could be number one jersey his about those lights described as a will come funeral ecting the ball away efforts at dir- into sharp focus. and the vertically happen? I’m afraid Why did this home experience. from one of the challenged playyou’ll have to country’s finest In the meantime ers? Paudie O’Sullivan, At funerals I have summon was greatly helped Ken O’Halloran pondered before a talented hurling the services of the real by the awareness has to avail of his who the tears are hurler, was operating experts. of his fellow deopportunity. really for — the fender. mourner or the Two splendid ward, but I did notice at centre-forNext Sunday may coffin occupier. early second-half him on several provide further saves did not do If breaking ball occasions putting Last Saturday night enlightenment as was his cause any harm his hand to his to the exact locawas a bit like St Finbarr’s clubmanthe option, the but his desire forehead to escape tion of Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s to don a summertime that. Part of our sadness was the glare from the always ap- number for artificial light. peared to be in the team Colm but some was in the rankings. one may have to correct location. Maybe it was also reserved for wait until the the long-serving The experiment They travel to the Quirke decides that selfish intent. Put bluntly, Cork’s same for other players. of cloning a new city of the tribes Mark McHugh there is another chances of regaining to meet a Galway It is some skill in Mark Collins form of existence to get a grip on team that are also Sam Maguire worked extremely out there. would be greatly a in a serious fast-flying sliothar well. need of a victory. reduced if the without having Mark’s easy mastery to ● To finish Ballyclough one For Ken’s sake, I hope that Shane has a third cruciate contend with lighting issues. in praiseworthy of the dual Curran role was evident mood. injury to contend Last Saturday’s In the retina at the — that unique cúl on with. event on Boreenback of the eye, baire from sions when he became several occa- St Bridget’s there are two types Now, the hurling mana Road had in Roscommon part of the se- doesn’t encounter. almost 50 personnel of receptors, one, — curity strategy to which are known While flag activity on media duty. start a trend where pick up possession as rods in the goalies match in Cork’s half, and could hang around Back in the day was low the scores football light sight and the other for dim when the forward as long as popes. when this venue known as was in this cones movement needed clash were as numerous Now the downside are converted into a linkman, he was of Saturday a gaelic house as Declan vision. responsible for bright light the also on hand. night’s game. It press facilities were Maybe in Paudie's all centred around Kidney critics. You might think, designed for case that the injury to Colm his a much smaller Liam Shorten I would be happy cones are a little may have moved O’Neill. His two with such a posittoo sensitive? membership. down the pecking excellent points ive statistic, but Whatever about To their credit the too many scores in a space of order over the the scoreline, one county PR comcan fact that a past while, but his minute early in mittee did a wonderful did emerge was the second half were be a problem in some games. two points on Satjob in makthat this ing sure real highlights young Clare side I haven’t got the that everybody but then came is on an upward dimensions of was catered the Pairc Uí Rinn curve which can for. at hand, but I get the ancient game. only be good for the Credit where it is due. ● Paudie.palmer@hotmail.com
Rookies stepped up to shine in O’Neill’s absence
GAA: Paudie Palmer in praise of Cork’s rookies: P49
Rugby: O’Connell return bodes well for Munster: P46
Awards: Evening Echo award for a special Guest: P50
Barry is hero for Loreto’s All-Ireland champs
Loreto Fermoy players celebrate with the Tesco HomeGrown Post Primary School Senior A cup after they beat Presentation Athenry in McDonagh Park, Nenagh. Jenny Barry hit 1-8 for her team. See match report on page 53. Picture: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE
Kinsale Community School captain Mateusz Rudak lifts the All-Ireland Schools Basketball League U19B Boys cup at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght. See report on page 53.
Cussen and Mannix back Picture: INPHO/Cathal Noonan
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Cussen has been sidelined for a lengthy period with a groin injury and he hasn’t figured in the red jersey since being withdrawn during the course of the Waterford Crystal Cup game with WIT. Mannix has been out of the equation with a similar injury and apart from being involved as a late sub in the opening league win over Tipperary, he was ruled out of the games against Waterford and Clare. It remains to be seen if either will get a starting berth against Galway next Sunday but it’s very likely Cussen will figure at some stage in the contest. It is known the management are anxious to see him involved in a competitive environment and if he starts or is introduced it will be in the
HURLING
By JOHN HORGAN full-forward slot. Despite the disappointing defeat to Clare last Saturday night, wholesale changes are not envisaged although it’s likely that Midleton duo Luke O’Farrell and Conor Lehane will be in from the start this time. The centre-back slot, occupied by Patrick Cronin in the assignments against Clare and Waterford, is being monitored by the management and the likelihood is that the captain will be located elsewhere. Lorcán McLoughlin may switch from midfield into the number six jersey or alternatively Christopher Joyce will move back in from the wing. The only absentee through injury is Jamie Coughlan, and while it was the selectors’ intention to look at as many players as possible, the experimentation process may be put on hold with Galway and Kilkenny looming.
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