Cork need to improve to dash Déise's hopes

MOSTLY HURLING:Waterford now have the momentum but Cork can play much better and might just about shade the replay, writes JOHN ALLEN

WHICH TEAM “lost” last Sunday’s Munster final? Is there always a dynamic shift when a game ends in a draw?

Is there some endemic flaw in Cork that they couldn’t close out the game when they had taken the initiative with those two excellent goals?

The expectations for Cork were very high. They were the bookies’ and most of the pundits choice in the days before the game.

After the almost perfect performance against Tipperary just weeks ago they were being touted as championship contenders. This is also the team, however, for which obituaries were being prepared a few weeks prior to that, after Galway had exposed some fatal flaws in the National League final.

So the question is which performance best represents them?

It is always interesting to see how players, management and the media deal with an unexpected loss or draw.

Psychologically and emotionally, the Cork players will be affected by this result. Inside many are angry and frustrated, and it is almost a natural instinct to blame others, especially when others are analysing the minutest details of your performance. But the truth is too many of the team just didn’t perform or weren’t allow to play to their potential.

This week, for the Rebel players, serious niggling doubts are replacing the upbeat positive one that were there since the Tipperary game. Yes of course they’ll be positive in their mental build-up to Saturday’s game but a seed of doubt has been sown.

Down Waterford way, since last week, the momentum has now shifted in their favour. I’ve no doubt but some of their seasoned campaigners were of the opinion they could win but deep down there were concerns that a repeat of Cork’s form against Tipp would be too much for them. The prevailing winds were all carrying the news that in a tight game Cork would win.

However, every team likes the underdogs’ tag and Waterford certainly played with the intensity of a team that had a point to prove.

There’s a danger, though, that Waterford won’t analyse the game as forensically as their neighbours, given their very satisfactory team performance. The slightest step back in their mental preparation will manifest itself in a lesser physical performance.

On the other hand they now believe (or know) they can win and that belief could spur them on to victory this time.

So we’re set up for a game that’s just as difficult to call as last week’s.

Cork will not have been happy with how they played. The intensity of the Tipp game was missing. The build-up to that game was one of seven months duration. There was a lot of pride at stake, with Tipperary having won the three previous championship encounters.

The resultant impressive performance catapulted the Leesiders into pole position to challenge Kilkenny, in many people’s minds. But one swallow doesn’t make a summer. We’re all grasping at straws in trying to build up some challenger to Kilkenny’s dynasty; consequently Cork became the new great hope on the basis of one performance.

On Sunday last we saw a Cork team whose forwards were kept very tightly under wraps. Both Eoin Murphy and Noel Connors, literally, didn’t give Kieran Murphy or Patrick Horgan a puck of the ball.

Liam Lawlor handled Aisake Ó hAilpín very well. Brick Walsh held the centre, allowed Jerry O’Connor to roam and turned in a five- star performance. Declan Prendergast did a very good job on Ben O’Connor and Tony Browne, with his last-gasp goal, became the hero of the 70 minutes even though in general play he struggled at times against an in-form Niall McCarthy. All four midfielders had periods of dominance.

However, Denis Walsh will have been pleased with the Cork backs, who were as impressive as the Waterford counterparts, with only John Mullane being a serious threat all through. It is interesting to note the corner forwards on both teams were replaced.

Tactically, Waterford got it spot on .They didn’t allow much space in front of Aisake Ó hAilpín, they held the line at half back and they brought their forwards deep and allowed Mullane the space to use his speed to great advantage. They also had a higher work rate than Cork.

So where to from here?

Well Waterford now know they can win. The six-day turnaround will marginally be to their advantage given their “youngerish” team. Cork, without Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and Jerry O’Connor, now know the momentum has changed. Their forwards have to work harder. They will have to move the ball quicker to the full-forward line and be more decisive on the line.

With the enforced changes, they are now, I think, in a better position than they would be in if they had a full squad to pick from. They now all realise a higher intensity and work rate is needed and they are really up against it. Waterford, on the other hand, with a stronger squad than their opponents, have pressure on them this weekend they didn’t have last Sunday. They will also have to contend with a slightly different Cork team.

Cork can (if they’re allowed) play much better than last weekend and if they do they might just about shade it. That’s a bit of a heart ruling the head hesitant vote, though.

Dublin, after a much-improved second half last weekend and encouraged by their under 21 provincial victory on Wednesday, should be too strong for Antrim, while Tipperary, with a number of players who played extra-time in Wednesday’s under-21 win, should be too strong for whatever Offaly team turns up.