Dublin are seeking their first championship win over Cork since the 1927 All-Ireland final; the counties have played each other nine times since, with Cork winning them all
Cork v Dublin
Saturday, June 22
Semple Stadium, Thurles
Throw-in at 1.15pm
Referee: Michael Kennedy
Live on RTE
Damned if you do and dammed if you don’t. A fair summation of Cork’s situation as they headed to Tullamore last weekend to take on the newly crowed Joe McDonagh champions for a place in the All-Ireland Hurling Quarter Finals proper.
Cork had excelled in their previous two fixtures, beating both Limerick and Tipperary to secure what was for many the most unlikely of turnarounds after failing to take anything other than criticism from their two opening fixtures away to Waterford and Clare respectively.
Pat Ryan’s side’s revival will be, if they go on to lift the Liam McCarthy, a thing of legend as the team looked to be one step out the door of the 2024 campaign – as they went up the road last weekend the expectation was heaped on the rebels’ shoulders – a big win was a must if Cork were to keep the other sides on their toes as the competition boiled down to the business end of things.
As things turned out, Cork were comfortable winners on the day however the home side did manage to rack up a substantial 3-19 – enough to win many games but Cork’s heft 4-25 proved to be far too much for a side looking to get back to the big time after years of struggling at senior inter-county level.
Cork’s quality showed throughout the game and despite not being able to firmly put their opponents away, they did always appear to have enough gears if Offaly came too close.
One has to have more than a little sympathy for Offaly on this occasion as they had to prepare for this game after the highs of winning the Joe McDonagh the previous weekend – Cork had time to relax, regroup and plan for this tie – obviously management would have preferred a little less of a break between games but you can’t expect to have things all your own way when you have lost two of your opening four games.
Cork also had much more of a scoring threat to their play with four goals always a positive. Their spread of scorers is another plus that is always likely to please the management – Cork’s four goal haul means that they have now found the net an average of three times a game – not a bad return after five championship fixtures.
Saying all that, conceding such a high tally to a side deemed by many as far inferior will cause more than a passing concern to the man charged with bringing the good times back to Leeside hurling.
Regardless of who got the call to start the last day it appears likely that the same 15 that started against either Limerick or Tipperary (if fit) will get the call again this Saturday as Dublin bring a threat that can send Cork’s players, fans and championship challenge back down road with nothing but thoughts of what might have been come Saturday afternoon.
Dublin were impressive enough in the Leinster Championship before coming unstuck in very disappointing fashion against Kilkenny in the showpiece game a couple of weeks ago. The Dubs were beaten out the gate by The Cats – but few should be fooled by the display – Dublin are much better than the side that lost by 16 points.
Dublin may be better than we saw in the provincial decider but they will still need the ability to bounce back from what was a crushing loss for a side that really did feel they had a serious chance against Kilkenny.
The starting lineup this weekend is sure to include talisman Patrick Horgan who is having yet another significant season in red. Horgan, along with Alan Connolly and Seamus Harnedy have been stalwarts for Cork since the Clare game and will be needed again this weekend if Cork are to push clear of the lads from the capital.
Darragh Fitzgibbon, Brian Hayes and the ever-improving Shane Barrett will also provide some presence going forward with Declan Dalton, Luke Meade and Conor Lehane more players vying for a place in a very exciting attacking set.
At the back, Eoin Downey, Sean O’Donoghue and Niall O’Leary have shown themselves to be formidable in recent games with Tim O’Mahony, Robert Downey and Mark Coleman the first choice for many to start in the half back line.
Ciaran Joyce and Ethan Twomey will also be looking to be included, Joyce, who is a fans favourite, is still looking to find his best form and perhaps position since coming back from injury in recent weeks.
Damien Cahalane will also look to force his way back into the recooking to a side that for the first time in many years seem to have strength both on and off the pitch – Cork have a significant panel from which to choose their 23.
For their part, Dublin showed in mid-May that they are a formidable side by running Kilkenny close in the early stages of the Leinster Championship.
Chris Crummey, Brian Hayes and Conor Burke will look to emulate their displays of that day with Danny Sutcliffe and talisman Donal Burke sure to feature against Cork at the home of hurling. Cian O’Sullivan and Ronan Hayes may well pose a significant threat as well.
Cork may well be favourites but to assume this one is a done deal before throw-in would be a big mistake for followers of Cork hurling.
Cork team to place Dublin: P. Collins; N. O’Leary, E. Downey, S. O’Donoghue; T. O’Mahony, R. Downey, M. Coleman; C. Joyce, M. Fitzgibbon; D. Dalton, S. Barrett, S. Harnedy; P. Horgan, A. Connolly, B. Hayes.
Subs: B. Saunderson, D. Cahalane, G. Millerick, T. O’Connell, L. Meade, S. Kingston, R. O’Flynn, J. O’Connor, S. Twomey, P. Power, C. Lehane.
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Cork finished third in the Munster round robin before beating Offaly in the preliminary All-Ireland quarter-final last Saturday. Dublin lost the Leinster final to Kilkenny and are now seeking to revive their All-Ireland ambitions.
Dublin are seeking their first championship win over Cork since the 1927 All-Ireland final when they won by 4-8 to 1-3. The counties have met nine times in the championship since then, with Cork winning them all.
Cork last reached the All-Ireland semi-final in 2021; Dublin were last there in 2013. Cork have scored a total of 14-107 in their last four games, compared to 8-100 for Dublin.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
2021: Cork 2-26 Dublin 0-24 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
2020: Cork 1-25 Dublin 0-22 (All-Ireland qualifier)
2016: Cork 1-26 Dublin 1-23 (All-Ireland qualifiers)
2013: Cork 1-24 Dublin 1-19 (All-Ireland semi-final)
2008: Cork 1-17 Dublin 0-15 (All-Ireland qualifier)
CHAMPIONSHIP TO DATE
CORK
Waterford 2-25 Cork 1-25 (Munster round robin)
Clare 3-26 Cork 3-24 (Munster round robin)
Cork 3-28 Limerick 3-26 (Munster round robin)
Cork 4-30 Tipperary 1-21 (Munster round robin)
Cork 4-25 Offaly 3-19 (All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final)
Won 3, Lost 2
DUBLIN
Wexford 1-21 Dublin 2-18 (Leinster round robin)
Dublin 1-24 Carlow 0-22 (Leinster round robin)
Dublin 3-32 Antrim 1-18 (Leinster round robin)
Kilkenny 1-28 Dublin 2-23 (Leinster round robin)
Dublin 2-27 Galway 1-24 (Leinster round robin)
Kilkenny 3-28 Dublin 1-18 (Leinster final)
Won 3, Drew 1, Lost 2
