Louth v Cork
Sunday, June 23
Inniskeen, Co Monaghan
Throw-in at 3pm
Referee: Noel Mooney
Live on GAAGO
Losing home advantage is never likely to be seen as a positive, particularly after Cork have managed to create something of a positive vibe in Pairc Uí Rinn, however Cork will likely look forward to their trip to County Monaghan next weekend where they will face the Wee County at Inniskeen’s Grattan Park after losing to Tyrone on Saturday and ultimately finishing third in a group that also contained Donegal and Clare.
Louth are currently without a home venue that meets with the requirements designated for a game such as a knock-out tie in the All-Ireland series so they have nominated the Monaghan venue – Louth also called upon the services of the same facilities for their clash with Meath last month.
Cork came into last weekend on top of the group with both Donegal and Tyrone not assured of their progression however after 70+ minutes of football, John Cleary’s side had fallen two places and out of the automatic quarter final places, Donegal pipped but the rebels and the red hand to that prize thanks to their demolition of Clare.
There are many areas where Cleary will need to focus on this week ahead of their clash with the beaten Leinster finalists – the lack of potency throughout the team first and foremost after just four Cork players got on the board last Saturday.
In fact, Brian O’Driscoll with a brace was the only player outside the full forward line to trouble the scoreboard with Steven Sherlock, Chris Óg Jones and Mark Cronin bagging 15 of Cork’s final tally of 17 between them.
Cork usually brings threats from deep, at least from the half forward line, but on this occasion, Tyrone had their measure and Cork spent more time defending than attacking, too many players on defensive duties for too much of the second half.
Poor decision making another heavy weight that pulled Cork down. The Munster side led by two in the first half and one in the second but never really looked comfortable enough to hold or even stretch those leads – Tyrone looked like an experienced side that had the measure of their opponents.
Cork will also be keen to work out what went wrong in front of the posts.
All sides strive for perfection with few if any getting close all the time, however Cork, despite leading by one after 35 minutes, would have been disappointed as they failed to make the most of all their first half chances – and after the restart Cork had an even better chance but when a goal looked likely the finish didn’t arrive.
Plenty of the Cork stalwarts didn’t fire against Tyrone and that won’t be tolerated or acceptable this weekend as Cork are once more in the “last chance saloon” a loss means they are out – a win seems them into the last eight once more – the least a county like Cork should be striving for.
Cork’s players were, as always, not short when in came to effort and endeavour but at times there was a lack of ideas when into the scoring areas with players on more than one occasion choosing to reverse rather than shoot – the fear of turning over the ball seemingly to much to contemplate.
All that said, Tyrone really were good last weekend and deserved their victory, which meant Cork must now face Louth for a place in the last eight. It’s not the worst draw Cleary’s men could have received, especially considering Galway and Mayo were also potential opponents for Cork.
After bagging 17 points the last day, Cork will feel that they are still capable of putting a serious score on the board but the management and supporters will still be hoping that their talisman Brian Hurley returns in time from an injury that he picked up during the win over Donegal – an injury that saw him sidelined for the Tyrone game.
Fans will also be hoping that Conor Corbett can find his mojo in red after a difficult season in the blood and bandage. Corbett is a real talent that just needs to get and take his chance – something he has struggled with to this point.
Steven Sherlock has picked up the slack up front this season and is now the danger man – something Louth will be well-aware of before this Sunday’s clash.
In the middle, Ian Maguire will again be called upon to hold sway in the middle with his partner in crime, Éire Og’s Colm O’Callaghan, now one of Cork’s most important players both from attacking and defensive standpoints.
Sean Powter, Kevin Flahive and Tommy Walsh all start this weekend, joining Mallow’s Matty Taylor as they all look to hold the line against a Louth side that really did push Dublin for long periods in their provincial decider a couple of weeks ago.
Paul Walsh, O’Driscoll and the inside forward line will need to demand and use the ball efficiently if Cork are to push on to a berth in the quarter-finals.
Recent encounters between this pairing would suggest that Cork are well capable of getting the job done against Louth however the Leinster side have been progressing in recent years – two Leinster Championship finals in a row suggests that there plenty to be respected here.
Cork need to put in a shift equal to the one that caught Donegal on the hop – if they do they will return to Munster as winners. If they give a similar display to the one against Tyrone or Clare then the result will go the way of the home side.
Verdict: Cork will step up here and will move on to the last eight.
Cork team to play Louth: C. Kelly, K. Flahive, D. O’Mahony, M. Shanley; R. Maguire, T. Walsh, M. Taylor; I. Maguire, C. O’Callaghan; P. Walsh, S. Powter, B. O’Driscoll, M. Cronin, C. Jones, S. Sherlock.
Subs: M.A. Martin, S. Meehan, D. Cashman, T. Clancy, J. O’Rourke, K. O’Hanlon, E. McSweeney, J. Cahalane, R. Deane, C. Corbett, B. Hurley.
PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
They meet in the All-Ireland race for a second successive year in what will be only their fifth championship meeting with previous results as follows: 2023: Cork 1-19 Louth 1-17 (All-Ireland round robin) 2022: Cork 2-12 Louth 2-8 (All-Ireland qualifiers) 2007: Cork 0-16 Louth 0-14 (All-Ireland qualifiers) 1957: Louth 1-9 Cork 1-7 (All-Ireland final)
Their respective League (Division 2) and Championship records this year are as follows:
Louth: Played 13, Won 6, Drew 1, Lost 6
Cork: Played 12, Won 6, Drew 1, Lost 5.
They met in Division 2 this year when Louth won in Round 2 by 2-9 to 0-13 in Ardee in February.
