The 16th Man

Cork advance to the All-Ireland semi final after an unconvincing victory over Connacht champions Roscommon. A slight rainfall before scheduled business led to poor football in the opening exchanges with players on both sides failing to grasp the initiative, struggling to find their scoring range and all too often their footing. Cork forged an unconvincing lead through the ever reliable feet of Daniel Goulding but Roscommon roared on by their enthusiastic hordes of colourful followers chipped away gradually at their lead, Donie Shine’s kick starting the assault with a magnificent effort from underneath the Cusack Stand. When the half time whistle sounded Roscommon had clawed back to trail by a single margin (O-6 to 0-5) after great forward bursts, including a long range effort from centre forward, David O’Gara. Cork’s defence had been playing in mindless riddles, shovelling the ball around the backline and often resorting back to the safety of goalkeeper Alan Quirke.

Counihan’s executions were swift, making three changes at half time, and so too were the results; substitute Nicholas Murphy announcing his arrival by fielding the throw in and setting up man of the match Pearse O’Neill for the first score of the second half. However Roscommon showed good appetite early in the second half firing over three points without response to lead for the first time in the game (0-9 - 0-8) but then the drive stalled and it was Cork who slipped into high gear and cruised. It was clear in this David versus Goliath clash with twenty minutes to go that Roscommon possessed no slingshot to silence Cork. If Roscommon were a violin then Shine was the bow which made them play and once Cork severed the strings their top scorer this summer with 1-31 could do little to slice the deficit. Roscommon’s momentum vanished like snow in a summer sun and Cork began to attack in waves proving they had enough arrows in the quiver to shoot the Rossies down. When quick hands thieved Roscommon wing back David Casey of possession, the end product was quick and bloodless, O’Neill blasting to the net for the game’s only goal (1-14 to 0-10)). In truth there should of been more goals but Cork seemed to lack the natural predatory instincts needed to demoralise an opponent to the point of oblivion, Miskella and O’Connor both wasting opportunities to bring the winning score into double figures.

Cork is still searching for clarity in their starting fifteen but the sheer depth of their panel allows them to and the results yesterday were immense. After half time they gradually built up momentum to the extent that their half back line was over-running their entire forward line toward the final encounters. Although they have yet again stumbled forward this year, the fact is that they are now in their sixth successive All-Ireland semi final and if yesterday’s performance didn’t convince the Cork fans at least Kerry and Tyrone’s on Saturday did. As for Roscommon their over reliance on twenty one year old Donie Shine for scores began to hinder their creative outlet. Of the 1-41 Roscommon scored in their four championship outings this year Shine amazingly kicked 1-31.

Full time score: Cork 1-16 Roscommon 0-10.

Cork: A Quirke, R Carey, M Shields, J O’Sullivan, N O’Leary, G Canty(0-1), P Kissane, D Kavanagh, A Walsh, P Kelly, P O’Neill (1-2) P Kerrigan (0-2) D Goulding (0-6 {2f, 1'45}) C Sheehan (0-2), C O’Neill. Subs: N Murphy for Walsh (ht), D O’Connor (0-3 {1p}) for O’Neill (ht), J Miskella for O’Sullivan (ht), A O’Connor for Kavanagh (51), E Cotter for Canty (58).

Roscommon: G Claffey, S McDermott, P Domican, S Ormsby, S Purcell, C Dineen, D Casey, M Finneran (0-1), K Mannion (0-1), D Keeenan, D O’Gara (0-1), C Cregg, J Rogers (0-1), D Shine (0-5 {3f}), G Heneghan (0-1). Subs: C Garvey for Purcell (48), K Higgins for Rogers (51), E Kenny for Mannion (55), J Dunning for Cregg (62), J Nolan for casey (66).

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