The Echo Sport Podcast

The Echo Sport Podcast crew is back to discuss another bumper weekend of Cork GAA action.

Now in its fourth season, every week Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.

While neither of the senior teams were in action over the weekend, it didn't prevent the hurlers from hogging the headlines.

The news that Darragh Fitzgibbon will miss the rest of the Munster series due to an operation is just the latest blow after injuries to Rob Downey and Ciarán Joyce and another hamstring issue for the luckless Robbie O'Flynn.

Results over the weekend which saw Limerick beat Waterford and Clare put Tipp to the sword probably didn't lift the mood either, as it reinforced what a disaster the All-Ireland final loss last July was while keeping the Banner in the mix for the provincial silverware.

If Cork are beaten by four points or more against Clare next Sunday and Limerick get the better of already eliminated Waterford, then it's a Limerick-Clare Munster final. Now some fans would argue it would be benficial to avoid another showdown with the Treaty, Cork have won three games on the bounce and will be keen to preserve their unbeaten record in the Páirc going back to the Clare loss in April 2024.

Barry Walsh is the obvious option to start with Darragh Fitz out but could Cork go with Eoin Downey centre-back to restore Tim O'Mahony at midfield and bring Cormac O'Brien in on the wing? How the players fared in last Saturday's A v B game at Fota Island will dictate the management's approach.

At club level, Declan Dalton offered a reminder of his class by nailing 0-12 in Fr O'Neill's win over St Finbarr's. Has he a chance of forcing his way back into the match-day 26?

On the football front, Cork host Meath in Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday evening, where they'll need to perform better and more consistently across the 70-plus minutes than they did in Killarney. A fully fit Dara Sheedy would add some needed creativity to the half-forward line.

Even if they lose, John Cleary's side will have another shot at the qualifiers in the losers round but beating Meath is essential if they're to make a realistic push for the latter stages of the All-Ireland series.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Echo Sport Podcast crew is back to discuss another bumper weekend of Cork GAA action.

Starting on the front foot, the hurlers got the job done away to Waterford, in a tough and tight battle down east.

It makes it three wins on the bounce for the hurlers and given they were without defensive pillars Rob Downey and Ciarán Joyce, the victory in Walsh Park was hugely satisfying, even if it took all their grit and experience to prevail.

The black cards had a huge bearing on the game and there's no doubt the Déise had every right to feel aggrieved. The first against Mark Fitzgerald on Brian Hayes was a marginal call though probably worked out well for them, given Alan Connolly's goal was ruled out for a penalty that he then missed. Plus Waterford scored Cork in the next 10 minutes.

The decision against Jack Fagan also looked harsh, given there was a covering defender and the penalty, buried by Mark Coleman, opened up the four-point gap that stood at the final whistle.

Cork though, could only worry about themselves and had they failed to win would have been left to rue the wide count of 12 to just three, and none in the second half, for Waterford.

Cork have one foot in the Munster final before the last group game with Clare but we outline the scenario where the Rebels finish third on scoring difference, however unlikely that looks.

Unfortunately, the Munster football final went the way of so many disappointing days in Fitzgerald Stadium since the last success, way back in 1995.

It's now 14 years and counting since Cork collected the provincial title and they simply didn't make enough to the strong wind in the first half in Killarney to upset the odds this time.

Goal-scorer Brian O'Driscoll was superb but none of the other Rebels were in the Man of the Match conversation. To have any hope, they needed the core of the team to catch fire.

Up front Mark Cronin and Chris Óg Jones combined for 0-6 but there wasn't enough creativity in a front six missing Dara Sheedy and Brian Hurley. At the other end, not alone did David Clifford slam over 1-6, Tony Brosnan popped off the bench to shoot five points.

The challenge now is to park it up and reset for Meath on Saturday week.

Now in its fourth season, every week Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, Jack McKay, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a bumper weekend ahead for Cork GAA and The Echo Sport Podcast crew discuss the key games against Waterford and Kerry.

Now in its fourth season, every week Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, John Horgan and more, to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.

First up on Saturday evening, the hurlers travel to Walsh Park, where they were beaten two years ago, looking to seal their spot in the All-Ireland series with a game to spare.

The loss of Ciarán Joyce and Rob Downey to injury destablises the defence and poses a few selection headaches for Ben O'Connor and his selectors. Do they rejig the team, bringing Tim O'Mahony to the half-back line and Darragh Fitzgibbon to midfield, given they have stronger forward options in reserve? Or do they look to the experience of Damien Cahalane and Ger Millerick to fill in?

There's also Daire O'Leary and Micheál Mullins in reserve, who featured in the league, or Cormac O'Brien who started last year's league and Munster finals.

Having beaten Tipp and Limerick, the Rebels are moving well but their hosts this weekend will also fancy their chances and must win to save their season.

On Sunday, the footballers travel over the county bounds looking for a first victory on enemy territory in 31 years and to land an overdue Munster title, bridging a gap to 2012.

John Cleary must plan without veteran forward Brian Hurley but the vibes are good coming out of the camp before the clash.

Kerry have a pile of injuries of their own but they still possess two of the deadliest forwards in the game in David and Paudie Clifford. Getting the match-ups right here will be crucial to Cork's prospects.

The Echo panel also discuss the latest underage action, including fine performances by the minors in both codes and a cracking Munster U20 final which saw Cork come up just short.

For the U20 hurlers, Barry Walsh was electric in beating Clare but now they must face them again in the provincial semi-final and he could be tied up with the seniors... Which game is more important and if he's out how will the U20s adapt?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Cork hurlers two from two to start the round robin series for the first time since its inception in 2018 and the footballers into a first Munster final in five years... a good weekend's work.

The Echo Sport Podcast crew break down the action from Thurles and SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh and access the state of play with time to take a breath before the action resumes after the May Bank Holiday.

Now in its fourth season, every week Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.

On the hurling front, Cork emptied the tank to pull off a victory against Limerick, who, despite losing Aaron Gillane to a training-ground injury and Cian Lynch to a second-half red card, came very close to winning on Leeside. For the hosts, it's now 11 games in league and championship without defeat since two years ago when going under to Clare left them on the brink.

It's been an incredible run, as Man of the Match and captain Darragh Fitzgibbon told RTE: "It’s just unbelievable here, these are the best days of our lives.”

Now look we all know it's an All-Ireland we crave but that shouldn't take from the effort this group of players are putting in to try and end the famine. They had a ropey start on Sunday and didn't manage the last quarter as effectively as we'd have liked with an extra man but Limerick haven't hoovered up 15 major trophies in nine years for nothing.

They remain a phenomenal outfit but Cork are in an extremely strong position to make it into the All-Ireland series with plenty to work on as well. Injuries to Ciarán Joyce and Rob Downey are a concern, the puck-outs remain a work in progress and some of the younger guns are still learning. But there are no shortage of positives either, with the goal threat to the fore once more and huge leadership being shown by the more experienced hurlers.

On the football front, Cork got going after a sluggish opening half at sun-sorched Semple Stadium before powering to a 15-point victory over Tipp. Being able to call on Ruairí Deane, Colm O'Callaghan and Brian Hurley from the bench highlighted the gulf in class between the sides but Cork are as well set as they've been in a while to rattle Kerry in Killarney.

Getting a first win in Fitzgerald Stadium in 31 years will be another sceál of course but there's big interest in the game and John Cleary's charges deserve massive support. Look what difference it makes to the hurlers...
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cork hurlers were fully deserving winners in their Munster opener in Thurles.

The Echo Podcast crew break down the big game and look ahead to round two against Limerick.

After a tight first half on Sunday, they dominated the second period, scored more from play and had better balance up front than a Tipp side who didn't fire at all in comparison to the electric All-Ireland final efforts.

For Cork, it doesn't atone for losing in Croke on any level really, but it puts them on the front foot for 2026, which is all that matters right now.

Debutants Barry Walsh and William had 0-10 between them but the defensive solidity provided by the likes of Rob Downey, Niall O'Leary and Seán O'Donoghue, who have been heavily questioned in recent weeks, was just as important. Patrick Collins varied his puck-outs well and was another who is often doubted inside the county bounds.

Of course, as Ben O'Connor pointed out afterwards at the weekend, there's no benefit in getting too excited about a single victory when you could still fail to even make it out of the provincial bearpit: "Limerick are the best team in the country for the last 10 years and we know that we'll have to do our best to put it up to them next weekend.”

We preview the second showdown with the Treaty in the space of three weeks. Who marks Aaron Gillane, Gearóid Hegarty and Cathal O'Neill and will Cork get anything like the space they were afforded by the Tipp half-back line, who coughed up 0-12 from play? It only gets tougher from here on!

There's also the latest on the Cork minor and U20 games and a round-up of the club hurling leagues, with Midleton and Erin's Own out in front in the top two divisions.

There's a review of the Cork U20s' terrific win over Kerry in the Páirc. It was no classic but a significant result given their underage struggles against the rivals and given Dara Sheedy went off injured in the first half.

The seniors have a Munster semi-final next Saturday, up in Thurles again in what will be a low-profile affair but where a strong performance will be expected to set up a trip to Kerry at the start of May.

Now in its fourth season, every week Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, Jack McKay, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.