We are now entering the real business end of the
season, next Sunday we will witness two of the super-powers clash in the all Ireland
semi final football final.
This is not new territory for either Cork and
Tyrone, however Cork have only reached the final day once since the inception
of the qualifying system in 2001 while Tyrone have reached 3 finals, winning
all 3 in the process.
However Cork are bringing a lot more to the table with
the team they possess right now as opposed to the team that lost the all Ireland
final in 2007.
They now have a settled back line who are intelligent, fast,
strong and all capable footballers and their wing back line thrive on their
ability to go forward to either create a score or an overlap.
Question marks remain over Michael Shields in full
back after his Limerick performance but I feel that this is rather harsh. I
have watched this player over the years and I feel he is a quality player and
will not be found wanting next Sunday.
Tyrone will target Shields
I suspect Tyrone may also feel that
Shields is a weak link in defence and will probably put Cavanagh at the edge of
the square to test him. This in my opinion will suit Cork as Tyrone will not
throw high ball into Cavanagh but low fast ball and this will also suit
Shields.
Cork will be delighted to see the return of the
evergreen Anthony Lynch, his leadership qualities will be required to steady
the ship in times of trouble. Cork’s defence will be tested like no other
time as Tyrone will take on each defender to check them out while they will
work in packs off the ball to stop running out of defence like they so easily
did against Kerry.
But Cork will dominate midfield
Midfield is an area that Cork will be confident of
dominating next Sunday.
Cork have a very physical strong diamond in this
section. Murphy, O’ Connor, Canty and O’ Neill are all huge men and
they should win their fair share of possession in the aerial stakes- an area
that Tyrone are unusually weak and we saw Kildare’s Dermot Earley cleaning
up in the quarter finals.
Cork’s Donnacha O’ Connor and Daniel
Goulding will give Tyrone plenty of headaches but it remains to see if their
young guns of Kelly, Kerrigan and O’ Neill will have enough experience to
deal with Tyrone’s defence. If they rise to the occasion, well let's say
the rebels will be singing the banks at the final whistle.
Cork’s preparation by all accounts have gone
exceptionally well and as late as last week in Clonakilty they were taking
skelps off one another at a possible vs probable team (de gaffer forgetting the
whistle).
Counihan, no doubt, will want his team to be ready for their hardest
battle and will have trained accordingly. Add to the fact they received no test
from Donegal, Cork will have to solely depend on their own matches in Lee-side.
Cork haven't the match experience though - Tyrone do
Tyrone on the other hand received the perfect wake up
call against Kildare in their last match.
They looked a very ordinary side in
the first half of that match as Kildare dominated all areas.
However they came
out in the second half like the Tyrone team of old, throwing six
unanswered points over the bar and increasing their work rate all over the
field which eroded Kildare down.
Tyrone's big advantage
The big advantage Tyrone have going in next Sunday is
that they completely believe in their own ability and love playing in Croke
Park.
They are a battled-hardened team and if this game goes down to the last
10 minutes you would have to put your money on the red hand team. If Cork are
to beat Tyrone they will have to build up a large lead and try to force Tyrone
into chasing the game, forcing them to do uncharacteristic things with the
ball.
Next Sunday there will be some very interesting clashes
– Shields vs Cavanagh, Dooher vs O’ Leary, Pearse O’ Neill vs
Justin Mcmahon, Keerigan vs Harte, Lynch vs Stephen O’ Neill, Goulding vs
McMenamin. All worth the entrance fee
How do I call it - Tyrone will shade it
So how do I call it? This is the hardest call of the
year. I still feel this will go down to the wire and on the above evidence,
Tyrone will just win.
Re Bige – it remains to be seen if Cork’s
young guns are ready for Tyrone’s psychological aspect of their game,
there toughest test to date.
Felmishgael – 2001 game of Kerry vs Meath will
have no relevance on the 30th August, all those dinosaurs bar a few
are long gone. This is a new ball game with new gladiators involved.
Kieran - I'm not being cute, Kerry aren't top of their game
Kieran- sorry if you think I am been cute, I still
feel Cork and Tyrone are right now the 2 best teams in the country, Kerry have
only shown up once to date, as the man says 1 swallow won't make a summer.
All the best
The Pony