GAELIC GAMES:NO OTHER team in the country could be more anxious than Cork to see the Allianz National Football League get under way this weekend. It's not just that they've yet to play a competitive fixture this year – opting out of the McGrath Cup due to the team holiday in Thailand – but also because it's the first chance to exorcise any ghosts still lingering from last September's All-Ireland defeat to Kerry.
Given the nature of that defeat those ghosts must still haunt.
In that regard, it’s the second-round meeting with Kerry, on February 13th, that will likely ignite their season, but there is still an element of retribution about their opening game in Division One this Sunday, when they travel to Scotstown to take on Monaghan.
With the exception of Kerry in the All-Ireland, Monaghan were the only other team to beat Cork in 2009, although both secured promotion from their division (with Cork subsequently winning the Division Two title).
“Hell of a way to start,” says Cork manager Conor Counihan, with a broad smile. “Back to Scotstown. To hell and back. We went up there last year and lost comprehensively, were well outplayed.”
Indeed it is a fairly daunting assignment, given Counihan admits Cork are definitely lacking in match practice, having missed out on the McGrath Cup (which, by the way, Kerry won last Saturday).
“We are a bit disjointed, really, in that the lads have been on holiday, and we weren’t involved in the secondary competitions,” says Counihan. “We’ve probably lost out a little, by missing that competition. A game or two, just to knock the cobwebs out, would have been nice. A bit of sharpness will be a problem, I’d assume. Plus we haven’t really tried out the new rules. That’s another factor. Players could be caught a little cold on the new rules. We have a lot of injuries as well.”
Cork did play Dublin in a challenge in Parnell Park last Sunday, losing out by five points, and Counihan will also be without several first-choice players for Sunday due to injury, including half-backs John Miskella (groin) and Graham Canty (hamstring).
Yet Counihan doesn’t appear particularly disturbed by it all. Cork may have ended 2009 on a downer, but it was a hugely encouraging season nonetheless. He’s certainly not dwelling on the past.
“You have to look forward, and it’s nice to look forward. Obviously, it was a disappointing end to last year, but the full focus is on 2010, to drive it on from last season. That’s the challenge. We won’t know how we face up to it until a few games into the league, but I’d like to think we’re motivated for it.”
Obviously the DVD of last year’s All-Ireland final wasn’t passed around between the Cork team at Christmas, yet Counihan believes they will get over it, and that there’s no great need to change things for this year.
“I know the pain, I know the grief, and for some of our lads, it was the third occasion. It’s difficult. But it’s always possible to bounce back if you have the character. I suppose if we get the right approach and the right commitment again we wouldn’t be changing a whole lot. But there always has to be a certain element of change, obviously, to keep freshening things up.
“We’re looking for players all the time. I’d never say we’re not looking at players. The last thing you would want is any comfort in the camp. We’re certainly looking at a number of players at third level that we’d be looking to bring into the squad.”
The coming weeks do afford Cork the chance to build on the progress of 2009, but Counihan is taking nothing for granted. Division One football is a big step up from Division Two, and having Monaghan, followed by Kerry, will quickly give them an idea of where they stand in the pecking order, four months after the All-Ireland.
“Last year, we got through Division Two reasonably comfortably. This year, every game is going to be a tough battle, and you’re going to learn an awful lot more about players. That’s why it was important for us to get promoted last year.”
TG4, meanwhile, has announced it will broadcast 50 matches between now and the league finals in May – including live and deferred coverage from the Allianz Football and Hurling Leagues, the AIB All-Ireland Club Championships, the Ulster Bank Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups, the Cadburys Under-21 Football Championship, the Bord Gáis Women’s League finals, as well as live coverage of the Hogan and Croke Cup finals.
Finally, Mayo footballer James Nallen has informed manager John O’Mahony of his retirement from intercounty football ahead of the league opening against Galway, bringing the curtain down on a highly-distinguished career.
The two-time All Star defender, from 1996 and 2004, made his debut 15 years ago in the National League against Galway, and amassed an amazing 132 record appearances for Mayo.
Nallen also played in five All-Ireland senior finals (including replays), although failed to land that elusive winner’s medal for his county, and made his last appearance for Mayo after coming on as a substitute against New York at Gaelic Park last May.
