ALL-IRELAND MFC SEMI-FINAL:THE SPECTRE of Tyrone hangs over this semi-final. Mayo are the Connacht champions, having beaten Gerry Fahey's, albeit depleted, Galway side last month, but the Tribesmen recovered to overcome the Leinster champions Longford in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
Cork won Munster and then saw off Ulster runners-up Armagh, by a single point, the last day. Beating an Armagh minor team doesn’t carry the usual stamp of approval, as they were destroyed by Tyrone in their provincial decider.
Mayo were also taken care of by Tyrone in the other semi-final and they are overwhelming favourites to capture a fourth minor All Ireland this century.
Galway bring corner back Colm MacDonnacha back into the team after a knee injury, while Thomas Flynn returns to midfield, but Cork still remain slight favourites.
Two Cork teams arriving up to Dublin for the third Sunday in September would certainly spike the interest and, from the way they have reached this juncture, the minors look to be blessed.
Clare and Tipperary gave them problems before they squeezed past Kerry for the Munster title, but it was the Armagh game that showed a deep resolve.
Trailing at half-time and not looking anything like All-Ireland contenders, Matthew O’Shea solidified matters at fullback, freeing Damien Cahalane to midfield (where they both now remain), while Daniel MacEoin and Stephen O’Mahony both came on and scored goals (they remain on the bench tomorrow).
Much like Conor Counihan’s senior panel, it seems like manager Brian Cuthbert has yet to settle on his best 15, with 29 players being used over four games. This will only become a subject for criticism, however, if they are defeated.
The good news is centre forward and captain Daniel Fitzgerald appears to have returned to full fitness after missing the first two games of the campaign.
“We played Galway in a challenge game this season, and they blew us away in the first half, but we came back well to earn a draw,” selector Donal O’Sullivan informed the Southern Star. “They are a very physical team, and they play a direct brand of football which can be very difficult to counter when the ball is delivered accurately up to the forwards.
“We are happy enough with the way preparations have gone since the quarter-final, although some of the players have been tied up with their clubs more than we would have liked, especially Damien Cahalane, who played in five championship games at different levels over the past week.
Who needs it more?
Galway are a young team and appear to be in bonus territory – their last title coming in 2007, while Cork have been waiting 10 years.
Cork look the best equipped to challenge Tyrone as they would will bring the travelling Rebel army into Croke Park a few hours early on All-Ireland final day.
CORK: D Hanrahan; J Goggin, M O’Shea, D Murphy; D Lester, T Clancy, J Wall; J Burns, D Cahalane; J O’Rourke, D Fitzgerald (capt), A Cronin; K Hallissey, M Sugrue, B Hurley.
GALWAY: J Keane; C MacDonnacha, J Shaughnessy, P Varley; M Loughnane, M Kelly, J Vaughan; E Commins, T Flynn;N Quinn, F Curraoin (capt), N Walsh; P Ó Griofa, C Rabbitte, S Maughan.
Referee: E Kinsella (Laois).
