Jamesie O'Connor column: Cork blew the Munster Championship wide open
Monday 20 May 2019 19:05, UK
Sky Sports GAA analyst Jamesie O'Connor reviews the weekend's Munster Hurling Championship action.
Cork's win on Sunday just shows the beauty of sport.
Limerick were excellent throughout the league. They had a chance to sit back and watch Cork last weekend. They were at home at a packed Gaelic Grounds. Yet Cork absolutely turned things on their head in the space of a week, and blew the whole Munster Championship wide open.
A lot of credit has got to go to the Rebels' players and management.
They couldn't afford to defend the way they did against Tipperary. There was a massive change in their attitude, application and work-rate that they brought.
There were 10 or 11 Cork players that had under-performed against the Premier. Darragh Fitzgibbon, Mark Coleman and a lot of other guys were below par.
Sometimes when your character is questioned and you're backed into the corner, there's only one way you can come out. A lot of credit to the Cork lads, they answered a lot of the questions that were asked. They brought the intensity, aggression and energy that was missing against Tipp. We saw a complete reversal in how they played.
You have to give a lot of credit to the Cork management too for making the changes that they did, and to the players they brought in. Mark Ellis was on the terrace for the opener in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. He was excellent against Limerick. For a guy who was surplus to requirements, the call came and he answered it. He's a guy I've always respected in terms of his honesty and leadership, and he brought that in spades on Sunday.
Aidan Walsh made a big difference up front. I've seen him play games where his shooting is off colour, hitting three or four wides.
On Sunday, I just thought he played a different game. He played to his strengths - winning the ball and giving it to somebody in a better position.
The best teams have some guys that are shooters and some that are work-horses. You can't have six of one, or six of the other. It's about finding a balance.
Walsh did a huge amount of work in terms of winning ball or getting onto breaks, and then doing the simple thing - laying it off to one of the shooters. If he looks back at the game and analyses it, maybe he'll say, 'this is the job that I have to do now'. I think Cork have really gained something.
Credit to them. They really brought it to the Gaelic Grounds - they've turned the Munster Championship on its head.
Can Limerick pick themselves back up?
John Kiely said after the game that his group has what it takes to turn it around. The Limerick players will know themselves that things have suddenly become a lot more complicated and challenging.
They're heading to Walsh Park in two weeks' time, and need a win.
The Treaty gave Waterford a real trimming in the Gaelic Grounds last year. They then repeated the dose in the National League final. Psychologically, it's hard to keep beating a team.
Waterford didn't perform well in Walsh Park against Clare, and are surely going to say, 'we'll bring it the next day'. It's do-or-die for Waterford. If anything, that increases the pressure on Limerick heading down there.
Limerick didn't get impact off the bench that they need. The half-forward line didn't have the same impact. But these guys are All-Ireland champions and there'll be a lot of soul-searching done this week. They're in a far better place than if they coasted through Munster and then showed up with this performance in an All-Ireland quarter-final or semi-final.
They're still going to have a big say in this championship.
But they're heading into a run of three games in as many weeks. You potentially now have a scenario where Limerick have to go to Thurles in their last match and get something out of it. What an mouthwatering prospect that is down the line!
Tipperary too strong for Waterford
Waterford don't score freely enough to get into a shootout with the likes of Tipperary and Cork. They're not the type of games that the Déise can win. On the other hand, if it's a defensive contest and it doesn't take 30-35 points to win it, then Waterford will feel they have a chance against anyone.
Reduced to 14 men and trailing by seven points, there was never going to be a way back for them in Semple Stadium. Credit to Jamie Barron and Pauric Mahony, after 52 minutes, they had it back to three points.
But once the goal came for Tipp, it was just about the margin of victory.
The gun is now to Waterford's head.
From Liam Sheedy's perspective, 2-28 and 2-30 in their first two games is pretty satisfying. The break comes at the perfect time and they have two weeks to get ready for Clare in Ennis.
Sky Sports' live GAA coverage continues on Saturday, May 25 as Mayo face Roscommon in the Connacht Football Championship on Sky Sports Arena from 7pm, with build-up starting on the red button from 6pm.
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