Cork boss will use McGrath Cup final as preparation for league opener on Sunday week
CORK 0-15
LIMERICK 3-11
MATTHEW HURLEY REPORTS
CORK boss John Cleary admits that Saturday’s McGrath Cup final against Kerry in Killarney is not a priority, but rather an opportunity to give players game-time ahead of the Division 2 league opener the following weekend.
‘It’s another game,’ Cleary said after his much-changed side lost at home to Limerick in Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.
‘We’ll have to decide now who needs games. It’s not our priority – two weeks’ time is our priority. If fellas need a game on Saturday, that’s what we’re going to give them. We’re not overly worried about winning the game or not. It will be another tough game and great preparation going into the league.
‘Anytime you play Kerry, it will be a good test, but as I said, we’re not worried about that too much. If we can come out of it with a clean bill of health and get game-time into guys, it would be great.
‘Our sole priority is next Sunday week against Cavan,’ Cleary emphasised.
The Cork boss took what positives he could from the defeat to Limerick as he handed opportunities to a number of new faces ahead of the league.
‘We threw a lot of guys in who haven’t seen this level of football before and for a lot of it we were quite good and quite competitive,’ Cleary said.
‘Maybe Limerick had that small bit more experience when it came down the home straight. We were anxious to get every fella on and we threw on nearly the whole bench. It was a good competitive workout.’
Cork's David Buckley in action against Limerick. (Photo: George Hatchell)
West Cork natives Conor Daly (Clonakilty) and David Buckley (Newcestown) impressed in attack in the first half, notching 0-3 apiece.
‘That was what today was about – seeing who could step up to the mark,’ Cleary added.
‘Limerick are Tailteann Cup finalists, Division 4 winners and had a reasonably strong team out. It was a test for our fellas and some came up to the mark, which was good to see.’
Luke Murphy and Seán Dore also got on the scoresheet in the opening half, but it was a Jack McCarthy goal that kept Jimmy Lee’s side in touch at the break, with Cork leading 0-8 to 1-4.
Darragh Cashman struck three points in the third quarter, but in that spell Limerick hit 0-6 as James Naughton, Danny Neville, Robbie Childs and Jack Mahon pushed them 1-10 to 0-11 ahead.
Naughton’s first goal on 47 minutes made it 2-10 to 0-12, but Cork kept battling in difficult conditions. Daly and Paddy O’Driscoll reduced the deficit to a single point on 57 minutes, 0-15 to 2-10.
‘For a lot of them, it was their first time out and they hadn’t been exposed to this competition before. The team we finished with was fairly inexperienced at this level,’ Cleary added.
‘It came down to margins. If we won one kick-out when we were a point down, it could have ended in a draw. But look, the result was immaterial. We’re just trying to look at players, give them the best opportunity to put their hands up, and some did today.’
Naughton had the final say, however, with an insurance free followed by a counter-attacking goal to put the result beyond doubt.
Scorers
Cork: Conor Daly 0-5 (3f); David Buckley 0-3 (1f, 1 2ptf); Darragh Cashman 0-3; Luke Murphy, Sean Dore, Sean Walsh, Paddy O’Driscoll 0-1 each.
Limerick: James Naughton 2-5 (5f); Jack McCarthy 1-0; Conall Ó Duinn, Robbie Childs 0-2 each; Danny Neville, Jack Mahon 0-1 each.
Cork: Darragh Newman (St Finbarr’s); Sean Meehan (Kiskeam), Colin Molloy (Nemo Rangers), Jacob O’Driscoll (Valley Rovers); Kevin O’Donovan (captain, Nemo Rangers); Tomás O’Mahony (Castlehaven), Darragh Cashman (Millstreet); Seán Dore (Ballincollig), Tom Cunningham (Kilshannig); David Buckley (Newcestown), Conor Daly (Clonakilty), Fintan Fenner (Castletownbere); Denis O’Connor (Knocknagree), Luke Murphy (Cullen), Ciarán Santry (Carbery Rangers).
Subs: Colm O’Shea (Kilshannig) for T O’Mahony, Seán Walsh (Mitchelstown) for D Buckley, Colm Gillespie (Aghabullogue) for F Fenner (all ht); Paddy O’Driscoll (Gabriel Rangers) for K O’Donovan, Kevin O’Reilly (Carrigaline) for C Santry (both 42); Luke Casey (Aghabullogue) for L Murphy (49); Sam Copps (Mallow) for C Molloy, Callum Dungan (Carrigaline) for D Newman, Cormac Hyland (Mitchelstown) for S Meehan (all 53).
Limerick: Jeffrey Alfred; Mark McCarthy, Diarmuid Buckley, Oran Collins; Conall O Duinn, Killian Ryan, Tony McCarthy; Jack McCarthy, Barry Coleman (captain); Eliah Riordan, Danny Neville, Rory O’Brien; Jack Mahon, James Naughton, Robbie Childs.
Subs: Jason Hassett for O Collins, Colm McSweeney for C O Duinn, Paul Maher for E Riordan (all ht); Shane Cross for R Childs, Sam Quigley for B Coleman (both 42); Lee Woulfe for R O’Brien (53).
Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford).
