Weeshie's Week

Cork win the 2010 All Ireland Football Final

September 28th, 2010
by Weeshie Fogarty

It was generally accepted by one and all that Cork were the best team setting out in the championship this year. Kerry had dropped from that exalted position by virtue of the players they had lost for one reason or another. No need to recall those entire happing's here as it has been well documented over the past months. Without a shadow of doubt Cork had by far the best squad of players in the land and most importantly of all they had four midfielders who would find a place on any team in Ireland. And if any county harbors dreams of winning All Irelands be it football or hurling then they must have at least five players on the line good enough and experienced enough to come on when the going gets tough and steady the ship. And Cork answered all these questions. Down did not. They had come from out of the wilderness, surprised the opposition came through the back door, like Cork, and unexpectedly found themselves in the final.

However that vital ingredient, experience and familiarity of All Ireland final day was lacking.  Now the big question for James McCarthan's men is, can they build on what they achieved this year and return to claim the title. I don't think they can and while they played some lovely football on their march to Croke Park the fact that they were a surprise side was a major factor in their success.  Benny Coulter and Mattie Clarke were their two big guns, Coulter is on the road a long time and rumor has it Clarke will return to play Aussie Rules then they will certainly disappear back into the wilderness of the so called weaker counties.

Cork on the other hand never had a brighter future. Already they will be everyone's favourite to retain the title just as they did in 1989 and '90 when captained by Dinny Allen and Larry Tompkins. That was a great Cork side who had also contested the finals of 1987-88, losing the latter following a re-play. Its remarkable that they played far better football over the last few years than their march to the final win this year. It appeared as if they were still attempting to blot out the massive disappointments of those recent final losses to Kerry. A defeat this year would have in my opinion decimated the squad. Any group of players can only take so much. And boy did they make a hard job of winning despite the fact they were the better side and it took some superb individual displays to see them over the line. And most importantly they played direct first time football whenever possible.

Cork carved open the Down defense on a couple of occasions in those opening minutes and it took a brilliant save by Brendan McVeigh from Ciaran Sheehan to prevent a sensational earlier goal and then from the re-bound Daniel McCartan saved Sheehan's second effort. The Down goalie went on to play an outstanding game. He was the man who saved Kieran Donaghy's two late efforts in the quarter final. How the Sunday Game panel picked the Cork goalie before the Down custodian for their team of the year I will never understand. But as we know quite well down here these men who sit in judgment on all others can be a law unto themselves. I have never seen one team dominate midfield to such an extent in all my years as Cork did in the final. The literally cleaned out the Down pairing and in young Aidan Walsh the Kanturk man they have a brilliant player. Young enough for under 21 again next year he is as good now and maybe better at such a young age as was Jack o Shea or Dara. Will he go on to retain that great fielding and high work rate, only time will tell? Then the winners had Nicklaus Murphy to bring on at half time and he added greatly to the problems Down were experiencing around the middle area of the field.

While particularly in sport no one can accurately predict the future it appears now in relation to mid field where Kerry have always dominated the Cork men the boot is firmly on the other foot.  Jack Connor and his selectors know full well that they will have to produce the men to compete in this vital area if Kerry are to be in the running for honors next year. Kerry have the forwards, you can coach and train backs but mid fielders are born, not made.   It takes a very good team to win an All Ireland; it takes a great team to win two in a row.  Cork will have to prove themselves all over again next year.  Any fair minded sportsman will not begrudge the medal to some of those long serving and dedicated Cork players who have soldiered through thick and thin. Graham Canty, Nicholas Murphy, Derek Kavanagh and a man I have always greatly admired and respected for his total commitment Anthony Lynch. They deserves all the plaudits heaped on them.  Daniel Goulding's kicked three superb forty fives; great kicking under the most severe pressure and Donnacha o Connor despite having in my opinion a very shaky start had a magnificent game. His last point from far out on the Cusack stand side was as good as we have ever seen.

I have never spoken or met Connor Counihan the Cork manager but he comes across as a very dignified, composed and totally in control individual. His management skills in elevating his men from the depts.  of despair following the string of Kerry defeats in Munster and Croke Park speaks volumes for the man.  It has been a long hard road for these Cork men, now the famous monkey is off their backs, so can we expect them to go on and dominate Munster and win more All Irelands? Only time will tell. One thing is certain however, in my opinion they have the best panel of players in the county but they will know in their hearts that if the meet Kerry in the championship next year they will have to be even better than they have been in any of their games this year. They deserved to win but were not impressive and really staggered over the line to win that long for All ireland.  They are also National League champions but failed to win the Munster title. There is surly a message here.

Fogra; Did you know that Kerry played five different goalkeepers when they won the 1971 National League? and that they played thirteen games to win the 1982 league and Jack o Shea was top scorer with 1-16. All teams and facts back to 1970 on http://www.terracetalk.com and much more on this all new Kerry sports web site.



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