Tony Considine: Too many Cork hurlers still play like individuals

ON my way down, like a lot of other Clare people, I didn't feel very confident, especially after the way they lost to Limerick, the manner of it.

I thought it would have a big bearing on the players psychologically with the short turnaround and having to play away. I wondered if Brian Lohan and his management would be able to reset them mentally, get their heads right.

Physically there was nothing wrong, it's the mental scars that are hard to get right when losing a game you should have won.

Is there any better walk to a sporting occasion down the marina to a big Munster Championship match on a beautiful fine day? Ideal weather for hurling. Supporters from both counties mix well and the one-liners are very good, just what you'd expect from Cork, who have so many great characters and so many great hurling followers.

What can Pat Ryan do with this Cork team? That is the six-million-dollar question. I know Pat is as genuine a hurling man as you could find anywhere, in victory or defeat, and defeat is hard to take sometimes, he always remains very courteous.

I said I wasn't very confident beforehand but when Cork went seven points up whatever little bit I had was draining away.

Cork had made a lot of changes which seemed to be working early on with Niall O'Leary, Eoin Downey and Tim O'Mahony holding their own. Shane Barrett and especially Seamus Harnedy were causing all sorts of problems for the Clare half-back line and I was surprised Harnedy was taken off later on. Alan Connolly was also giving Conor Cleary a hard time with Patrick Horgan slotting over his frees.

MISSED

Cork were dominant at this stage but missed out on a few goals, maybe taking the wrong options while also trying to walk the ball into the net. You do not do that with good defenders like Adam Hogan around. Hogan was outstanding for Clare all through, especially when Cork were applying pressure in the first half.

David McInerney showed all his experience in repelling Cork attacks, along with slotting over a great point. Clare were in a good position at half time, having played against the breeze, taking into account all the goal chances missed by Cork. Eibhear Quilligan made some good saves in that first half, restoring confidence needed for both himself and Clare.

The second half really took off. 

Cork took over with the home crowd baying for blood. But in fairness to Clare, they fought back big time with Peter Duggan leading the charge.

Rodgers, David Reidy and especially Shane O'Donnell were taking on the Cork defence at every opportunity. After Sean O'Donoghue took the law into his own hands when he was already booked the referee had no option but to give him his marching orders. Bad leadership shown by the captain, I think. Cork down a man, playing against the breeze...

Clare got well on top then and went six points clear. Somehow Cork clawed that back again but could not get over the line.

I think Cork could have made changes during that period, maybe switching someone on to Peter Duggan, who was causing all sorts of problems for Tim O'Mahony. Rob Downey or Ciarán Joyce would have been a better option to compete, especially on Clare puck-outs. He was winning everything too easily, making and taking scores.

I also thought that the Clare attack had the legs on the Cork defence, but Clare's real strength was their leadership. This is a huge problem for Cork as it was under the previous manager Kieran Kingston.

For my liking some of the Cork players go in and out of a game too much. They do not have that consistency needed in the heat of championship.

Pat Ryan has a lot of work to do to get these lads ready for Limerick, but they are still in this championship. He showed a ruthless streak by dropping six players. It is time for his players now to show some of that same ruthlessness on the field of play, and add in a bit of the killer instinct.

I think a lot of the Cork players play as individuals and that does not work against the collective. Brian Lohan proved that. All that matters is the team, and playing with fire and intensity.

That is the reason Clare beat Cork.

Cork clearly don't know their best team and there's still a case for more U20s hurlers to start.