Cork v Limerick: Attacking pair set for spell on sidelines

Cork manager Pat Ryan is expecting to be without attackers Pádraig Power and Conor Lehane for at least the next month after both were forced off in Saturday’s draw against Limerick.

In slippery conditions, Blarney’s Power had to depart in the opening quarter while Lehane’s game lasted barely a minute after his introduction as a sub in the closing stages. While not expecting diagnoses that would necessitate long-term lay-offs, Ryan will still have to cope without the pair for a period that would encompass the games against Tipperary, Kilkenny and Clare.

“I think he [Power] probably dislocated his shoulder, himself and Conor Lehane,” Ryan said.

“There were really tough conditions there, like, you know, really wet conditions. So there was a lot of fellas slipping and falling. But I think, look, I think it kind of popped in kind of handy enough.

“I'd say he's going to be out for four to six weeks anyway, that kind of way.” 

In a game where Cork led by five points after a blistering start but then trailed by six early in the second half, what was Ryan’s overall assessment?

“Look, I suppose you're never going to be in control of the game all the time when you're against a really good team like Limerick,” he said.

“We look at the areas why we lost control and that will give us areas to get better as we move forward. But look, delighted with our lads' effort.

“I think that was probably a game that we would have lost before. I think it shows the resilience and the determination of our lads to really drive on. And, look, obviously we took a few injuries in as well and stuff like that.

“We got to see a lot of our panel and got to see a lot of really good performances from fellas that probably didn't start to the All-Ireland final last year. So, look, we move forward now to Tipperary in three weeks.” Will O’Donoghue’s goal was the turning point in that opening period, cutting the deficit to two before Limerick pushed on to take the lead. Thereafter Cork’s play became scrappy, with the early arrowed deliveries superseded by more aimless balls towards the attack.

“I think we probably lost our shape a small bit, to be honest with you,” Ryan said.

“They got on top of us a small bit and we lost our shape and probably didn't have enough structure in our half-forward line in the way we wanted to. But, look, obviously, the goal probably, look, we’ll look into that. What was the reason. That rattled us a small bit, we were 0-7 to 0-2 up at that stage.

“And, look, there's different aspects that we look at as regards our tackling or handpassing out of the tackle and stuff like that.

“But, look, we’re really delighted with our lads the way they came back into it and showed great resilience to come back and draw that match.” 

For his part, Limerick manager John Kiely was also keen to take the positives from the outcome after their first match, having been the odd team out among the seven top-flight counties on the opening weekend.

“They [Cork] took their goal chance well,” he said.

“It was a mistake on our part, a turnover on the far side of the field, and when it’s unstructured like that, you’re vulnerable, especially with a side like Cork.

“Unless you get your players to really react very intently at that moment in time, you’re vulnerable.

“Overall, I’m happy with the performance – we probably put ourselves in a position to win the game and probably should have, but it’s a good start. It’s something for us to build on going forward now and that’s our focus for the next seven days.

“We’ve Tipperary next Sunday, we’ve a bit of work to do during the week. A good start, more to do.”