Cork hurling: Diarmuid Healy now an option up front but puck-outs a concern against Kilkenny
Ciarán Joyce breaks from Kilkenny's Martin Keoghan. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Diarmuid Healy grabbed all the headlines with his match-winning 1-5 display at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh against Kilkenny on Saturday, but the lid needs to be kept firmly shut in terms of hype and expectation levels around the Lisgoold youngster.
We tend to see this on an almost annual basis – the moment where a promising youngster is deemed by many observers to either not be up to senior inter-county level or, at least, not to be ready yet, and one good 70-minute showing later and those voices are dispelled for good.
Given Duds Healy’s display on Saturday, there will not be too many Cork hurling supporters saying he is not ready now.
There will be days when it does not happen for the Lisgoold youngster, as occurs for every player. It will also get significantly harder for him when opposition players become more familiar with his game and style, but what the Kilkenny display showed us is that he is now a live option for a half-forward berth this season.
Cork have been crying out for options to augment Declan Dalton, Shane Barrett and Seamus Harnedy and Healy has put his hand up. We have stated repeatedly how Cork’s performance levels seem to drop when that half-forward line tires late on, but having someone with the characteristics of Healy should, in theory, allow Cork to continue with the same structure and style of play until the end.
The likelihood is that Healy might be used off the bench this year in the big championship games, but his emergence does also give Pat Ryan options, such as starting Healy and springing a player of the calibre of Seamus Harnedy off the bench for the real championship minutes late on.
On Saturday evening Healy showed that he can thrive in space and gobble up loose ball, which is vital for a modern-day wing forward. He has yet to display the aerial ability on puckouts that he showed at underage level, but hopefully that will come in time.
Saturday was far from perfect. The concession of two soft goals stung, as they kept Kilkenny in the game right until the end.
There were plenty of positives given that Cork were victorious, with the performances of the captain and vice-captain in the Cork spine very much to the fore.
Robert Downey was restored to centre-back and mopped up any ball in his vicinity. Cork just are a much more solid team with the Glen Rovers man in the six shirt.
Shane Barrett showed real glimpses of last year’s All-Star briliance, lancing over two fine points while generally causing Kilkenny huge problems with his running threat. As the ground dries up over the next few weeks and months we should see his influence increase further.
Tim O’Mahony had been quiet in the defeat to Tipperary, but the Newtownshandrum man thundered into this tie, scoring two fine points of his own and getting on a lot of ball, while up front Patrick Horgan has looked really sharp for this time of year.
Niall O’Leary continued his fine form at corner-back, although he will have been undoubtedly annoyed at his hand pass for the first Kilkenny goal, while Ger Millerick was looking dominant before having to retire injured. Hopefully, nothing too serious.
Micheál Mullins and Cormac O’Brien further added to their reputations with their displays, with both of them now right in the frame for championship minutes.
It was good to see Tommy O’Connell back too. The Midleton man had a really positive cameo in the All-Ireland final and can play a big role for Cork this year.
Cork’s lack of goals in their four games will be a minor concern, as they would have expected to score more than five in four games. The injury to Padraig Power has not helped, as he be earmarked for a key role this year. Plus Alan Connolly, Shane Kingston and Conor Lehane have also been unavailable.
You would imagine that once Connolly, in particular, returns we will start to see green flags raised with more regularity.
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