Daniel Goulding: Cork should relish playing Dublin in Croker, they've a great chance

Cork’s 2010 All-Ireland winner Daniel Goulding says the Rebels shouldn’t fear the challenge of Dublin this weekend.

The Leesiders will make the trip up the M8 to lock horns with the Dubs in the All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final in Croke Park on Saturday with throw-in at 6.15pm.

Goulding was on the last Cork team to take down the Leinster side in the championship back in 2010 in the All-Ireland semi-final. The Rebels went on to lift the Sam Maguire trophy that year.

“It’s probably the best draw for Cork to be honest,” the Éire Óg clubman says.

“Going up to play Donegal in Ballybofey would have been a very big challenge and if we were away to Down, there would have been an expectation to win which isn’t correct either as Down are very good.

“A game in Croke Park is a great draw for Cork and one they should relish. They are going to be rank outsiders but it gives them an opportunity to take a big scalp. We have seen over the last few years, Cork seem to up their performance for the bigger teams. You would be hoping a big performance will be coming again on Saturday.

“If you go through our championship season so far, Cork comfortably defeated Limerick and then should have beaten Kerry in all reality in the Munster semi-final. Above in Navan against Meath, people might have thought that Cork would win that game but when you see Meath turning over Kerry last weekend, they obviously aren’t a bad team. Cork were very unlucky the second day against Kerry. To be fair, the 11-point margin was a bit harsh. 

“I think the two-pointers from Kerry and missed goal chances by Cork probably was the difference. The Roscommon game last Saturday, Cork had to win and dug it out. It was a big game and holding Roscommon to seventeen points was a good performance by the backs. 

"At the other end, I know we aren’t getting the goals, but six of the front eight that started scored so that’s a positive. Cork have to back it up now at the weekend. I do believe there’s another big performance in them.” 

When Goulding played with distinction for the Rebels, they never feared Dublin. Although it's a different era, he says this current group of Cork players should enjoy and grasp the game on Saturday at GAA HQ.

“When we were playing Dublin, they were just getting to the starting point of their dominance,” he said.

“We beat them in a cracker of an All-Ireland semi-final in 2010. After that, Dublin won the All-Ireland in 2011 and took over after that. I can remember we played them in the All-Ireland quarter-final in 2013, we weren’t going that well and still ran them close. Cork teams never have a fear of Dublin.

“I didn’t play them when they were at their absolute pomp, but you could say that they are coming to the end of that now. They aren’t as prolific and as dangerous as they used to be. It’s going to be a very interesting game. The underdog tag will suit Cork.

“Dublin will have the majority of the support but that won’t make any difference. Cork are used to playing games being outnumbered in the stands. At the same time, it galvanises teams too. This Cork team have won a lot of games when opposition teams had a much bigger following. It doesn’t make any difference, it creates a siege mentality if anything.

“In Croke Park, it’s less noticeable as it’s such a massive stadium. It won’t be a full house on Saturday. Cork want to be playing in Croke Park on a regular basis and I have no doubt that the players will be looking forward to it and eager to put in a performance. It’s as good as it gets, playing Dublin in Croke Park.” 

What will be key if Cork want to record a memorable victory over the Dubs on Saturday? They will be looking to record just their third ever championship success over the Leinster outfit.

“Colm O’Callaghan, Ian Maguire, Seán Walsh and Paul Walsh created a foundation in the middle of the field in the win over Roscommon. It was so important in terms of getting over the line. It will be totally different now against Dublin with Stephen Cluxton’s kickouts, something Cork will have to pay attention to.

“If we can get any foothold at all around the middle of the field, I think we have a great chance of winning. Cork are well conditioned so they won’t have anything to worry about in that sense. They will be as fit as Dublin.

“Shutting down Con O’Callaghan will be key and it will come down to efficiency in front of goal. If Cork get one or two goal chances, they will have to take them if they want to beat Dublin.”