Coming out of Pairc Ui Chaoimh at 3.30 pm on the 8th June 2008 after the defeat to Tipperary, not too many people would have forecasted the transformation in the team’s fortunes and drastic improvement since then. While many people who earn a living out of the media covering the world of Gaelic games have been lambasted by the Cork team’s management for questioning the desire and the hunger of this Cork side to bounce back from the defeat to Tipperary. Contributors to this website also questioned the above but did so on the grounds that this team owed its adoring supporters nothing and remembered the great hours of enjoyment they have given us.
The stage is now set for a battle Royale against our arch enemy Kilkenny and the chance to thwart “the Cats” of their dream of achieving a 3 in a row for the first time in their history. The column inches will be filled with the word “Cork aim to derail the Cats 3 in a row dream” but to beat the Cats would more importantly stop them achieving a 4 in a row in 2009.
The talk over the coming week amongst fans and leading up to the game will be surrounded by the debate about the team selection and whether the Cork selectors will bite the bullet and start a different defence from the start rather than making changes throughout the course of the game.
What are the options for the selectors for the game against Kilkenny?
Option 1:
This would be to start the same team that started against Clare and make changes as the need arises.
Against option 1:
This is high risk as the concession of scores early to Kilkenny and having to chase a game like what happened to Limerick last year might be one comeback to many for this Cork side.
Option 2:
This would be to make the changes that were made in the Galway and Clare games but this time from the start. This would be moving John Gardiner to full back, Tom Kenny back to Wing back and Cathal Naughton to Mid-field with either Timmy McCarthy, Neil Ronan or Kieran Murphy starting in the Forwards.
Against Option 2:
Too many alterations to be made throughout the team and the break up of the Tom Kenny and Jerry O’Connor Mid-field partnership.
Option 3:
This would be to move John Gardiner back to full back and put Eoin Cadogan into his half back slot.
Against Option 3:
Is it a risk starting Eoin Cadogan in a game of this importance and why was he not introduced in the Galway or Clare games but could this be an Ace in the selector’s hand as this would be not what Brian Cody might be expecting.
Option 4:
This would be to move John Gardiner to full back bringing Shane Murphy to corner back who did well when introduced as a blood sub against Clare and then move Shane O’Neil out to Gardiner’s wing back position.
Against option 4:
Like option 1, a lot of changes would have to be made to the defence and maybe too much to ask to have inexperienced player like Shane Murphy start against Kilkenny and also having to move Shane O’Neil out of his customary corner back position.
With the back door system in place it is only a matter of time that Cork and Kilkenny would meet in a game other than an All Ireland final. In 2004 they probably would have met in a semi final only for Waterford beating Cork in the Munster Final and Wexford shocking Kilkenny in the Leinster semi final.
Hopefully the powers that be will give us the double header us Cork supporters deserve on the 10th August with the footballers and the Hurlers both playing on the 10th August at Croke Park.
It is going to be one hell of a build up to this game over the coming week and a half.
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