Messages

Totally disagree you must be a corkman.
Numbers 3-9 are as good as anything else- 1,2 and 10-15 aren't anywhere near. I wasn't talking about physicality - more athleticism v skill. I think this Cork team was the fittest team in history and played a game that nobody had seen before. But when the opposition copped on like this year they had no plan b. In My view they resembled Clare - great backs and midfield and 2 main scoring forwards (Deane and O Connor) with Corcoran supporting them.
Look i don't dispute that they had some fantastic players- but i'm trying to offer a shred of perspective that Corcoran hasn't. An excellent team but not an all time great one in my view. I don't agre that  all 1-9 are better than waterford. Personally i wouldn't have any in front of Ken  Mc Grath and Browne and Gardiner is a toss up with Eoin Murphy a better player than Mulcahy. Eoin Kelly has more talent than either o connor or kenny but it would depend on what type of game you were going to play to see who you would select. O connor and kenny suit corks gameplan- kelly wouldn't but it doesn't mean he's an inferior player because of it.

Also played in one of the poorest eras hurling has ever known. (three teams cork-kilkenny and waterford).
Not their fault admitedly- but it would be nice if they kept a sense of perspective about things. This is hardly a Golden Age of hurling.
Galway and Tipp couldn't go any lower- limerick are in the doldrums- clare-wexford and offaly have been finsihed for some years now and ulster hurling has no challengers.

Not to labour the point- but i don't think that's what Sweeney is saying. Cork appear to have no recognition that they were a moderately talented team. they appear to believe they operated on a different plane than everybody else skillwise as well as everything else. Credit to them for their professionalism -but they weren't the Kerry team of the 70's.

i think these pitches are the greatest heap of shite. Rock solid with little give on them- the ball can bounce far too high. as reagrds hurling i hear brigids have a problem with sliotars going onto the dual carriageway alongside. the balll does move faster but give me grass anyday.

I think the point corcoran fails to recognise is that in the pantheon of great Cork teams this one is someway down the list. Heavily reliant on 4-5 players. Without their professionalism as they call it- they probably wouldn't have any All-Irelands whereas Kilkenny could probably start training in late june and still win th all-ireland. There are 7/8 Waterford players that a lot of the Cork team couldn't hold a candle to.- that;s the point Sweeney is trying to make.
Nobody is naive to think that teams aren't disparaging in their views on each other in the dressing room. The point Sweeney is making is that Corcoran comes across as very blinkered in his views. He fails to recognise that for all their perceived 'professionalism' they should have won a hell of a lot more. They don't seem to realise Kilkenny have still outscored them in All-Irelands in recent years-relying more on pure artistry rather than atleticism.

disagree totally paddy- sweeney is right- for all corks professionalism -kilkenny in recent years have been more successful and they think are the tiger woods of hurling? and furthermore kilkenny didn't have to trash talk anyone- because Cody wouldn't allow it.
This Cork team are above thier station thinking they have the right to select managers. there are certain individuals on that Cork team who think they are indispensable to the cause and I hope Mc Carthy shakes it up. they want to run themselves and that can't be allowed on any team. As they say the end is nigh for this Cork team.

I'm shouting for ucd - because we need the country clubs on board to throw them out. The further they get the better for everyone. It is only when they are successful at leinster and all-ireland level- that they will be thrown out of our county chmpionship- until then they will be the bane of our existence in vincents. Of the 10 county finals UCD have won in recent years they have beaten vincents in six. need i say more.

i think bernard brogan and vaughan are the two players dublin should be looking to bring through this season. Connolly and Andrews are good prospects but in my view are 18mths to 2 years down the line and should be left with the 21's .

Can't see beyond dublin in Leinster- louth might surprise a few people.
Galway or Mayo in Connacht-probably mayo
Tyrone or Armagh in Ulster
Kerry or Cork in Munster

As regards the All-Ireland- there are  alot of assumptions about Tyrone the major one being that all their players will return fit and well which remains to be seen. I don't see Armagh doing it. I don't see mayo doing it. Cork haven't enough in my view. Kerry are kerry- they'll be close and to be honest even though they've lost a few there is alaways a few players hanging aorund kerry more so than any other county. As for Dublin if vaughan and bernard brogan come good watch out. I'd give a hesitant vote to kerry.

The hurling will be a walkover for kilkenny in my view. Galway will only have a chance if the Cannings are on board(including Joe). Cork are a little bit too long on the road- need an injection of players to freshen it up. The rest aren't close. An outside punt for the more discerning punter -is the outside bet of dublin being in  a Leinster hurling final. Other than that kilkenny will reign supreme.

very easily marked out of a game. Good freetaker- but always came across as lazy in Dublin club football. If a defender marks him tightly he doesn't like it- i doubt he'll make much impact in the bearpit of ulster football against the  real teams. Quite easily marked out of it at club level in Dublin in recent years.
Prodigious talent- bordering on genius for sheer football skill. I don't believe the mental strength goes with it though - nor the application -pity because with the application Fermanagh would have won an Ulster championship by now.

Club St vincents
County Dublin