AISF Aug 23rd Tyrone v Cork

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

What tactics do people think Limerick employed? Because they didn't actually do a whole lot tactically to nullify Cork.

True enough Zulu. The primary tactic was just to get in and about them, cramping their style.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Let's see Miskella and O'Leary launch their surging runs with Dooher and Mc Mahon hanging off them.

Literally. 

You can bet on it 

[Frank Casey]

A few pearls from De Paper - Counihan showing no fear.

IT'S Conor Counihan's conundrum - how to simulate in training the frenetic level of intensity his Cork players will be confronted with by Tyrone in Sunday's All-Ireland SFC semi final at Croke Park.

True to form, the Aghada man examines the issue like he does most others – carefully.

"Of course, we have to match their intensity, but nobody should forget the skill factor here either. You still have to put scores on the board."

Privately, his players will confirm Counihan has more or less swallowed the whistle in training, happy to let the tempers bubble up as the back-to-back Munster champions prepare for the ultimate test of will and resolve.

"You can't afford to be afraid of anyone," Counihan cautions. "If you go out with that attitude, you're in trouble straight away. We've always ingrained that philosophy in the lads – not to worry too much about the opposition.

"We've gone into each match taking the game to the other team and that'll be our philosophy again on Sunday."

While Cork were denied a Croke Park grilling in the quarter-final, they do have an afternoon's toil against Limerick in their locker from the Munster final. That should help.

"We haven't prepared any differently because it's Tyrone. We're in the same mode all along. We'd always pick on form at training and not on the basis of the opposition. What the management sees on the training pitch is very important to us. The lads know that too. The game is about the team and I'm very excited for them."

He added: "We study the opposition to a certain extent but your big focus has to be on your own team. The tougher games make you better – that's why the Donegal game was very disappointing, because we got nothing out of it. We like to step back and assess after games but it's difficult to go to someone and ask him to look at things if he's scored 1-3 or 1-4."

In fact, Tyrone's quarter-final grind against Kildare was precisely what Counihan and his selectors would have relished. The Cork coach has studied the tape but it didn't tell him anything he didn't appreciate about Mickey Harte's battlers.

"Total commitment, 15-man effort on the field, never-say-die attitude," he responds when asked what makes the Red Hands the champions they are.

"Tyrone seem to be the standard bearers in terms of intensity, but we've played a lot of other good teams in the 18 months I've been involved. It'll be different but we have to handle that situation. I'm under no illusions that this will be the toughest game we've played so far."

The man who brought no nonsense defending to an art form in his own day knows there's no place for equivocation on Sunday against a side who win first and ask questions later.

A dirty side, even? "We wouldn't have first-hand experience of them and until you meet a side on the field of play, you never truly know what they're like. To me they are a very formidable side and it will take a lot of effort over 70 minutes and more."

The thought persists that Douglas's Eoin Cadogan might relish the physical confrontations on Sunday, but Counihan felt that "time was short" for him to get a much-needed run in the quarter final stroll against Donegal.

"He needed a bit more time (after coming into the panel), but everyone is being considered for this game. That's the good thing: we have a full panel, and with that comes options."

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

and Sean Cavanagh in the same line too!

Canty will be too busy hanging off him! 

PS Both RTE and the BBC are giving 'Heavy Rain' for Dublin on Sunday, although RTE's has since been modified to Brighter fresher weather following on Sunday, with sunshine and scattered heavy showers. Winds veering southwest to west.

[Zapatista]

This thread is intense 

A few pearls from De Paper - Counihan showing no fear.


A dirty side, even?

That's one of the worst questions I've ever seen asked. Even if it were true it's a sloppy question to ask any man on the record.

[Zapatista]

PS Both RTE and the BBC are giving 'Heavy Rain' for Dublin on Sunday, although RTE's has since been modified to Brighter fresher weather following on Sunday, with sunshine and scattered heavy showers. Winds veering southwest to west.

I compliment the intensity of the thread and while I'm doing it you post about the weather

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

This thread is intense 

A few pearls from De Paper - Counihan showing no fear.


A dirty side, even?

That's one of the worst questions I've ever seen asked. Even if it were true it's a sloppy question to ask any man on the record.

No worries Zap, MH's scrapbook is choc-full of Cork cockiness and impertinence at this stage, I think he paid them! 

A little more intensity: the Cork keeper will be wearing a lovely little red and white hooped number.

[omagh_gael]

just after watching the Kildare game again, have to say there was great intensity to it, what does everyone think about the bearing this can have on the next game? Is it as big an advantage as it's made out to be?

think Tyrone are in a better position following their game as opposed to cork.. Cork need a blistering start to negate their 'easier' passage to the semi. If Tyrone get an early run at them I feel it will be hard for the rebels to keep in touch.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Cork need a blistering start to negate their 'easier' passage to the semi. If Tyrone get an early run at them I feel it will be hard for the rebels to keep in touch.

Would agree og, MH will try to have the pressure full on from the start.

[Frank Casey]

And this is what he looks like after making a hames of it

[Zapatista]

just after watching the Kildare game again, have to say there was great intensity to it, what does everyone think about the bearing this can have on the next game? Is it as big an advantage as it's made out to be?

I think I have to agree with what Harte says in the examiner - there is no reason to believe that an easy game is better than a battle and visa-versa. In particular going into a semi or a final.

[Lamh Dhearg Alba]

Strong looking Tyrone team and pretty much as expected. Hopefully Enda will be back at his best and he will need to be. Brian McGuigan again a key man to have to go in during the second half. Saw McCullagh mentioned earlier in the thread and his influence last year compared to this....think to an extent his injury problems this year have held him back. If its an open match on Sunday he is another who would be capable of going in and causing Cork problems.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

And this is what he looks like after making a hames of it

You can be one heartless b****** Frank 

[Frank Casey]

[You can be one heartless b****** Frank 

I'll take that as a compliment.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

[You can be one heartless b****** Frank 

I'll take that as a compliment.

Absolutely, I'm loving it!