Efficient Cork earn their stripes

ALL-IRELAND SH CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINAL Cork 1-25 Antrim 0-19:THE HOUR of reckoning is fast approaching for Cork. They did what was expected of them in the low-key curtain raiser in front of another modest Croke Park crowd. And now Kilkenny await.

All the strife and midnight talks and disagreements that have gripped Cork hurling over the past two years have brought this team on a journey to this inevitable point. Cork have their shot at the Untouchables.

The fiercely independent and proud streak that runs through this Cork team means this latest instalment of the rivalry will be riveting. But can Cork still live with the Stripy Men? That is something they may not even know themselves.

Antrim hurled with organisation and spirit and an honourable quarter-final exit was distinguished by the sublime marksmanship of Liam Watson, who struck six excellent points from play before getting himself sent off in the 67th minute on a second yellow card. They kept Cork working but failed to get the second-half goal that might have tilted the match into unpredictable territory.

Cork established control through a Niall McCarthy goal in the 37th minute and were never really troubled thereafter. Donal Óg Cusack sent a perfectly weighted missile towards Michael Cussen. The big man had been getting his palm to the ball but was struggling with his catching: this one he did take cleanly and delivered a low ball which Aisake Ó hAilpín collected before passing neatly to McCarthy, who batted the ball to goal on the run.

The goal was a fierce blow to Antrim after a promising first half. They were living fairly comfortably in Cork’s company, with the impressive Cormac Donnelly steaming out in front of Ó hAilpín to cut off the long balls directed at the Na Piarsaigh man and twice getting in good blocks when Ó hAilpín took possession.

Kieran McGourty seemed to patrol the entire Antrim back line as well as his own section and throughout the team, the work rate was extremely high.

Watson shone throughout, firing two beautiful scores during an inspiring first-half display in which he always seemed to produce a point when Antrim needed it most.

There were moments during that period – such as Shane McNaughton’s delightful show-and-go point in the 29th minute – which suggested the possibility that Cork might be out of gas.

With Neil McManus flawless in his dead ball duties, the Ulster men must have been very satisfied with the pattern of the match until that flash strike by McCarthy. O’Connor then converted two late frees and Antrim retreated for their half-time refreshments with an eight-point deficit.

The goal they required in the second half never came: twice Watson went for broke with 21-yard frees and both times the Cork defence stood firm. McManus pulled a fine ball out of the sky on the edge of the Cork square but his shot was quickly deflected by Cusack.

Cork did enough, staying tantalisingly out of reach through frees and two good points from play from Kieran Murphy.

Cork used their captain at centre-half forward here and with Paudie O’Sullivan striking three points from play in the first half, Cork’s percentages improved dramatically from their dismal conversion rate against Waterford.

But apart from an early point from Ó hAilpín, neither of Cork’s tall men featured on the scoreboard.

Ó hAilpín was withdrawn with 20 minutes remaining and Cussen followed him shortly afterwards. Both men provide Cork with a novel option but Cork looked more natural when they returned to their default mode, with Niall McCarthy – terrific in the first half – and Tom Kenny taking short, flat passes at speed and shooting on the run. With Jerry O’Connor expected to be fit for the semi-final, Cork may engage their retro’ game for this last stand.

Cork tapped over three late points after Watson’s dismissal but by then the match had lost all of its intensity. There were signs of fallibility in the Cork defence when the hard-working Antrim forwards closed in on them, pressure points that will have been duly noted on Noreside.

CORK: 1. D Óg Cusack: 2. S Murphy, 3. E Cadogan, 4. B Murphy; 5 J Gardiner (0-3 frees), 6 R Curran, 7. R Ryan; 8 T Kenny (0-3), 9 C Naughton (0-2); 11. M Cussen, 15. K Murphy (0-4), 12. N McCarthy (1-2); 13. P O'Sullivan (0-3), 14 A Ó hAilpín (0-1), 10 B O'Connor (0-6 5 frees). Subs: P Horgan for Ó hAilpín (49 mins), P Cronin for Cussen (55 mins), W Egan (0-1)for McCarthy (65 mins).

ANTRIM: 1 C O'Connell; 2 K McGourty, 3. C Donnelly, 4 S Delargy; 5. P Shiels, 6. J Campbell (0-1), 7. C Herron; 8. S McNaughton (0-1), 9. K Stewart; 10. S McCrory, 11. N McManus (0-9, 7 frees 2 65's), 12. T McCann; 13. PJ O'Connell, 14. L Watson (0-6), 15 K McKeegan (0-1). Subs: J McKeague for Shiels (22 mins), B McFall for McCann (half-time), M Herron (0-1)for McKeague (52 mins), D Hamill for PJ O'Connell (55 mins), E McCloskey for McNaughton (70 mins).

Referee: M Wadding(Waterford).

Cork bookings: J Gardiner: (67 mins).

Antrim bookings: L Watson (2, 67), S McCrory ( 21 mins), J Campbell (37 mins).

Sent off: L Watson (67 mins).