Sport

Extra practice can just shade it for Mayo

Cork and Mayo have endured many ominous moments en route to tomorrow's All-Ireland minor football final at Croke Park (1

By PAT ROCHE
Sat Sept 23 2000 - 01:00

Cork and Mayo have endured many ominous moments en route to tomorrow's All-Ireland minor football final at Croke Park (1.30 p.m.).

The Munster champions' biggest concern received most publicity following the controversial decision by Roscommon referee Gerry Kinneavy not to show their midfielder Kieran Murphy a red card in the closing stages of the semi-final against Derry.

The referee's decision plunged Cork's win over the Ulster champions into unprecedented doubt especially when Derry, quite justifiably, appealed for conciliation. Cork's 0-15 to 0-14 win was allowed to stand.

Mayo's closest shave also came in the semi-final, against Westmeath, who were looking certain winners on the first day before Paul Prenty somehow manufactured an equalising goal at the death.

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The replay, in Carrick-on-Shannon away from the glare of television cameras and the hype of Headquarters, proved a curiously tame affair, the Connacht champions surviving by 0-7 to 0-6.

JP Keane, the Mayo coach, was concerned with that low scoring rate and has since been urging his forwards to get their shooting boots on in time for the big day. He said: "You can't win an All-Ireland final scoring just seven points."

Cork manager Teddy Holland maintains both sides are capable of very attractive football and "whichever one performs on the day will win. The teams have met in challenge matches and know exactly what is needed to win." At this stage it is easy to identify the most serious attacking individual threats: Mayo's Kevin Mortimer and Cork's Conrad Murphy are the top scorers and they both operate on the 40.

In less than three matches (he retired injured against Derry), Murphy has amassed 0-16. Mortimer, with two additional matches, has chalked up 2-29.

"When Conrad was forced to retire in the semi-final we were glad with the way the team responded," says Holland. The Clonakilty playmaker is now fully recovered and the selectors hope that they have sorted out any scoring deficiencies by introducing Mark O'Connor at right wing forward and moving Kevin McMahon to full forward.

The big boost for Cork is the return of dual player Garry McLoughlin who missed the semi-finals in both hurling and football because of a damaged thumb. He links up with the influential Kieran Murphy in midfield.

Any weakness exposed at centre half back on either side could prove fatal. Cork's Denis O'Hare from Ballinora and Ballina's Enda Devenney have thus got five-star roles to play if Mortimer and Murphy are to be contained. Apart from scoring potential, the respective attack leaders can send their colleagues clear with deft passing.

Mayo outclassed Cork in last year's semi-final, but that result is totally irrelevant now with the vast majority of players involved facing their first All-Ireland final appearances.

Mayo see fit to make only one change, Dwayne Flynn comes into the attack at left half forward to replace Cormac Rowland. Their edge in match practice in this instance could see them through.

The Teams

CORK: Kevin Murphy; N O'Donovan, P Deane, E Bourke; N O'Leary, D O'Hare, P McCarthy; Kieran Murphy, G McLoughlin; M O'Connor, C Murphy, J Collins; J Masters, K McMahon, C Brosnan.

MAYO: D Clarke; R Keane, R Walshe, D Geraghty; D Costello, E Devenney, C Moran; E Barrett, A Burke; P Prenty, C Mortimer, D Flynn; P Carey, A Dillon, T Geraghty.