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‘The decision to leave is mine and mine alone,' – Tim Clancy quits as Cork City manager

‘The decision to leave is mine and mine alone,' – Tim Clancy quits as Cork City manager

Clancy confirmed his exit after defeat against Derry
Tim Clancy resigned from his post as Cork City manager after Friday night's defeat to Derry City.
The Meathman informed club officials of his decision to leave in the immediate aftermath of the Turner's Cross loss, but it's understood that he has been considering his future for some time.

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From the glorious chaos of the Gaelic Grounds, the Rebels rise again
From the glorious chaos of the Gaelic Grounds, the Rebels rise again

Irish Times

time15 hours ago

  • Irish Times

From the glorious chaos of the Gaelic Grounds, the Rebels rise again

Everything about it was staggering: the suffocating intensity, the twists, the spectacular scores and the crazy misses. Cork and Limerick were locked in a clench from teatime until shortly before bedtime and neither of them knew how to let go. The longest night in the history of the Munster Championship ended with a penalty shoot-out and a season set ablaze. Hallelujah. After being eviscerated by Limerick in the round-robin phase, Cork reclaimed everything they had lost three weeks ago. All the doubts about their temperament and their stomach for the fight were obliterated. This group of Cork players couldn't afford to fall over again. They stood up to everything Limerick could muster. The cruelty of penalties is a modern phenomenon in the GAA. For an epic contest such as this to be decided by such a capricious tiebreaker is a function of the condensed calendar and, no doubt, there will be another chorus of dissent. There should be. In the event, Limerick's third and fourth penalties missed the target; in between Alan Connolly buried a penalty with characteristic panache. After nearly 100 minutes, that was the only difference. READ MORE The psychological capital for Cork is incalculable. After their late collapse in Ennis and their abject surrender in the Gaelic Grounds three weeks ago, there were widespread doubts about Cork's credentials as serious contenders. This performance was the only credible answer. Aaron Gillane scores a late point for Limerick. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho The teams were level 17 times in all, but it was Cork who found the equaliser at the end of normal time and at the conclusion of extra-time. Limerick had chances to finish the game in 70 minutes, but Darragh O'Donovan dropped a shot short and Aaron Gillane missed a free from an acute angle. Cork had earned their reprieve. For Limerick there is an obvious cost. For the first time since their breakthrough season in 2018 they must navigate a quarter-final in a fortnight's time, and for an ageing team that is a tax they would prefer not to pay. John Kiely has never made any secret of his fondness for the month long break granted to provincial winners but they must do without it now. At various times in the second half of normal time, when they were playing with the wind, it looked like Limerick would assert control and kick on. But they couldn't. Cork's four-point half-time lead was wiped out in just 11 minutes, but from there until the finish they never led by more than a point. In normal time they managed just 28 shots from play when they would usually expect to register that many scores, or more. When Cork beat them in the round-robin game in Páirc Uí Chaoimh 13 months ago they were the first team to have more shots than Limerick in the Kiely era. Here, they exceeded Limerick's total by eight shots. For Limerick, a team whose potency is built on volume, this was a massive systems failure. Primary possession had been a massive problem for Cork three weeks ago, but that core issue was successfully addressed too. Cork won 59 per cent of their own puck-outs and restricted Limerick to 62 per cent on their own ball; that game that a platform to compete. Cork's Tommy O'Connell in action against Limerick's Barry Nash. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho The biggest difference, though, was Cork's aggression and abrasiveness and relentlessness. From the start they stood in the middle of the ring and traded body blows. They were ravenous for turnovers and flew into contests for ball on the ground. This was the fundamental stuff that Pat Ryan has demanded from this group for the last three years but had been so painfully absent three weeks ago. Cian Lynch was hounded by the outstanding Ciaran Joyce and a posse of lieutenants. Diarmaid Byrnes was tormented by Seamus Harnedy, just as he was in the game 13 months ago, and eventually the Limerick wing back was taken off. Kyle Hayes was magnificent in the opening 20 minutes, but by half-time Shane Barrett had scored 1-3 from play on his watch, and for the remainder of the game Hayes was just another bamboozled mortal, going around with his tongue hanging out like everybody else. In a game like this, with both teams going at each other like rutting stags, the referee was bound to be part of the story. Members of both management teams made a bolt for Tomas Walsh as he left the field at half-time and ended up getting stuck in each other. There was pushing and jostling and jawing and shaping and all of it was out or order. It was clear during the first half, though, that both managers had become increasingly wound up by Walsh's refusal to penalise obvious fouls – or at least when it suited them. The fourth official and the linesman on the Mackey Stand side were on the receiving end of constant feedback and hot takes. Limerick's Cian Lynch after the game. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Just like Brian Cody's Kilkenny years ago, Kiely's Limerick are usually sanguine about matches where the physical contact is unregulated and Cork clearly came to the Gaelic Grounds with the stomach for a battle. Walsh granted permission for illegal contact all over the field and both teams flaked away. In these situations, though, everyone loves the spectacle until they're gasping for a free and there's an unpenalized foul in front of the goal for an offence that had also gone unpenalized in the middle of the field. For Cork's first goal, Brian Hayes and Patrick Horgan were both mangled by Limerick defenders, but Walsh's hand wasn't raised for an advantage before Shane Barrett whipped the ball to the net. There were no laws in the jungle. Walsh booked four players in the first 10 minutes of the second half but there was no end to the viral fouling. It would have been the most delicious of ironies if the game had been decided by a free, but Gillane's effort from an acute angle in the fourth minute of stoppage time flew wide of the far post. Limerick will feel like they blew it, which is the same feeling they had against Cork twice last year. The wheel has turned again.

Kerry aim to end Ulster opposition inferiority complex, Cork look for underage crumbs of encouragement
Kerry aim to end Ulster opposition inferiority complex, Cork look for underage crumbs of encouragement

Irish Examiner

timea day ago

  • Irish Examiner

Kerry aim to end Ulster opposition inferiority complex, Cork look for underage crumbs of encouragement

Two very different agendas for Cork and Kerry at O'Moore Park this afternoon. Let's throw in with Kerry seeing as their All-Ireland MFC quarter-final is the first of the Portlaoise double-header. Kerry's opposition is Cavan. Kerry's opposition is Ulster and so the hour's fare provides the latest opportunity to see how an underage Kingdom crop fares against a leading northern outfit. Not to throw in with hyperbolic statements but Kerry minor and U20 teams of late have developed something of an inferiority complex when stood opposite northern opposition. The results and the evidence speaks for itself. In the 2023 and '24 campaigns, Kerry's minor interest ended at the hands of Ulster opposition - Derry and Monaghan - at the All-Ireland semi-final stage. The year previous, the then Kerry management were visibly ecstatic on the Portlaoise sideline at scoring a one-point All-Ireland quarter-final win over Tyrone. The same management, the summer before, had suffered defeat to Derry in the delayed 2020 decider. So that's Kerry coming off second best in three of their last four minor outings against an Ulster team. At U20, Tyrone bettered them this year and last. Mercy Mounthawk suffered the same fate in the All-Ireland post-primary semi-finals of this year and last. The approach minor manager Wayne Quillinan outlined midweek is one, as results attest to, that Kerry underage teams of all hues have floundered against in recent years. 'Cavan are going to be ultra defensive. In fairness, they're really, really well coached. They're really hard to break down. Obviously with the numbers back, they're looking for turnovers. They're looking to break at pace.' For Cork, the challenge is a little less nuanced and rather more straightforward; that is to successfully negotiate the All-Ireland minor quarter-final hurdle. Derry, Dublin, and Mayo, by very different margins, have shown Cork the exit door at this stage of the championship over the past three years. The most recent of those was last June's worrying 3-14 to 0-6 beating by Mayo. Arriving as it did off the back of a 15-point Munster final whacking, the conversation and concern surrounding the health of the county's underage set-up had its volume turned up. Lamentably, the results did not spark any meaningful introspection by those in power. Following 10 and nine-point defeats at the hands of Kerry in recent weeks, Cork football and the current minor students could badly do with a performance and scoreline that provides crumbs of encouragement going forward. Encouragement, on the whole, has been in short supply for Cork football this summer. Across minor, U20, and senior, there have been 11 championship outings. The four victories are split into two categories. Two comfortable wins over Clare and Limerick at U20 and senior. And two incredibly near escapes against Tipperary at minor and U20. In short, Cork have not bettered a county at or above their station. Does that change here? KERRY: R Kennedy (Kerins O'Rahillys); R Sheridan (Duagh), E Joy (Ballymacelligott), T Ó Slatara (Churchill); D Murphy (Listry), D Sargent (John Mitchels), M Clifford (Fossa); M Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), J Curtin (Ballyduff); M O'Carroll (Dr Crokes), G White (John Mitchels), A Tuohy (Austin Stacks); N Lacey (Kerins O'Rahillys), K Griffin (St Michael's/Foilmore), B Kelliher (Dr Crokes). CAVAN: C McConnell (Butlersbridge); D Brady (Laragh), C Bough (Munterconnaught), M Duffy (Mountnugent); M Smith (Crosserlough), H McMullen (Cootehill Celtic), J Donohoe (Mullahoran); S Maguire (Templeport), F Graham (Butlersbridge); D Lynch (Cuchulainns), J Brady (Gowna), C Smith (Lavey); M Reilly (Denn), N Quigley (Denn), J Graham (Lavey). CORK: R Twohig (Kilmeen); B Coffey (Clonakilty), A Keane (Kinsale), M Kiernan (Carrigaline); J O'Leary (Ballinascarthy), C McCarthy (St Colum's), B Cronin (Ballincollig); S Kelleher Leavy (Macroom), R Hayes (Carbery Rangers); L O'Mahony (Ballincollig), D Flynn (Argideen Rangers), S Long (Newcestown); J Byerley (Clonakilty), B Corkery Delaney (Carrigaline), E Maguire (Castlehaven).

Cathal O'Sullivan and Co. have shown they 'belong' after stepping up to Ireland U21s
Cathal O'Sullivan and Co. have shown they 'belong' after stepping up to Ireland U21s

Irish Examiner

time2 days ago

  • Irish Examiner

Cathal O'Sullivan and Co. have shown they 'belong' after stepping up to Ireland U21s

The young talents that exist within the League of Ireland have become integral to Jim Crawford's Republic of Ireland under-21 set-up of late. With a substantial chunk of his current squad actively playing for or having progressed through the ranks at domestic clubs, that is no different this time around. The three latest to graduate to this level while still plying their trade on these shores are Cork City starlet Cathal O'Sullivan, Shamrock Rovers' Cory O'Sullivan and Drogheda United's Warren Davis. Much like Spurs-bound wonderkid Mason Melia - who misses out through injury - and more before the St Patrick's Athletic front-man, they've not only fit right in at under-21 international level, they "belong" at the standard. Crawford has testified to that, having seen the trio up close and personal in Zagreb ahead of their meetings with Croatia on Friday and Qatar under-23s next week. "They've been great, they really have been," Ireland boss Crawford said. "It's been no issue to them, they haven't looked out of place and I think what they've said, without them knowing, is: 'I belong here.' "I've said it to Cathal. Last year when he was playing in the First Division, I thought he was outstanding and then when they got promoted, I said 'great', He has that taste now of being in a league-winning team so now it's going to be a serious challenge at Cork City, knowing the resources that they have regards budgets. "Are they going to be at the top of the table? No, so it was going to be a challenge for him and it was one that I was certainly excited to see and he's grabbed it with both hands, he's been excellent, he really has. He's exciting crowds, the way he plays, and I'm excited to see him playing for us." Outside - and inside - noise on the 18-year-old's ability and his potential going forward has been rife. His departure to England is now a case of when, not if, with FA Cup winners Crystal Palace closing in. Former City boss Tim Clancy previously referenced the €2 million fee garnered for Melia, noting that the City winger would be worth five times that amount. Current teammate Seani Maguire recently dubbed him "the best teenager in the country". With that aforementioned noise comes a need for a cool head and a focus on the day-to-day goings on. Crawford is in no doubt as to O'Sullivan's credentials in that regard. "He's a very level-headed chap, which is hugely important with all that noise that goes on when somebody is playing well. I've seen it with players, where players lose the run of themselves with all that external stuff coming from social media, or from other people around the game. "He's a well-balanced individual... He's played some big games for Cork and he's been excellent, he really has. He works exceptionally hard on the training ground, there's no airs and graces about him." If O'Sullivan has shone for City at the wrong end of the table, his namesake Cory O'Sullivan (19) at Rovers, and Davis (20) - scoring at will up-top for high-flying Drogs - have done equally as well in the upper echelons of the Premier Division. "Cory, for somebody so young, playing with the top team in the league and looking so comfortable, he's been excellent. It's when you get up close to him and have a conversation, you realise how young he is, but he certainly plays with a maturity and a know-how that merits his inclusion. "Warren's been having a great year. He knows that he's at a stage where this will help him develop even more. What I love about him is his hunger to become a better player; he's worked tirelessly. It's been a great season for him so far. "The lads have represented the league unbelievably well," Crawford concluded.

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