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Irish Examiner
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Shane McEntee on Meath v Cork: ‘I thought there was a clear difference in football ability'
Former Meath captain Shane McEntee believes Cork's limited kick-out options and technical ability were the difference in their All-Ireland SFC Group 2 encounter last weekend. Speaking on the Irish Examiner's Gaelic football podcast, McEntee was content with his county's ability to shake off their provincial final hangover and secure a four-point victory. He pointed to two issues that were costly for John Cleary's side. 'I'll go with two key things here. They started their kick-outs quite well. Cork have done this a long time. They set up pods, nothing too glamorous about it. They overload one side of the field. 'Ian Maguire for example, he'll call the kick-out on him, he will shape that, 'this is my ball, I'm going for it.' His midfield buddy or wing-forward knows that he isn't really. Maguire backs into Bryan Menton for example and someone else comes in to win it. Cork won five of their first seven kick-outs in the first half into the gale. But that was all that they had from a kick-out perspective. 'The only variation was instead of them all straight away going to the wing, they would start in the middle. One fella would go one way, the rest to the other. Meath just got to grips with it. Menton in particular.' Cork were three points down at the turnaround having played against the wind, but Cork could not do enough in the second half. They now face a huge tie against Kerry at home this weekend. 'Conditions weren't terrible to begin with, there was a wind and it was greasy, but the heavens opened in the second half. I thought there was a clear difference in football ability. 'Meath had a number of fellas when the pressure was on, you needed someone to carry ball and make something happen, Matt Costello, Ciaran Caulfield, Sean Coffey, Cathal Hickey came on and made a difference, Jordy Morris was dangerous, Meath had a load of ball carriers and ball players. They could handle the ball in pressure situations. 'Cork did not seem to have the same ability to execute under that pressure. I'm not going to pick out an individual, that wasn't the case, they just didn't seem as a team to be able for that.'
Irish Examiner
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Hurley misses out through injury as Cleary makes three Cork changes for Meath clash
Cork football boss John Cleary has made three changes to his side for the All-Ireland SFC Group 2 opener against Meath in Navan on Saturday (throw-in, 3pm). Captain Brian Hurley misses out through injury with Cathail O'Mahony drafted in to start at full-forward. Despite the blow of Hurley's absence, O'Mahony has enjoyed a run of fitness of late that has allowed the Michelstown marksman to build up his form, culminating in his inclusion in Cleary's starting 15 alongside Chris Óg Jones and Mark Cronin in the full-forward line. Cork's Brian Hurley breaks away from a Louth defender. Pic: David Creedon Michéal Aodh Martin starts between the sticks, while the other two changes come in the full-back line. Seán Brady - suspended following his controversial red card in the extra-time loss to Kerry in the Munster semi-final - and Tommy Walsh - suffering with a heel issue - miss out. Their replacements come in the form of experienced duo Seán Meehan and Maurice Shanley, who join mainstay Daniel O'Mahony. The Páirc Tailteann clash will mark Kiskeam defender Meehan's maiden start of the season. Brian O'Driscoll, Rory Maguire and Matty Taylor are once again named in the half-back line, with fit-again Luke Fahy among the subs. The midfield pair of St Finbarr's Ian Maguire and Éire Óg's Colm O'Callaghan slot in once more in the 8 and 9 berths. Having put down an impressive maiden campaign thus far, Mallow's Seán O'Donnell keeps his place at half-forward, where he is accompanied by Paul Walsh and Seán Powter. There is a first competitive matchday squad appearance for newcomer Éanna O'Hanlon, who linked up with the panel this season, while Conor Corbett is forced to sit this one out as he continues to work his way back to match fitness following his recovery from an ACL tear last summer. Cork: M A Martin (Nemo Rangers); S Meehan (Kiskeam), D O'Mahony (Knocknagree), M Shanley (Clonakilty); B O'Driscoll (Carrigaline), R Maguire (Castlehaven), M Taylor (Mallow); I Maguire (St Finbarr's), C O'Callaghan (Éire Óg); P Walsh (Kanturk), S Powter (Douglas), S McDonnell (Mallow); M Cronin (Nemo Rangers), C O'Mahony (Mitchelstown), C Óg Jones (Iveleary). Subs: P Doyle (Knocknagree), B Murphy (Nemo Rangers), N Lordan (Ballinora), D Cashman (Millstreet), L Fahy (Ballincollig), S Walsh (Mitchelstown), C Cahalane (Castlehaven), E McSweeney (Knocknagree), R Deane (Bantry Blues), É O'Hanlon (Kilshannig), H O'Connor (Newmarket).
