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The 42
2 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
After a damaging week, Caoimhín Kelleher has restored the reputation of Corkness
CORK HURLING MANAGER Pat Ryan this week detonated the concept of Corkness, figuring it was the highest-value target in his war on hype. Ryan has been astonished and perturbed at the mass Writing off of Limerick, bridling specifically at a bookmaker paying out on Cork's All-Ireland win in April and more generally at all the material with which Rebel fans have provided for plastering on the walls of Limerick's dressing room. 'The really annoying thing was some of our own people writing off Limerick. Are they off their game? That's only setting us up for a fall', said Ryan, doing his worrying out loud. 'There was a thing written ages ago around the football thing', he said, 'which I'd say [football manager] John Cleary here hates it, this thing about 'Corkness.' 'It drives me mad when I hear that thing. What's Corkness?' Ryan need only ask his country board for the definition of the word. In 2019, Cork GAA published a five-year plan to boost their fading football fortunes and deduced what was missing was a bit of Corkness, and then-chairperson Tracey Kennedy defined the term. Corkness, she wrote, 'is that air of confidence just on the right side of arrogance – an unparalleled pride and our insatiable desire for Cork to be the best at absolutely everything.' Cards on the table – this column has always loved the notion of Corkness. Advertisement This is partly because it is unique, and partly because, in the column-writing business, game recognises game. In expounding on Corkness, Tracey Kennedy was faithful to the column writer's trick of pinning down some vast concept and slapping it with a single, evocative label. There are economists out there who have made a fortune out of this kind of business. Think your Celtic Tigers; your Breakfast Roll Mans. (This column's side-project of coming up with a working definition of Longfordness has run aground on the difficulty of reconciling the figures of Albert Reynolds and Maura Higgins.) Limerick manager John Kiely and Cork boss Pat Ryan. Tom Maher / INPHO Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO A concept like Corkness can also be a genuinely potent sporting tool, as it gives players and supporters a shared identity around which to corral. Now, not everyone was an instant fan of Corkness' introduction to the Irish vernacular. 'We're only just into February but surely no more ludicrous pat of steaming bullshit will get dropped into sporting discourse in 2019″, wrote Brian O'Connor in the Irish Times. Six years on, diplomacy probably dictates that Pat Ryan couldn't quite go down the 'ludicrous pat of steaming bullshit' route, but he has made his point forcefully enough. Ryan evidently believes Corkness is a licence to indulge excessive and self-defeating levels of self-confidence, but in defence of the word, its definition does preach a certain amount of restraint. It's not supposed to be a real arrogance, Jamie Redknapp might tell us, but that lovely arrogance. Anyway, in a week that risked Corkness becoming irredeemably traduced as the Cork Mind Virus, along came Caoimhín Kelleher to restore the whole idea. Kelleher will be a first-choice goalkeeper in the Premier League next season and, in his own words, it's not a moment too soon. Asked by his new club Brentford as to whether it was a difficult decision to leave Liverpool, Kelleher replied, 'I don't think it was very difficult for me to leave. I felt for my own career that the time was right for me to go, to be a no.1 and to play every week.' Kelleher's career success so far is built on his confidence. That quality is evident whenever you see him play: few Irish sportspeople have ever been so obviously laconic and unflustered in the arena. He had the confidence to see off the legions of academy hopefuls to force his way into the first-team mix under Jurgen Klopp and the confidence to believe he deserved to stay there. He then had the confidence to play the way in which Liverpool needed him – stand still to bait an opponent's press and flirt with a humiliating error before getting his pass away; score the odd cup-winning penalty – and the confidence to deal with the awesome scrutiny that comes with playing in goal for a superclub. Mistakes by a goalkeeper are amplified over those by any other player, and there's an exponential amplification of any error at a club as big as Liverpool. You need a special strain of, well, Corkness to deal not only with mistakes but also the dark thoughts of making a future one. And above all, he had the confidence to leave. Kelleher is not joining Brentford to become their record appearance holder as, stop us if you've heard this before, he's showing the confidence in himself to go on and play regularly at a higher level. 'They've got a really good track record of improving and developing players which is really what's drawn me to the club', said Kelleher of his new employers. Ringmahon Rangers have also millions of reasons to celebrate their own kind of Corkness, as they had the confidence to insist on a 20% sell-on clause when Liverpool signed Kelleher. The game's apex predator clubs are not in the business of looking after anyone else, which they would deem charity. Innumerable Irish clubs have given in to pressure and allowed their biggest talents go to celebrated UK clubs for disgracefully little money. Ringmahon were not willing to fall into the trap. Ringmahon and Kelleher this week showed the rewards awaiting those who maintain confidence in themselves. Let the Corkness abide.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
History made by Waterford while there's huge wins for Cork, Limerick and Galway as end of Camogie groups approaches
GOALS from Amy O'Connor, Katrina Mackey and Clodagh Finn helped CORK secure a comprehensive away win over TIPPERARY. The All-Ireland champions continue to cast a long shadow over the rest of the Group 1 field, with the visitors scoring all three goals in the first ten minutes of Saturday's round-robin clash at The Ragg. 2 Katrina Mackey is no stranger to the back of the net 2 Great result for Galway and Caoimhe Kelly That set them up for a comfortable afternoon, with O'Connor going on to score 1-13, 1-5 of it from play, in a 3-21 to 1-9 hammering. Player of the match O'Connor said: 'It was a very good performance. We started well and set our stall out early. 'There will be a couple of things for us to work on, particularly in terms of how we set up for the puckouts and our efficiency in the second half, but overall we can be happy. 'Our full-forward line at the moment, you have seven or eight players and any of the seven or eight could play. Read more on Camogie "When people are coming on and performing as well as Kate Wall and Ciara O'Sullivan did there, it's great to see Sorcha McCartan back, everyone's under pressure all the time. If you don't perform, you won't play.' In Owenbeg, meanwhile, GALWAY hammered DERRY 4-25 to 0-5 in a Group 2 game thanks to goals from Mairéad Dillon, Aoife Donohue, Sabine Rabbitte and Caoimhe Kelly. The Tribes' manager Cathal Murray said: 'We had a really good spread of scorers. We had a good performance, and we're very happy to have two wins out of two and be out to a good start in the group. "We got a lot out of the game, we've a two-week break now before the Kilkenny game which is shaping up to be a massive match after their result. They'll be fired up and eager to bounce back.' Most read in GAA Hurling The departure of manager Jerry Wallace at the end of the Very League and the subsequent postponement of their Munster final against Cork in the lead-up to the historic Special Congress decision to allow camogie players the choice between wearing shorts or skorts had WATERFORD in the spotlight without ever pucking a ball. On Saturday, however, they were the story of the second weekend in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Championship for all the right reasons. RTE pundit Joe Canning urges GAA to make huge change for Leinster hurling final as fans 'totally agree' Thanks to a strong finish, the Déise recorded their first-ever Championship win over KILKENNY — and their first win over them in ten attempts in any competition since returning to senior a decade ago — on a 0-17 to 0-10 scoreline in front of a large crowd at Nowlan Park. Waterford's Niamh Rockett, who scored nine points, told 'We were bullied against Kilkenny in the league. They were standing over us, really loud and really going for it from the get-go.' Mick Boland, who stepped in to replace Wallace, said: 'Any management changeover in mid-season is difficult. But the thing about it is, most of the management were in there before, so there was continuity, there was no real change. 'After Jerry stepped back, the girls pushed us to take over, and it was seamless. We targeted this match at the start of the year, and the result was unbelievable, the performance was very good. "There were patches there in the second half where we lost our way, but we pulled it back and got the tide going our way again. 'We missed a lot of opportunities, our conversion rate, especially when it came to goals, was poor. We probably left four goals behind us and on bigger days you won't win those matches.' HEATING UP Another local derby will be the focus of the fixture list in round three, with CLARE to host LIMERICK in Group 1. After Clare had beaten WEXFORD in the first round, Limerick followed up with a 1-10 to 0-10 win against the Models in Rathkeale on Saturday. While that result leaves Wexford's hopes of securing a knockout place hanging by a thread, the winner of next Saturday's fixture in Ennis will be all but assured of a quarter-final berth at least. Limerick manager Joe Quaid said: 'Next weekend is basically a preliminary quarter-final. 'Whoever wins goes through so the stakes don't get much higher. We suffered a terrible defeat last week against Cork but maybe we took our eye off the ball as well. 'We were never going to beat Cork but since the draw, this is the game we've been focusing on for the past six months. 'We knew we had to win, we didn't care if we won ugly or great. The work-rate out of those girls was just phenomenal, talk about having each other's backs. 'Ciara O'Riordan got a block in late on with her back, they died for each other on the pitch and they are a great bunch. 'We've 15 new girls on the panel this year and for them to achieve that is unreal. 'They train every bit as hard and give as much commitment as the Limerick senior hurlers and a day like today, in front of their supporters, is just fantastic. They got to show the people of Limerick what kind of characters they are.'
The Irish Sun
29-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Cork suffer big blow ahead of Munster final vs Limerick as Pat Ryan admits he's facing mounting headache
CORK will have to plan without Ger Millerick for their Munster SHC final showdown with Limerick. The defender was one of the Rebels' top performers in 2 Ryan conceded they have fitness concerns over a few other stars 2 Millerick picked up the injury in Sunday's do-or-die round-robin finale And Cork manager Pat Ryan revealed last night: 'He'll be out for about three to four weeks — he has a fracture in his finger. "It's not too bad but it needs to be in a splint for three weeks so hopefully he'll be back for the next part of the All-Ireland series.' Robbie O'Flynn is available for selection after missing the clash with the Déise. But there remains uncertainty over Niall O'Leary, Declan Dalton and captain Rob Downey, who were also absent at the weekend. Read More On GAA Ryan said: 'If they don't train on Saturday, they won't be available for selection, to start anyway. 'They're all back doing running and they're all back with the physios doing their rehab, but getting back on to the field and training with the team is a different thing.' Ryan also admitted 'Our job is to make sure there's value for money for fans' Stand tickets are priced at €50. Terrace tickets will set punters back €40. Most read in GAA Hurling He added: 'It is difficult for people. I'd especially think there should be a different terrace price.' Meanwhile Galway boss Micheál Donoghue has joined the chorus 'Like something out of the French Revolution' - RTE GAA pundit Donal Og Cusack slams Dublin star's reckless swipe Clare, Waterford, Offaly, Antrim and Wexford all waved the hurling Championship goodbye over the weekend, while the Tribe played three games in as many weeks to reach the Leinster final against Kilkenny on June 8. And whoever loses will go into the All-Ireland quarter-finals to face opponents who will be playing for at least the second weekend in a row. The Clarinbridge man knows that something had to give in terms of a split season. But he feels the inter-county schedule needs more breathing space. He said: 'I would be in full agreement. I think the three weeks on the spin is really hard. I think there should definitely be another break in between. 'In my view, the league needs to be restructured. "I think, as an example, we had half our league games played in 14 days this year as well, which was absolutely mental. 'I think this time of the year when teams start getting knocked out, particularly in Munster, there's always a shout to say, 'Why are they gone?', and, 'Why are they still in it?', and whatever. 'As I said, I think in the current structure maybe an extra week or two weeks just to space it out for those elements really.'
The Irish Sun
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Pat Ryan lashes out at ‘twisted' hype from outside Cork around his team prior to Limerick letdown
CORK boss Pat Ryan believes 'twisted' motives were behind the pre-Championship hype that surrounded his team. The Rebels rebounded from Ryan insisted: 'It's hard not to get drawn into the hype. Some of it was stupid stuff altogether and a lot of it was coming from outside the county. 'You heard people writing off Limerick, some of our own people. Are they off their game or what? 'From my point of view, that was very annoying. I think sometimes fellas would be building you up, hoping that you'd get a kick in the ass.' Just five weeks since Read More On GAA Ryan continued: 'I thought there was a lot of twisted stuff around it, to be honest with you. 'If I could find a better word, I'd find it. But I thought there was a lot of twisted stuff around it.' On the back of a chastening loss to Limerick, Ryan admitted there was 'a lot of negativity around'. He added: 'The learning we got the last day, if you're a small bit off against any team, but especially against the likes of Limerick, they'll just make an idiot of you.' Most read in GAA Hurling Meanwhile, Waterford gaffer Peter Queally called for structural reform to the hurling season after yet another early exit. In six editions of the Munster round-robin, the Déise have yet to advance to the All-Ireland series. RTE pundit Joe Canning urges GAA to make huge change for Leinster hurling final as fans 'totally agree' Stressing that 'every football team in Ireland is still in the Championship', Queally believes it is time for a shake-up in hurling. He said: 'We've been training all winter. Now the ground is hard, we want to be hurling and we're out of the Championship. 'I'd like to see a change in structure where we're afforded a little bit of a chance to hurl during the summer when everyone wants to hurl and everyone wants to watch hurling, not in December, January and February. 'I've had conversations with fellas who decided to opt out because of, 'Well, I can give all this and I might not be able to hurl in the summer'. 1 Ryan hit out at outsiders for hyping his side up too much 'People are deciding not to play because of the amount of effort and training that's asked of them in the winter months. "Then you come up against three awesome hurling teams and you're putting away your hurley in the summer evenings when all you want to do is hurl.'
The 42
25-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'Fellas would be building you up, hoping you'd get a kick in the ass' - Ryan on Cork hype
CORK MANAGER PAT Ryan has reiterated his frustration towards the hype that has been built around his team this year. Ryan guided the Rebel County to a first Munster hurling final in seven years after a six-point win over Waterford today, but feels there has been 'a lot of twisted stuff' regarding Cork's All-Ireland credentials this season. He also referred to the commentary that preceded their heavy defeat to Limerick, suggesting that some people from within his own county were dismissing John Kiely's team too rashly. Advertisement 'That was very annoying – I think, sometimes, fellas would be building you up, hoping that you'd get a kick in the ass. 'I thought there was a lot of twisted stuff around it, to be honest with you. If I could find a better word I'd find it, but I thought there was a lot of twisted stuff around it. 'From our point of view, we just knuckle down, try to be the best team we can and try to represent the jersey and the Cork people as best we can. We want to win it. We're not winning enough trophies.' Cork will be seeking redemption as well as silverware when they meet Limerick again in the Munster final, but Ryan stresses that the provincial holders will not be any easier to battle against in that second meeting. 'They're not going to go backwards from last week, that's the level that they're going to be at again the next week, if not even better. From our point of view, it's up to ourselves to represent the jersey. 'I think the learning we got the last day – if you're against any inter-county team, but especially against the likes of the Limericks – if you're a small bit off, they will just make an idiot of you and that's realistically what happened last Sunday.' Cork built up an eight-point lead in the second half against Waterford after hitting two goals, but failed to press their advantage. A Stephen Bennett goal helped reduce the gap to three before Cork eventually closed out with a six-point win. Ryan lamented some of the chances they left behind, which included 17 wides. 'The scores we missed were brutal scores, for want of a better word – it wasn't long-range scores or long-range pot-shots, we missed a good few scores around the D that would be unlike us a bit. 'That's something we'll work on, because our efficiency has to be really, really high against Limerick. It wasn't high the last day against Limerick, so efficiency is a key part of our game and what we need to get to if we want to be having any chance in that Munster final.' Related Reads 'Every football team is still in Championship' - Queally calls for change to hurling structure Goals from Hayes and Horgan help Cork storm into Munster final as Waterford exit Cork had a few injuries coming into today's game including captain Rob Downey, who Ryan revealed has a 'tight hamstring' which they will continue to assess ahead of the Munster final. Defender Ger Millerick was withdrawn in the second half of the Waterford game with a dislocated finger, according to Ryan, which will require a scan. Responding to queries about other injuries to Niall O'Leary and Declan Dalton, Ryan added that it is 'too early' to make an assessment on their availability for the Munster final.
