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The Echo Sport Podcast
Join The Echo sports team every Tuesday for an in-depth analysis of the weekend of sport.
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Cork hurlers embrace the pressure and dazzle in league final.
34:19|Cork, league champions again at last. It's not the big prize we all crave so badly but Pat Ryan's side bridged the gap to 1998 in style over the weekend.All the pressure was on the Cork hurlers in the final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh and they rose to the occasion, delivering a first-half display on par with their efforts against Limerick last May. This time there was no dramatic fightback, with the Rebels comfortable winners.There was a cracking atmosphere as Cork stitched three goals in the second quarter though the second half was a strange affair, with the Rebels making a host of mistakes. Clare will have watched on with interest, particularly how Ronan Maher shielded his full-back line by dropping in front of the D.The major question now is if Cork will carry their momentum and form into the summer, starting with that trip to Ennis on Easter Sunday. They blitzed the Banner for six goals in the league but as we all well know, championship is a very different animal.The interest in the team is incredible with tickets for the provincial action being snapped up during the week. The scene is set for a thrilling Munster campaign.On the football front, the Cork seniors and U20s had solid victories in the last week, but both now face very difficult games against Kerry.Ray O'Mahony's charges are in Tralee on Monday night, curtailed by injuries to key forwards Dara Sheedy and Ed Myers. The seniors host Kerry on Easter Saturday in a straight knockout Munster semi. Did they show anything up in Limerick to suggest they could knock the league champions out of their stride?Now in its third season, every week Éamonn Murphy will be joined by The Echo team including Barry O'Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.You can listen to the Echo Sport Podcast every week wherever you get your podcasts or on www.echolive.ie/podcast
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Cork v Tipp league final preview as footballers head to Limerick.
34:42|It's a massive weekend in Cork GAA with the hurlers hosting Tipperary in a sold-out league final.SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh will be packed but was it the right call to make it a double-header with Offaly v Waterford in Division 1B, given the interest in the Faithful County? Home advantage might help the Rebels on the pitch come Sunday but it hasn't proved much use in terms of securing tickets.It's hard to be overly critical of GAA for putting the Páirc in the spotlight in a contest that will generate an electric atmosphere but that's scant consolation to the fans who won't get to go. The Munster Championship matches also go on sale this week and all four games with Cork will most likely sell, out. Stand tickets are being distributed through the clubs but interest is at its highest since the mid-noughties.We preview the final and make the case for Cork bridging a long gap since their last league success in 1998.We also discuss the minor and U20 action last week and how regularly red cards are now being flashed for what looks like minimal contact, which saw Barry O'Flynn and Ben Walsh dismissed against Clare.The footballers are in championship action on Saturday, heading to Limerick to face Division 4 league winners Limerick who will relish the underdogs tag. Cork ended their league with a decent bit of momentum though and should have enough to set up a Munster semi-final in the Páirc on Easter Saturday with Division 1 champs Kerry.We look at the U20 football squad ahead of their provincial opener and round up the latest in the league after three games across the seven divisions.Cork hurlers keep laying down markers; footballers finally find form.
31:53|Cork delivered across the board over the weekend, the hurlers brushed Galway aside, the footballers took down Cavan to protect their position in the All-Ireland series and the camogie and ladies footballers moved into the league final with a game to spare. For the hurling faithful, it was another excellent performance, Pat Ryan's side building up a head of steam but the knee injury that forced Brian Hayes off was a major downside. Next up is a league final against an equally in-form Tipp and while it's 'only the league', Cork badly need a trophy. Cork are being hyped up nationally now as the team to beat but they well know that Clare, Limerick and more are waiting in the long grass with little interest in how the league panned out. For John Cleary's footballers, they've ended the league after a couple of very good showings but again just outside the promotion places. It's only two weeks until championship throws in, against a Limerick team they'll be expected to beat but had a good league themselves. Unfortunately, away from the playing fields, a darkness has been cast by a host of tragic deaths, including the passing of Midleton and Cork All-Ireland winning forward Ger Fitzgerald after illness and the sudden loss of 18-year-old tyro from Kilbrittain and Hamilton High School Oisín Gillain. Like Sars' Ray Ryan and Midleton U21 county winner Darragh McCarthy, they'll be hugely missed by family, friends, club members and the wider Cork GAA community. You can listen to the Echo Sport Podcast every week wherever you get your podcasts or on www.echolive.ie/podcastBig picture in Cork football still hugely concerning; hurlers take on Galway for league final place.
30:37|The Echo Sport Podcast takes in all the latest GAA action. This week we discuss the state of Cork football.Barry O'Mahony analyses a strong performance at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh against the Louth team that knocked them out of last year's All-Ireland series. Mark Cronin and Chris Óg Jones led the line with aplomb while Colm O'Callaghan grabbed the critical goal.It was a welcome reprieve for John Cleary's side who gave themselves a good chance of escaping relegation and if they beat Cavan away they'll secure a top-four finish and avoid a possible Tailteann Cup appearance.However, the state of Cork football is still a major concern for all Rebels. The U20s taking a heavy beating, albeit in a challenge, from Louth didn't help, especially as underage results in recent years have been a disappointment outside of Munster minor titles in '21 and '22. Where can improvements be made? The geographical spread of Cork football strongholds and the hurling preference in many areas certainly aren't helping...Cork hurlers demolish Clare but did they show their hand too early?
30:25|The Echo Sport Podcast takes in all the latest GAA action. This week we break down the Rebel rout of All-Ireland champions Clare on Sunday afternoon. Pat Ryan's side up to target the inside line and the reward was six goals, with Cork finally converting the chances they've been creating throughout the league.Brian Hayes was the official TG4 Man of the Match but Declan Dalton was also unstoppable and Shane Barrett showed his best All-Star form. However, was it a case of going too well, too soon? Did the Rebels show too much? The weather and the crowd made it feel like championship but Clare now know exactly what to expect on Easter Sunday in the Munster Championship opener.The other major talking point from the game, and across the hurling weekend, was the flurry of red cards shown. On the local front, Fr O'Neills had a fine win in Division 1 over champions Sars while Charleville impressed against Blackrock.William Buckley was electric as St Finbarr's defeated Glen Rovers and Colin Walsh excelled for Kanturk in their loss to Douglas, while in Division 2, Daire Connery and Kevin Moynihan were superb for Na Piarsaigh in their draw with BallincolligYou can listen to the Echo Sport Podcast every week wherever you get your podcasts or on www.echolive.ie/podcastRemembering Ray Ryan, Diarmuid Healy's electric Cork hurling debut and apathy for misfiring footballers.
33:37|Éamonn Murphy is joined by Barry O'Mahony and Denis Hurley to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.This week we pay tribute to Ray Ryan to former Cork hurler, Glanmire footballer and Sars legend, who won four counties and guided their U21s to glory. His death shocked everyone on Leeside but the GAA community rallied around his family and club.His brother Pat spoke superbly at his funeral and carried himself with his customary class as he managed the Cork hurlers on Saturday night to a fine victory over Kilkenny.We break down the Rebels' performance at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh with rookie forward Diarmuid 'Duds' Healy shooting the lights out to the tune of 1-5. There's still a lot of play for over the last couple of rounds, though wins over Clare and Galway would send Cork into the league final.The Cork footballers suffered a 14-point hammering at the hands of Roscommon, which now makes relegation a concern and rules out promotion once more.It was a disappointing night in the Páirc in every sense as a massive portion of the fans opted to depart after the hurling and more again at half-time when John Cleary's side were under pressure.Closer to home the leagues threw in over the weekend as we finally got a break from the wet weather and Steven Sherlock caught the eye for St Finbarr's, firing 0-15 away to Cill na Martra.Plus Celtic and Cork City line up glamour friendly for July in the Páirc, with a trophy made by Gerald McCarthy up for grabs...You can listen to the Echo Sport Podcast every week wherever you get your podcasts or on www.echolive.ie/podcastU21 club footballers short changed, poor displays by both Cork teams.
31:55|Every week Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team including Barry O'Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.Here we examine the February window for club U21 football, which was washed out before the finals could be completed.Do inter-county managers have too much control over underage players? Is there an alternative time of the season when it can be held?Where do the Cork footballers stand in the pecking order after shipping three goals in a loss against Monaghan? Despite two defeats from four Division 2 league outings, they could still get back to the top flight but in their current guise, they're probably not strong enough to survive in that tier anyway.Defensive frailties were a concern even when they edged out Westmeath in a thriller and they'll need to tighten up at the back with Roscommon in the Páirc this Saturday night.Pat Ryan's side will be desperate to show more than they did up in Thurles when they face Kilkenny. Tipp were four-point winners but, aside from the first quarter, the livelier, harder working and more clinical outfit.Cork have a bit of an injury crisis at the moment but that doesn't excuse a lack of intensity and bite though. Especially when Cork need a couple of young guns to force their way into the championship first 20.We'll know a bit more about where the hurlers and footballers are at after the Super Saturday triple-header.You can listen to the Echo Sport Podcast every week wherever you get your podcasts or on www.echolive.ie/podcast