ONE ROUND of games isn’t much to go on but that hasn’t stopped some shifting in the landscape of the Allianz Football League, at least as far as the bookmakers are concerned.
Even to the naked eye some things jump out: Kerry and Mayo sitting nicely atop Division One, Cork and Armagh sharing mid table, Dublin and Laois inseparable at the bottom, even on scoring difference.
Not exactly what was predicted, particularly for Cork. Last Sunday’s 1-7 to 0-10 draw with Armagh at the Athletic Grounds was definitely hard-earned, and could easily have ended in defeat. As initial favourites to retain their title (5 to 2 actually, to make it three titles in a row) it wasn’t quite the start they would have wanted.
Yesterday, Cork’s odds were lengthened to 3 to 1 – with Kerry installed as favourites – and perhaps puts some added pressure on the defending champions as they continue their campaign on Sunday when Down go to Páirc Uí Chaoimh, for a repeat of their 2010 All-Ireland final, which Cork won.
The winning edge this time, however, is with Down, thanks to their one-point win over Donegal last Saturday night. Either way Cork had plenty to ponder after the long journey home from Armagh on Sunday night.
“Maybe it will put things into perspective,” says Cork defender Paudie Kissane, “and lengthen our odds alright. But we’ve always taken it game by game over the last few years, and for the first serious game of the year, we’ll take it as a start and move on. We could have won the game, as well, but I suppose at the same time we have to be happy to get the draw. I think the last time we played Armagh at their home it was a draw as well, so it was never going to be easy.
“The stats lads and Conor (Counihan, manager) will have a few things to work on, and we know ourselves too we made a few mistakes, and have to drive on and improve the next day, win our first home game There’s no easy game in Division One, but sure that’s what we train for, to play big matches. It’s the next best thing to championship, and all geared towards the summer.”
Gearing towards the summer also means gearing up some younger players, and Cork used the Armagh game to introduce newcomers, although only partly by design: neither Paddy Kelly nor Colm O’Neill started as selected as their fitness wasn’t quite 100 per cent, and instead Mark Collins and Seán Kiely got the chance up front, while Ken O’Halloran was again given preference in goal.
“Of course that’s important,” says Kissane. “Look at any successful team, you’ve to keep finding new fellas, because that pushes everyone else on. Looking at it now it is a 20-man panel, and anyone who comes on does make the difference, if they work hard, whether it’s for half an hour or 15 minutes on the pitch, just empty the tank and see from there.
“It’s important too to have the core of older lads, like when Armagh got the run at us, after we made the few mistakes, we had to steady the ship. We did, I think, and responded, and got back with the few scores. We went up a point as well, with a few minutes to go, and it looked like we were going to push on.
“I suppose as well we had sailed through the McGrath Cup, and this was a step up. But again, being the man down, they got the few scores and the momentum. But the few new players we did have out, they’ll learn from that.”
Cork will be without Paul Kerrigan for their next two league ties after he was handed a two-match ban under GAA’s new experimental match suspensions: Kerrigan received a straight red card against Armagh and was reported for striking, and thus gets the minimum two-match ban (ie the next two games in the league). He won’t be eligible to return until Cork face Laois on March 10th.
