Exit Interview - Cork

The departure of a county from the championship is as good a time as any to review how things went for them in 2013, and look at what may lie on the horizon in 2014.  Here is my take on Cork:

2013 at a glance

Perhaps we should have known that something was amiss with Cork when, after 4 straight league titles (including 2009 division 2), they failed to make the playoffs this year.  Worse still, when they had the chance to relegate their arch-nemesis Kerry, they returned a paltry 7 points on the scoreboard.  Cork eventually finished mid-table, but losing their last 2 games was a bad sign.

Their poor form continued in the summer, cruising past Limerick and Clare en route to a no-show against Kerry in the Munster final.  Their first half performance in the final was so abject that even a late rally failed to mask their frailties.  In the AI series they scraped past Galway before exiting via a comprehensive 5 point defeat to Dublin in the AI QF.

What went right

In terms of results and even performances, very little went right for Cork, but from a personnel perspective they have already started to build a new side.  Their best addition, however, came in the form of a present from Antrim, as James Loughrey relocated to the South-West and instantly became the key man in Cork's new half back line.  Ciaran Sheehan began to take on the mantle of target man in attack, while young Brian Hurley showed enough to suggest that he could be a real handful in 2014.  Other newcomers like Damien Cahalane, Tomas Clancy (x2), John O'Rourke and Mark Collins will be better players for the game time they got this year.  

What went wrong

I watched Cork beat Tyrone in the Omagh back in March, and they were trying to employ a more defensive style of play.  However, although they were focusing on getting bodies back, the players given this task didn't really seem to know what they were expected to do, and they looked very disorganised.  Cork abandoned this approach for the summer, preferring to trust their ageing players to go man-for-man again, but they were cut to ribbons by the Kerry, Galway & Dublin.

In 2013, Cork found themselves in the situation at which almost every top side eventually arrives - their older players were too slow, and the younger lads weren't yet good enough.  Conor Counhan chopped and changed his team from match to match, but the winning formula remained elusive.  To be fair to Conor, he lost his best forward (Colm O'Neill) to yet another cruciate injury in the league, while other big names like Eoin Cadogan, Daniel Goulding, Fintan Gould, Paddy Kelly, Paul Kerrigan, Alan O'Connor & Aidan Walsh were not at their best.

Outlook for 2014

Only 3 men have managed the Cork footballers in the last 27 years, but 2014 will see a new name enter the fray.  Cork have slipped from being serious AI contenders to being 'just another top 8 side', and the time is right for a change.  Conor Counihan built an excellent side defined by unrivalled physical power, but that team has already started to disintegrate, and 2014 will surely see more changes.

Graham Canty no longer has the legs for a tough 70 minutes, and will seriously consider retirement this autumn.  Additionally, Paudie Kissane, Noel O'Leary, Donnacha O'Connor, Pearce O'Neill and Alan Quirke are others who will be well into their 30's by next summer, and it would be a surprise if we didn't see a few of them hang up the boots.  As well as  the older players just listed, there are several other senior players who will need to be much sharper and better next year.

The new Cork manager, and rest-assured it will be a Corkman who gets the job, will surely be keen to create a new identity for his team.  For all their consistency, Cork appeared to lack tactical variety under Counihan, and rarely found a way to win if they were unable to get their powerful running game going.  I'd expect to see a more defensive Cork side in 2014.  They were carved open very easily by Kerry, Galway and Dublin, and they probably don't have the half back line anymore to be so gung-ho.

The new boss will also need the likes of Aidan Walsh, Michael Shields, James Loughry and Ciaran Sheehan to really step up as leaders of this side.  The Clancys, Cahalane, Hurley, O'Rourke & Collins are others who will have to improve considerably on the promise of their first year in the team.  A return to fitness of serial cruciate sufferer Colm O'Neill would be a huge boost, but his fitness unfortunately can't be relied on.

Despite this being the end of one generation of Cork stars, they have lots of talent within the county, and should remain close to the top table in 2014.  An AI run would be a surprise though not out of the question, but so much will depend on getting the right manager.

Excellent TC, this season more than most it seems that the league was the main barometer for championship success. Big decision ahead for the Cork co. board as Donegal showed what getting the right man at the right time can do!

I need to get mine for Derry sorted asap, you've given me a big task!