This message has been edited - 03-aug-2012 @ 15:46

Originally posted by theblack&amber:
At the backs I would drop Sean Óg and replace him with Gardner and have Tom Kenny on the other wing. I would leave Cadogan at CB, but give him instructions to drop and cover the FB so as not to allow Galway to the target the FB, which has been a trouble spot for Cork this year, or to waltz through the middle to goal.

This message has been edited - 03-aug-2012 @ 16:17

Originally posted by Collig:
I can't see what dropping Sean Og for Gardiner would achieve. Both are seriously susceptible to pace and Gardiner hasn't played well in years whereas Sean Og had an excellent 2nd half vs Waterford. Cork are really struggling for backs this year.

Not sure about Nial Mc playing the Bonnar Maher role either, Niall Mc has the power but doesn't have Bonnar's pace which he uses to such great effect in bursting forward.

As a poster on RebelGAA noteed, Sweetnam is actually probably more suited to that role. He made one particularly Bonnar-esque drive forward last Sunday which resulted in a point by Luke O'Farrell.

Originally posted by theblack&amber:
I'd pick Gardner over Sean Og on the basis Gardner has the ability to hit long range points and delivers better ball into the inside forwards.Niall Mac doesn't have the pace but he's no slouch at the same time, and Bonnar isn't the fastest either. Niall Mac more than has the power, but he's also a good catcher of the ball.And while I think playing Sweetnam at CF is a good idea (tailor-made for it really), you need Sweetnam in midfield for this one because there is no-one else who'll give ye the chance of breaking even in there, especially seeing as Sweetnam will somewhat match Tannion for physical presence.

Originally posted by Turenne:
Seems like everyone rates Gardiner...except the lads in Cork who actually see him play on a regular basis. Gah is a legend and we all love him but you can't get away with being that slow in 2012, you just can't.

Originally posted by theblack&amber:
And he's good for the long range frees,

Originally posted by Collig:
No B&A, no he is not.

Originally posted by glasandbán:
Gardener was a high class intercounty player for years, a top half back and potentially an option at full back or midield too. I always thought he was a quality player. He is only 29. Can someone tell me how or when he has gone so far back? From what I've seen this year some of the players making the team ahead of gardiner are well below the level I would have expected of him.

Originally posted by theblack&amber:
I fancy Galway for this one myself, purely on form, but with Cork you never know. Here’s my reasons for both as to why they can win.Two big questions surround Galway now I think. Consistency – Can they put a run of high intensity games together, more specifically can they reproduce their Leinster final form? Hype – Can they handle the hype that has derailed Galway before, especially as this side comes with the favourites tag for this match? If Galway can answer yes to both I think they’ll win. Up front Canning, Hayes, Bourke and Donnellan (assuming he’s fit) have been in great form. They have the pace, power and eye for goal to really hurt Cork.In midfield Tannion and Smith have been playing well (Tannion especially seems to look a man reborn), and it was their dominance which led to the spanking of Kilkenny. At the back they’ve been coughing up goal chances, but the improvement in the defence for the Leinster final, Coen in particular, was very noticeable. Another performance like that and Cork could be in trouble.On the Cork side of things their defence looks shaky, and their midfield has been cleaned out whenever a physical presence asserted themselves there, and their half forward line is hit and miss. Their inside forward line though is lethal and given the chances will take them. I think Sweetnam has to start against Galway, his drive and physical presence alone won’t allow the Galway midfield to dominate. I would start Niall Mac at CF, and I would use him in the Bonnar role, be the guy that gets the ball to the others. I think Naughton needs to start at LHF as well to run at the Galway backs.At the backs I would drop Sean Óg and replace him with Gardner and have Tom Kenny on the other wing. I would leave Cadogan at CB, but give him instructions to drop and cover the FB so as not to allow Galway to the target the FB, which has been a trouble spot for Cork this year, or to waltz through the middle to goal. Cork’s big advantage is that Galway may have shown their hand in the Leinster final and so will know what to expect. Another advantage is that Cork’s style isn’t something Galway are used to facing, if Cork can get running at Galway, then with the pace in the Cork side they could expose Galway at the back. But Cork also need to work on their delivery into the forwards to get the best out of the FF line.I think ultimately Galway have too much for Cork. Galway have always been able to produce a big display every year, and the Leinster final was another example of what Galway can do, but the big questions still remain and will remain around Galway until they finally do it. However they have the look of a side that’s all pulling in the same direction, and that to me says they wont be resting on their laurels.For Cork, a good start, like the one against Waterford, is imperative, but even more imperative is that they maintain that start in the same way they did against Tipp, while tightening up considerably at the back and improving the workrate in the midfield and half-forwards. If Cork can manage that, I think they can win, and if they’re ahead in the last 10 minutes when the pressure really cranks up then we could see whether Galway are the real deal.But I reckon it will be Galway doing the business, and for Cork to come up short. I’d say Galway by 4-6 points.

Originally posted by glasandbán:
Gardener was a high class intercounty player for years, a top half back and potentially an option at full back or midield too. I always thought he was a quality player. He is only 29. Can someone tell me how or when he has gone so far back? From what I've seen this year some of the players making the team ahead of gardiner are well below the level I would have expected of him.

Originally posted by seanie:
The bog fear about him is his lack of pace, people feel he would be exposed for this including management, however when you consider they are picking a fella at centre forward who is actually slower it asks a question.

Originally posted by theblack&amber:
Only a week away now.Does anyone from either Cork or Galway know what the injury situations are with the teams? Are the two teams likely to be at full strength?

Originally posted by Turenne:
Both Daniel Kearney and Niall McCarthy were injured for the Waterford game, not sure if they'll be back for Galway. Christopher Joyce is fit again.

For Galway I think Donnellan is doubtful.

Originally posted by theblack&amber:
Rumours are Donnellan will be fit.When are the teams being named? I assume its Thursday for one and Friday for the other.As a side note my cousin, a hurling nut who lives and works in Galway, says some of the Galway fans are fierce cautious about the match, but that there's plenty who are seriously confident they're going to beat Cork, and are worried about getting AI final tickets! I'm just wondering is hype starting to build up in Galway, they've never really learned to live with hype, I'm just wondering will it affect Galway as its done in the past

Originally posted by theblack&amber:
As a side note my cousin, a hurling nut who lives and works in Galway, says some of the Galway fans are fierce cautious about the match, but that there's plenty who are seriously confident they're going to beat Cork, and are worried about getting AI final tickets! I'm just wondering is hype starting to build up in Galway, they've never really learned to live with hype, I'm just wondering will it affect Galway as its done in the past

Originally posted by cityoftribes:I know for a fact that the management team are keeping the players feet well and truly on the ground.

Originally posted by theblack&amber:
They do seem to be doing better in this regard than previous management setups to be fair, I thought they did very well to quell any hype after the Leinster final.But against Kilkenny they were completely under the radar, were given no chance. After that incredible performance, and with the expectation that comes with it, the hype will surely build up, especially when they're given the favourites tag. Its how they deal with it that will tell if the players can keep their feet on the ground and live with the pressure and expectation (I think they will).I'm just wondering out loud here, because as history has taught us, if any county can come from nowhere and produce a result as the underdog, its Cork.