Cork topple champions

By Dan O'Neill

SUNDAY'S All-Ireland hurling championship semi-final defeat for Offaly may have spelt the end of an era for one of their greatest sides ever, but it also marked the beginning of the road for a young Cork side hungry for success.

Before the game, half their starting 15 had never been to Croke Park before, but you can rest assure that many of them will be familiar faces at GAA headquarters in future years. Their next visit, September's All-Ireland decider, is already booked. Offaly, on the other hand, had been there, seen the lot, and have now probably outgrown the proverbial T-shirt.

Needles to say, it was a tremendous game of hurling and matched the Clare-Galway encounters of a couple of weeks back. These two games have surely shown us the benefits of the back-door system.

Jimmy Barry-Murphy's side were out-hurled for much of the first half but showed great character and vigour to defeat the All-Ireland champions. His boys became men in the final five minutes when they scored five points without reply.

Cork's defence were due much of the credit for their victory. Sean Og O hAilpin, Corcoran, O'Sullivan and Browne all hurled magnificently.

Joe Deane and Seán McGrath did much of the damage up front but the rest of the Cork attack looked ordinary at times. There were also some questions being asked of their midfield after the game.

I do feel that it may be too early for this young side to win an All-Ireland as the experience of Clare or Kilkenny may be too much for them in a final, but I've no doubt this bunch of hurlers will get their hands on the McCarthy Cup sooner rather than later.

A classic on Sunday


For Offaly, though, this may take a while longer. No doubt some of their older players (Joe Dooley and Martin Hanamy in particular) will be pondering their future after Sunday's disappointment. With little talent coming through at under-age level it will take some team rebuilding before Offaly can challenge again. But, then again, they have been renowned for proving the doubters wrong in recent years.

Regardless of what happens to them now, they have secured their place in the hurling history books and they have contributed greatly to the game in the 1990s.

For me, the All-Ireland champions will be on show this Sunday as Clare take on Kilkenny at Croke Park. Kilkenny are many people's favourites for the Liam McCarthy Cup after their highly impressive displays against Laois and Offaly. D.J. Carey and Charlie Carter have been dynamite. But Clare will be very difficult to beat. Their fighting spirit is now legendary.

The Cats have injury worries over highly-rated defender Eamonn Kennedy and last year's captain, Tom Hickey, and this could tilt the game in favour of the Banner County. Whoever wins, it's sure to be a classic.

Celtic continue winning ways

By Dan O'Neill

Celtic stayed on top of the Scottish Premiership after an easy win over St Johnstone at Parkhead on Saturday.

Goals from Johan Mjallby, Mark Viduka and Morten Wieghorst secured the win for The Bhoys, who were watched by 60,263 supporters, the biggest league crowd for ten years in Scotland.

Many of the fans would have been happy with Celtic's start to the season. Eight goals, two wins, six points, first in the league - the figures all add up encouragingly but I think we must keep a grasp on reality. There are tougher games ahead.

To be honest, the performances of Aberdeen and St. Johnstone were mediocre. Keeper Jonathon Gould could have taken to the park with a deck chair and a cigar for those two games. John Barnes's new-look side has yet to be really tested. It's how this side can deal with adversity that will determine if they have a team good enough to challenge Rangers for the title.

There has been much talk of the new 4-2-2-2 formation of the side. Moravcik and Berkovic will always create chances, and with Lambert and Wieghorst behind them on Saturday, the midfield looked strong. The attack was as dangerous as ever with Larsson and Viduka a handful. My worries are however, in the defence.

Centre halves Johann Mjallby and new cult hero at Parkhead, Oliver Tebily, have been impressive but I feel that the full backs, Vidar Riseth and Tommy Boyd, although as yet untested this season, are nothing special and could be Celtic's weak link. This problem could be eased though with the return of Stephen Mahe and Jackie McNamara. Also returning for places are Stubbs, Rieper, Petrov and fans' favourite Craig Burley, who got a standing ovation when he returned from injury as substitute on Saturday.

Undoubtedly. The Bhoys are in a stronger position than they have been for quite a while.