Cork need to raise their game again to progress

Cork v Donegal:ASSUMING CORK got the wake-up call of the summer in their Munster final with Limerick this promises to be one of the most intriguing matches of the weekend, for several reasons.

The only problem in predicting the outcome with any great certainty is that Cork won’t have played in the four weeks since that Limerick game and no one can be entirely sure whether that performance was just a blip on their season or the beginning of the end of it.

Donegal, in contrast, have put together a string of improving performances in succession over the past few weekends, starting with Carlow, then Clare, and most impressively of all over Derry, after extra-time, and then Galway. No surprise then that manager John Joe Doherty has named an unchanged team for the third consecutive week.

Truth is no one expected to see Donegal this far into the championship, but typical of them, they appear to be coming into their best when assumed to be at their worst. Galway had high hopes of ending their summer last Saturday evening, but instead found a team not only with their spirit recovered, but with an increasing sense of purpose. Donegal always looked like they had the belief to win that game, and that was the deciding factor in the end.

Doherty has been cool and composed after all the recent victories, which can’t have been easy as the doubters were gaining considerable voice. The key is that his team are doing the talking on the pitch, with the new forward pairing of young Michael Murphy and the chiselled, fit Colm McFadden glimmering with menace, while the old guard of Brian Roper, Kevin Cassidy and Karl Lacey spread around the considerable football knowledge and experience.

But is this enough to take down the Munster champions? It could be, but not if Cork produce the sort of football they did against Kerry in the Munster semi-final, particularly in the closing period of the replay. They were awesome that day, hitting 1-17, with a series of bustling charges from the likes of John Miskella, Michael Shields, and the outstanding Graham Canty. In the full-forward line that day, James Masters, Daniel Goulding and Donnacha O’Connor excelled, and are likely to do so again on the fast surface of Croke Park, assuming it is still fast.

Anthony Lynch’s fitness has to be a concern, and although he was named during the week, the groin injury that forced him to miss the Munster final win over Limerick may prevent him reaching his usual high level of performance. On the plus side, Noel O’Leary also returns to the starting line-up having missed the Munster final due to the four-week suspension picked up for a red card in the semi-final win over Kerry, as does Miskella, after recovering from knee ligament damage.

Midfield, inevitably, is going to be a gigantic battle, literally. Nicholas Murphy and Alan O’Connor have the size and strength to do huge damage, and yet Limerick proved it’s not always the physical edge that wins there.

If Donegal can match Limerick’s work-rate of that day then Cork are going to find themselves in another hugely testing battle, but if they can raise their game again, they can come through.

DONEGAL: M Boyle; F McGlynn, N McGee, K Lacey; B Dunnion, B Monaghan, E McGee; B Boyle, K Cassidy; R Kavanagh, B Roper, L McLoone; C Dunne, M Murphy, C McFadden.

CORK: A Quirke; R Carey, M Shields, A Lynch; N O'Leary, G Canty, J Miskella; A O'Connor, N Murphy; P Kerrigan, P O'Neill, P Kelly; D Goulding, J Masters, D O'Connor.

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois).

*****

In the last episode: Fittingly, that was also the All-Ireland football quarter-final, three years ago, when Cork edged home 1-11 to Donegal's 1-10. John Hayes was the Cork star that day, with Christy Toye hitting Donegal's goal – and it will likely take goals to decide the matter here.

You bet:According to Boylesports, the Munster champions Cork are hotly fancied at 2/5 with Donegal at 5/2. It's 8/1 for the draw, and the handicap betting 4/5 Cork (-3) and 5/4 Donegal (+ 3).

On your marks:Limerick's half-time lead on Cork in the Munster final could have been double the 0-8 to 1-2 and there's no way Conor Counihan will want a repeat of that. It's more crucial, however, for Donegal to get the better start.

Gaining ground:Cork definitely have the better record in Croke Park in recent years, winning all five of their quarter-final appearances since 2002, over Mayo, Galway, Donegal, Sligo and Kildare, while Donegal have won just one of their five quarter-finals here, drawing two.

Crystal gazing:The old cliché of no team becoming bad overnight should hold up here. Cork weren't great against Limerick because they weren't allowed to be, but they still have the greater spread of class and artillery compared to Donegal.