Mark Coleman
By John Harrington and Cian O'Connell
It was a dramatic weekend of GAA action with Cork's victory over reigning All-Ireland champions Tipperary in the Munster SHC Quarter-Final making most headlines.
They may not agree with that billing in Carlow though, after their footballers won a Leinster championship match for the first time in seven years.
Here are five of the main talking points from a busy weekend of football and hurling action.
Cork’s young-guns come out shooting
The big variable going into Sunday’s Munster Senior Hurling Quarter-Final was how Cork’s young players would perform.
As they were named in the programme, the entire left flank of the Cork team was a manned by players making their first championship start – Colm Spillane, Mark Coleman, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Shane Kingston, and Luke Meade.
Not only did all five of them prove they were up to the challenge, they were among their team’s best players.
Spillane has all the tools to be a great corner-back. He’s tenacious, strong in the air, and has the confidence and skill to hurl his man from the front. Not many defenders have limited the impact of John McGrath to the extent the Castlelyons man did on Sunday.
Wing-back Coleman is a seriously classy operator. His reading of the game and distribution from the half-back line made him a hugely influential presence throughout the game.
Cork showed greater intensity in the middle third of the field than Tipp did, and Fitzgibbon played a big part in that. Sometimes his distribution was a little off, but his decision-making will improve with time and experience.
Wing-forward Kingston announced himself as one of the brightest young stars in the game with a haul of 1-4 from wing-forward as he gave Seamus Kennedy a torrid afternoon.
The Douglas man is a serious physical specimen with pace to burn and is also a clinical finisher, so he’s everything you’d want in a half-forward.
Meade was one of the best players in the first-half when he scored three points from play as he flitted all over the field to great effect. He’s a beautiful stick-man, and has a great appreciation of where the space on a field is and when best to run into it.
It was another young-gun, Michael Cahalane, who delivered the final fatal blow to Tipp with Cork’s second-goal after coming on as a substitute, and he looks like another player who’s destined for great things.
That’s all the more laudable considering he was told he would never hurl again three years ago after developing a serious heart illness.
He’s not the only one of Cork’s bright young things to have overcome adversity. Kingston broke his fibula two years ago and Spillane tore his cruciate last year.
It looks like Cork’s new guard have character to complement their undoubted ability.
Dan McCormack
Tipperary’s defeat may be a blessing in disguise
Losing to Cork on Sunday will have stung, but taking the scenic route through the All-Ireland Qualifiers might be just what the Tipperary hurlers need right now.
They struggled to cope with Cork’s energy and effervescence, and looked like a team that was a little jaded both physically and mentally.
There’s been a big push within the camp to back up last year’s All-Ireland title with another and to once and for all obliterate the county’s reputation for being a ‘one in a row’ team.
Putting themselves under that sort of pressure may have taken a toll psychologically, and perhaps the whip was cracked too much in training also.
Now, though, they have an opportunity to take stock, replenish their batteries, and steadily build up some momentum in the qualifiers rather than having to go full tilt through a dog-eat-dog Munster campaign that would have required three draining battles to negotiate successfully.
Their attack should develop a keener edge when Seamus Callanan develops match sharpness, Patrick Maher recovers full fitness, and Jason Forde returns from suspension.
Clearly, though, they have issues at midfield and in the corner-back positions to address.
Michael Breen performed well at centre-forward on Sunday, but with Maher and Forde back in the equation he will surely revert to midfield alongside Brendan Maher.
The full-back line isn’t as solvable a problem. Cathal Barrett looked like he sustained a bad knee injury on Sunday, and if he’s ruled out long-term it would be a massive blow to Tipp's All-Ireland ambitions.
Donagh Maher impressed during the League in the full-back line until he was sidelined by concussion and then a hamstring injury, so he’s likely to come into the equation when he returns to full fitness.
Michael Cahill will be keen to prove he has still something left to offer when returns from injury, while others like Alan Flynn, Joe O’Dwyer, and Tom Fox will also be trying to catch Michael Ryan’s eye in training over the coming weeks.
Tipperary clearly have some issues to address, but if over the coming weeks they can rediscover the fizz that was missing against Cork, then their bubble may not be burst just yet.
Carlow footballers Paul Broderick, Eoghan Ruth, and Sean Gannon celebrate following a dramatic win at Netwatch Cullen Park.
Carlow secure date with Dubs
Turlough O'Brien believed. Ensuring the most talented footballers in Carlow represented the county was his mission.
Now that is happening with Sunday's stirring Leinster SFC win over Wexford earning an O'Moore Park, Portlaoise clash against Dublin on Saturday week.
That will provide Carlow with a rare drop of glitz and glamour, but it will be a fitting stage for O'Brien's gutsy team.
The win over Wexford wasn't just about grit, though, there was guile too.
Brendan Murphy remains a midfielder of considerable ability, his goal at the end was a beautiful grace note.
Paul Broderick's left peg made a significant mark in the Sigerson Cup in NUIG colours and is no surprise that he continues to deliver healthy hauls for Carlow.
Broderick struck 0-10, including four points from play, while Danny Moran's blistering goal was another key moment.
Laois and Louth also enjoyed productive outings in Leinster eking out deserved triumphs.
Ultimately, though, the day belonged to Carlow, who posted a first success in Leinster since 2011.
“Carlow football is going in the right direction," O'Brien remarked afterwards.
"I think we will give a good account of ourselves against Dublin when it comes around."
That was the attractive prize for Carlow, who delivered when it truly mattered.
Wexford just couldn't cope in the closing stages when Carlow had acquired confidence and momentum.
Now an attractive clash against Dublin awaits.
** The latest Mayo journey commences**
Mayo are well used to carrying great expectations into every Championship. The 2017 adventure commenced with a low key victory over a spirited Sligo outfit.
Two years ago in a Connacht Final Sligo were bullied by Mayo, but they dealt well with the Green and Red physicality on Sunday.
Sligo's main problem was converting chances with only 0-5 registered from 15 first half shots.
That was when Sligo were back by a significant breeze with Diarmuid O'Connor's goal a telling blow before the interval.
After the restart Sligo remained competitive, but they just couldn't hurt the locals enough.
Cillian O'Connor was fairly sharp at the opposite end, while debutant Fergal Boland knitted the play effectively.
In a week where talk of Mayo 'selfies' dominated the landscape Stephen Rochford will have been satisfied that a solid display sufficed.
Seamus O'Shea was effective at midfield, while Paddy Durcan's dash and O'Connor's finishing were other encouraging aspects.
On June 11 Mayo won't lack motivation when visiting Pearse Stadium in Salthill. That will certainly be a revealing encounter in the west.
The Monaghan team before the game in Clones.
Ambition remains high in Monaghan
It was an awkward assignment, but Monaghan had the desire, drive, and depth to clear the Fermanagh hurdle.
For 40 minutes Pete McGrath's team were posing questions, but Monaghan remained resolute.
By the end Fermanagh were dealing in damage limitation due to a burst of 10 Monaghan points on the spin.
During the Allianz Football League Jack McCarron and Gavin Doogan's form was notable.
On Saturday Monaghan overcame little obstacles that could have agitated a lesser outfit.
Kieran Hughes' early black card and the concession of a soft Fermanagh goal had the potential to derail Monaghan.
Malachy O'Rourke's charges continued to plough on defiantly seizing the initiative in the second period.
Substitutes Owen Duffy, Dermot Malone, and Dessie Mone nailed five points between them.
Mone's effort raised a jubilant cheer in St Tiernach's Park.
An emerging collection of players such as Shane Carey and Conor McCarthy are adding to Monaghan's options.
The upcoming Ulster SFC Quarter-Final with neighbours Cavan will be intriguing.
