Colm Cooper is usually not one to rock the boat too much in his weekly column with the Irish Examiner, but this week it seems he's decided dish out some tough love on the Cork Footballers as he feels that they've 'hit rock bottom'.
If there's anything a Cork fan won't want to hear it's a Kerry legend laying into their team, but Cooper's words may serve as some sort of a wake-up call to a side that could barely manage to scrape past a Waterford side who ply their trade in Division 4.
Cork football is as close, certainly that I can remember, to rock bottom as it’s been in decades. I suggested in my first Irish Examiner column they either don’t have confidence in what they are doing or where they are going. The near-debacle in Waterford proved as much. I still don’t feel they have created a game-plan they are settled with.
I don’t know what way Cork are playing. That’s alright. But Cork don’t look like they know what way they are playing either. Against Waterford, they selected Peter Kelleher at full-forward which indicated they wished to go direct, at least some of the time. I’ve not seen Cork evolve towards that style. That would make Cork a kicking team, and traditionally Cork are not a kicking team.
Cooper did compliment the physicality and strength of The Rebels but went on to say that he was never surprised by any Cork side he played against. If the dagger wasn't already twisted Gooch went on to say that Cork will be lucky to lose to Tipperary as it will mean they'll avoid a historic arse bating in their own back garden against The Kingdom.
The idea that for Cork the only way is up is completely wrong. There are new depths there to plummet: Losing to Tipperary for a second consecutive championship season is bad enough, but losing a historic Munster final at home to (potentially) Kerry in the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh would arguably be worse.
If you thought Cork might have some sort of excuse to answer to Cooper's questions he seems to have got them covered too, not allowing for any inexperience or injury complaints.
I went through the Cork squad this week. There are nine or 10 players with over five years inter-county experience knocking around the squad. That’s long enough for them to be grabbing this thing by the throat. After that number of campaigns, you should have enough about you to be calling fellas out, to be setting higher standards. Not looking for someone else to do it for everyone.
After that number of campaigns, you should have enough about you to be calling fellas out, to be setting higher standards. Not looking for someone else to do it for everyone.
On his final note Cooper said that he couldn't highlight a single squad member who would make the Kerry team, including Paul Kerrigan who he insinuated would be no match for James O'Donohue or Paul Geaney.
Cork take on Tipperary on Saturday at 5 pm in Pairc Ui Rinn and will be expected to spark a performance in response to the recent criticisms they have faced.
You can read Colm's full piece here, we imagine it could get pinned up in a certain team's dressing room.
