Donal Óg Cusack Makes Blunt Cork Crowd Claim While Defending Patrick Collins

Donal Óg Cusack sprang to the defence of Cork goalkeeper Patrick Collins during RTÉ’s Munster final coverage, insisting the Rebels stopper had to remain brave despite knowing many supporters would quickly turn on him if his puckout strategy went wrong.

The former Cork goalkeeper was analysing Collins’ first-half puckouts alongside Liam Sheedy at the interval of Sunday’s Munster final against Limerick.

With Cork enjoying the benefit of a strong wind in the opening half, Collins had mixed his puckouts between long deliveries and shorter options, helping the Rebels establish a narrow lead at the break.

Donal Óg Cusack Makes Blunt Cork Crowd Claim While Defending Patrick Collins

Recommended

However, Donal Óg Cusack warned that the second half would bring an entirely different challenge.

What Cork are depending on, and Séamus showed it really well at the start, is there’s a certain amount of chance you’re depending on when you’re going long,” said Cusack.

You’re looking for that break of the ball to come off.

That’s not going to be on now in the second half because Cork aren’t going to be able to get the distance with those puckouts.

While agreeing there were risks associated with Collins’ approach, Cusack felt the Cork goalkeeper deserved credit for the courage he had shown.

Having said that, and Liam might be a bit harsh on Patrick Collins, I get your point about him going long, but I think the way he faded those puckouts, he deserves great credit for that.

And you must be brave.

He knows when he goes short, if it gets turned over outside that, half the Cork crowd here who haven’t a clue what they’re talking about will be on his case.

But he must stay being brave and right through the second half, it’s critical that he keeps that bravery.

Sheedy largely agreed with the principle but felt the numbers suggested Cork needed a rethink.

The former Tipperary manager pointed to the statistics from the opening 35 minutes, which showed limited success from Collins’ longer restarts.

I agree with you, but at the same time, in the long puckout stats in that first half, Cork have gone long nine times and have won three.

Those type of returns, I think Limerick have snuffed them out three times.

The ball has gone over the sideline twice from the puckout and once from a stand-down three.

That’s not good enough in terms of what you’re looking for.

Sheedy felt Cork’s best route forward was to embrace the risk attached to shorter deliveries.

I agree with the short ones.

It worked once, but equally he was turned over once.

And I’m not saying it was Patrick Collins’ fault, but that’s the risk you’ve got to take as the goalie.

In the end, Cork’s puckout strategy remained a major talking point throughout a Munster final that was eventually won by Limerick by the narrowest of margins.

Tags: