McCarthy: 'Crowded' fixture list cause for concern
Playing their third win-or-bust championship game in 15 days almost proved too much for Cork's senior hurlers yesterday, but another gritty second-half comeback was enough to see them past Clare.
The Rebels looked flat and leaden-footed in the opening half of their All-Ireland quarter-final and manager Gerald McCarthy attributed that to an unforgiving run of fixtures.
Cork beat Dublin in the qualifiers on July 12 and came from behind for a stunning win over Galway last Saturday.
Their Under-21s played a rescheduled Munster championship tie against Clare last Monday night and the senior panel was then back in Thurles yesterday for their quarter-final clash with the Banner men.
Cathal Naughton, the young Newtownshandrum star, started all four of those games, Bishoptown clubman Pa Cronin started three of them and Patrick Horgan of Glen Rovers also saw action in all four.
The trio's stamina and energy reserves have been severely tested with three senior and Under-21 championship matches in eight days.
McCarthy recently spoke about player burnout and the issue resurfaced again after yesterday's epic 2-19 to 2-17 win in Thurles.
He said: "We're asking too much of our players, especially the younger lads. There were a lot of tired bodies out there which was understandable.
"It's a hard ask to play two championship games in a week. Some lads played Under-21 as well during the week, so that's three games.
"The GAA is asking too much of these lads, they may think that because they're young fellas that they can keep going, but these big games take a lot out of you.
"I don't understand why so many fixtures are crowded into a short period. They need to take a look at that."
Cork were nine points in arrears at one stage in the first half and McCarthy agreed that the punishing fixture list seemed to take its toll on his players.
"We were wondering how the lads would react to another tough game in such a short space of time.
"I have no doubt the busy schedule contributed to our rather lifeless first half performance.
"Clare were cleaning us out on the breaks, but we sat down and talked about it at half-time and things were different from there on," he added.
The Rebels are fast becoming the "comeback kings" of the 2008 championship and they simply ripped into their Munster rivals after the break.
Ben O'Connor (0-07), goalscorers Timmy McCarthy and Kieran "Fraggy" Murphy and late substitute Neil Ronan (0-02) landed some crucial scores as Clare wilted under the pressure.
Seven first half wides came back to haunt Clare as Cork edged ahead and into a mouth-watering semi-final against reigning champions and old foes Kilkenny.
Clare manager Mike McNamara, although clearly annoyed at those missed chances, was still privileged to have been involved in arguably the game of the year.
"The poor shooting, it destroyed our season...a 42 percent (conversion rate). We really have to look at that as part of our game that gave us major problems.
"If we correct that then we will be a match for the best.
"We're very proud of the way the team played. We're very disappointed in defeat but somebody had to lose that game today and I'm sure Cork would have been heartbroken if we had got a late goal," admitted the Scarriff man.
"It was one of the great days in Thurles. I'm not sure how you saw it but I think it was one of the greatest games of hurling it has been my privilege to see."
