Cork manager Ben O'Connor defends his side after latest big day collapse
Cork simply had no answer for Galway in the second half where they were outscored 1-14 to 0-5. In the end the Tribesmen cruised to an eleven point win in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final.
After defeats in the 2024 and 2025 All-Ireland hurling final, this result comes as a real setback for Cork but they can have no complaints; Galway were full value for their win. Cork’s performance in the second half was similar to their collapse in last year’s All-Ireland final defeat to Tipperary. O’Connor failed to see similarities between the two performances.
“This is a new bunch, I suppose every one of them came up, the same as they did last year, came up to do as good as what they could today and it didn't happen for us,” said Cork manager Ben O’Connor.
O’Connor felt his side were also out-worked by Galway and Micheal Donoghue’s side went on to outscore their opponents 0-10 to 0-1 between the 35th and 49th minute.
“As I said, we were out-worked and we were out-hurled for long periods of it, and still, with ten minutes to go, we were still in it, the last seven or eight minutes, they really took over.
“We've been meeting three, four, five nights a week since last September. I'm disappointed for them. A lot of people don't realise the time and effort that goes in. I'm looking at it with my Cork glasses on, it’s the same for every other county.
“There’ll be a lot of fellas who will have all the answers and we'll get that. We’ll get a few letters during the week telling us where we’re all going wrong, we’ll get a few phone calls, a few messages. We'll take that and we'll drive on,” added O’Connor.
On 55 minutes, Cork captain Darragh Fitzgibbon was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card when he attempted a challenge but misjudged it, catching Galway wing-back Ronan Glennon.
“I won't say anything because whatever I say will be blown out of proportion. But you (the media) can comment on it,” explained O’Connor.
The Cork manager said this defeat will hurt the management and players over the next few months.
“We'll be sick about that for the next few days, next couple of weeks, maybe even until Christmas. Once the boys get back going again, that's all forgotten about and we're just driving on,” concluded O’Connor.