Cork boss Conor Counihan has urged his side to move on from Sunday’s defeat to their old rivals Kerry as the Sam Maguire holders prepare for the All-Ireland qualifiers.

“We’re disappointed with the result, particularly our level of performance in the first half,” said Counihan. “We gave away plenty of possession and against a quality side like that you can’t do that. They’ll punish you.

“It’s time to analyze the situation of why we did that and move on. We had possession but when we came up the field we turned it over and that’s what cost us.

“We gave away soft ball -- guys making poor decisions and fellas will be disappointed with that. That can happen. For so many to happen on the one day and in the first-half is startling.

“Kerry are certainly one of the top teams, no doubt about that. If they get players back they’ll be that bit stronger but my focus is solely on Cork and trying to work on where we need to improve.”

Counihan was adamant there was no point dwelling on the defeat.  “We can analyze it whatever way we do but the reality is that they are now Munster champions, we move on from this,” he said.

“We look ahead to the qualifiers and let’s see what we can do. It was an opportunity no doubt but we may have lost the battle but we haven’t lost the war. Hopefully we can get back to maybe playing like we did in the second 35 minutes.”

Cork captain Graham Canty admitted that all the damage was done in the first half as far as his team was concerned.

“We played better in the second half,” admitted Canty. “We seemed to tighten up and didn’t give them as much space. Kerry are a good side, they are very tough to beat in Killarney and it proved the same again today.

“We had a good final 35 but the first 35 let us down. We had a mountain to climb but the clock beat us really.”


Qualifiers Set

Cork will play Galway in a mouth watering All-Ireland hurling qualifier at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on Saturday afternoon. The game will be preceded by a football qualifier featuring Limerick and Offaly.

The second hurling qualifier down for decision this weekend will also take place on Saturday when Parnell Park in Dublin hosts the match between Antrim and Limerick with a 7 p.m. start.


Bonnar Quits

Colm Bonnar quit as Wexford hurling manager after his team’s 2-13 to 1-22 defeat to Limerick in the All-Ireland qualifiers on Saturday.

Former Tipperary star Bonnar said, “From my own perspective I feel now it is time to move on and let somebody else in. Much as we tried it just has not worked. It is very disappointing to finish with that kind of result, but there is an extremely talented team there.

“Despite this defeat there is hope. Wexford is a great hurling county and there is a great passion there for hurling and I have no doubt that they will pick it up.
“With more younger lads and a good structure they will pick themselves up. They are in Division One next year and they can improve.”



Sports Shorts

ATHLETICS: Cork’s Derval O’Rourke achieved the qualification standard in Switzerland last weekend in the 110 meter hurdles for both the forthcoming World Championships and the 2012 Olympics in London...

GOLF: Ireland’s Damien McGrane was one of four players disqualified after the first round of the French Open outside Paris last Thursday after making a wrong drop from a water hazard...

RACING: Ireland’s Champion National Hunt jockey, Paul Townend hopes to be back in the saddle at the Galway Festival later this month as he recovers from a collarbone injury...

TENNIS: Ireland’s Conor Niland is up to 171 in the latest ATP world rankings after his Wimbledon heroics when he made it through to the first round proper...

SWIMMING: Ireland’s Darragh McDonald won a bronze medal in the 400 meter freestyle event at the IPC European Swimming Championships in Berlin...

RUGBY LEAGUE: Ireland will play France and Scotland in a new round robin tournament in October with home games at Thomond Park in Limerick.


Soccer Shorts

Wolves midfielder Jamie O’Hara has finally made a decision on his international future and decided to remain with England and look to build on his under-21 caps in the new season despite interest in his services from Irish boss Giovanni Trapattoni...

THE Republic of Ireland are up to 31st in FIFA’s latest world rankings after their two Euro wins over Macedonia. Group B rivals Slovakia are down two spots to 28. Northern Ireland are up three places to 62nd...

ST. Patrick’s Athletic are confident that they can haul back a 1-0 deficit when they meet IBV Vestmannaeyjar of Iceland in the second leg of their Europa League first round clash at Richmond Park on Thursday night...

ARSENAL have been linked with moves for Wolves striker Kevin Doyle and Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given, but the Irish number one looks more likely to sign for Aston Villa ...

ANDY Reid has signed a two year deal with his old club Nottingham Forest after his release Blackpool, who could sign former Irish under-21 winger Mark Yeates this week...

SLIGO Rovers hope to persuade UEFA that their Showgrounds home is fit to hold Europa League football later this month...

PREMIER League new boys QPR want Irish midfielder Glenn Whelan and goalkeeper Brian Murphy...

SHAMROCK Rovers coach Trevor Crolly has quit his role after falling out with manager Michael O’Neill...

STOKE have joined Sunderland in the chase for Manchester United’s John O’Shea.


GAA Shorts

Donegal boss Jim McGuinness is likely to be without forward Leo McCloone for the Ulster final date with Derry on Sunday, July 17 after he picked up a serious eye injury on club duty last weekend when a fracas broke out after Naomh Conaill lost to Glenswilly
...
DUBLIN did enjoy some success at Croke Park on Sunday when their minors scored an impressive and significant 1-14 to 1-11 win over Kilkenny in the Leinster MHC final...

CORK forward Ciaran Sheehan faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after tests on Monday confirmed he tore a cruciate knee ligament in the Munster final defeat to Kerry...

MICHAEL Brennan is expected to announce his retirement from inter-county football in the wake of Cavan’s recent defeat to Longford in the All-Ireland qualifiers...

TIPPERARY caused a major shock when they won their first Munster minor football title in 16 years with a 3-11 to 1-9 win over Cork in Sunday’s final at Killarney...

WEXFORD’S Niall Murphy could feature against Dublin in Sunday’s Leinster SFC final after returning to training following a recent hamstring injury...

FORMER Kerry minor footballer and Aussie Rule star Sean Wight has died in Melbourne at the age of 47 after losing his battle with cancer...

ANTRIM recorded another Ulster title win, their tenth in a row, with a 2-20 to 2-12 victory over Armagh at Casement Park on Sunday...

LEITRIM defender Wayne McKeon has quit the county squad ahead of the All-Ireland qualifier against Down.