McCarthy: Mayo experts at foul play

July 30, 2014

Mayo's Cillian O'Connor injured. INPHO
Cork selector Ronan McCarthy has accused Mayo forwards Cillian O'Connor and Kevin McLoughlin of being very good at 'tactical fouling'.

Earlier this week, Rebel manager Brian Cuthbert described James Horan's side as 'streetwise' and Cork will be monitoring the performance of referee Cormac Reilly this Sunday very closely.

Speaking to the Irish Daily Star, former full-back McCarthy elaborated further: "They're an experienced, seasoned side and the term 'streetwise' has been used.

"How does this translate onto the field? It means they'd be good at tactical fouling up front.

"The likes of Cillian O'Connor and Kevin McLoughlin are good scorers.

"But they're also key in terms of the little fouls they can commit in a game that go unnoticed, but which stop a team's momentum, a team like Cork, which try to build quickly out from the back.

"If you can stop them eight or nine times for instance that can have an effect on a team, and they're very good at it.

"(That) would have happened up in Mayo in the league game with Cillian O'Connor several times without getting a yellow card.

"Fair play to them. That's a skill in itself to be able to do that on a regular basis and not pick up cards."

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