Judge Kieran Kingston’s Cork on championship form, says John Meyler

Former Cork selector John Meyler says Kieran Kingston’s side should be judged after their remaining group games against Kilkenny and Tipperary.

Meyler believes there are strong mitigating factors behind Cork’s three straight defeats in Division 1A of the Allianz League. Although a relegation play-off looms, he believes the league ranks low in the list of priorities.

“They’ve decided to focus on the Championship and the game against Tipperary in May and as a result haven’t been doing much hurling training,” he says.

“There have been a lot of heavy sessions. If they were doing more hurling training then it would be time to be worried. Cork will always be ready for Championship so I don’t see that as a problem.

“Every Cork hurler is judged on what they do against Tipperary and Kilkenny and it’s no different now. They’re lacking that physicality and intensity that other teams like Brian Cody and Michael Ryan have with their teams. That’s what they have to work on. I’d expect you’ll be able to get a better measure of Cork after the Kilkenny and Tipperary games.”

Ex-Wexford manager Meyler called for patience as Kingston formulates the fulcrums of his team. “He’s really got to develop a core and spine of the team and that will take time. He’s to identify the men who he can ruthlessly depend on down the middle. Once he gets that right, there will be improvements.”

Meyler accepts Cork’s workrate has been disappointing — “that’s their problem in a nutshell”. He was buoyed by how newcomer Stephen Murphy performed when coming on against Dublin — “he was tidy”. However, he’s unsure about how some of those who have returned to the panel this year are getting on. “Cork are trying them out and it’s not working”.

He vouches for Kingston’s plans to adopt a sweeper style similar to Waterford’s. “Cork people like traditional 15-on-15 hurling but the modern game doesn’t always allow that. Cork don’t have the 50-50 ball-winners Kilkenny have like TJ Reid and Eoin Larkin so they have to think differently. If they’re playing a sweeper, you can’t just hit it and clear your lines.

“At the moment, Cork are putting ball into their forward line and hoping a player might catch it or win possession. The sweeper has to be a highly intelligent player and his distribution of the ball has to be excellent.”