Patrick Horgan: Ben O’Connor’s suggestion previous Cork teams didn’t work hard struck me as odd

After the game Ben O’Connor said Cork had been known down through the years as having nice players who didn’t work hard, and he would only play lads who’d work hard. I don’t know if I agree with Ben there.

Cork manager Ben O'Connor barks out the orders. Pic: INPHO/Tom O'Hanlon.

Did the Cork-Clare game, or result, come as a surprise? I think so.

I certainly didn’t see that Clare performance coming. In the first ten minutes they showed a good bit of appetite, they came close to a couple of goals, and they should have finished off at least one of those chances. They were giving the Cork defence enough of it and we looked set for a great battle.