Competitive Kenny still taking nothing for granted

TOM KENNY isn’t much of a team man. He’s more of a panel man.

The Cork midfielder was a key player in the Leesiders' triumphant running style last season, but he still doesn't feel entitled to his starting slot in Sunday's Munster hurling final.

"In the league I played in midfield, but you can't really say you have a position nailed down on this team.

"Jerry O'Connor was brilliant all last year, Kevin Hartnett and Ronan McGregor have come onto the panel and they're two fine midfielders, while Kieran Murphy of Erins Own is also able to play midfield.

"The competition is intense, there are plenty of lads who can fit into the pattern of play at midfield, so you have to stay on your toes and work hard to stay in contention for the big days."

On the subject of that pattern of play, Kenny says: "It just comes naturally, I think it evolved rather than was introduced as a tactic.

"We don't go out to do so much handpassing, and we might have over-elaborated at times in the semi-final, but that happens.

"Tipperary have a style of play, Kilkenny have a style and sometimes those work brilliantly and sometimes they don't. When they don't work out you have to try a different route. We just try to play the game as best we can, and if it means trying different things on the pitch which are legal then we'll go and do them."

However, Kenny doesn't ascribe Cork's narrow win over Waterford in the semi-final to over-elaboration alone. "We made mistakes which led to their scores, and vice-versa. Waterford are a good team; against us, Ken McGrath and Paul Flynn were only coming back to full fitness while also John Mullane had an off-day, which I haven't really seen to date.

"We were happy to come out of Thurles with a result. We were focused on May 22 all along, that was the date we were working towards. We're in a Munster final, and whatever about the performance, Waterford would have taken that result as well."

A result, of course, that leaves Cork facing a home Munster final against the old enemy.

"I'm looking forward to the match down the Pairc, and no better way to do it than against Tipperary. You hear great stories about Cork-Tipperary games down through the years and all the great players who played in Munster finals. It's a great honour to follow in their footsteps.

"This time round, you have the qualifiers but Tipperary will be keen to win the Munster final, as will we. It's a great honour. Last year in Killarney was a do-or-die day, the loser was gone and even though Tipp were on top of us for 40-45 minutes we came good towards the end.

"That game was a turning point for us and we probably learned well from the mistakes we made against Tipp, we played well from then on. This year the fact that Tipperary have had three games will certainly stand to them."

Kenny broke through as a senior footballer with Cork, and in different times he might have been looking forward to two Munster finals in a matter of weeks. The realities of 21st century intercounty life mean the dual commitment isn't realistic any more, but that's due to scheduling rather than player reluctance.

"There's a small bit of regret about not playing football. John (Gardiner) and Seán Óg (Ó hAilpín) would probably love to play football for Cork as well, just as I would. But in this day and age you have back doors and qualifiers and so on, it's nearly impossible.

"Last year, both Cork teams went through the back door and a dual player would have had a fixture nightmare. It's great to see the footballers in a Munster final, I'd love to be involved, but I'm thankful to be involved with one game, long may it continue."

We wish to clarify that gremlins were responsible for yesterday's story naming Ben O'Connor as Cork hurling captain. The Cork captain is Seán Óg Ó hAilpín.