Allen says O’Grady has restored Rebel confidence

JOHN ALLEN is as positive about the Cork preparations for Sunday’s Guinness All-Ireland hurling final as he could hope to be.

A respected member of the management, who played as a substitute on the team which completed the last three-in-a-row in 1978, he takes great encouragement from their continuing development, the way the team has evolved over the course of the season and the experience gained through the qualifier series.

And, he is satisfied that, in Donal O'Grady, they have the perfect manager. Allen, a national teacher in Togher, who played his early hurling with Aghabullogue, was a team-mate of his in St Finbarrs, where he enjoyed considerable success in both hurling and football.

Having worked with him for the last two seasons and seen him elevate the status of Cork hurling to the level which the public automatically expect to be at, he rates him the best coach he has encountered.

"His work ethic and his organisational skills are second to none," he says.

"He has done a fantastic job and no matter what happens, he would have to take huge credit for the position Cork hurling is in for the past two years, the heights we have reached."

In practical terms, Allen points out, they have the services of two top-class trainers, both with considerable experience, apart from people with other areas of expertise.

Before each game, the drills on the field are geared to 'getting the game pace' before the actual game begins. O'Grady, meanwhile, is very strong on the basics. Allen says that there's no night at training that he doesn't do a certain amount of hooking and blocking. And it shows.

He says it's the same with the rest of the organisation, where the selectors sit down and plan everything 'Liam Griffin-style,' as he describes it. They plan for every possible eventuality, with the idea of having everything narrowed down.

"Maybe, I felt, on the day of the Waterford game that we didn't make the right call, maybe we didn't when John Mullane was sent off. But, we had spoken about it. We made a certain call and maybe it didn't work out. But, that's sport."

The loss of the Munster final involved them in extra games which have turned out to be very beneficial, he points out. It also enabled the selectors to see players in action more. And, the fact of playing twice in Croke Park in the past month gives them an advantage that they didn't have prior to last year's final.

"We left that game there, when we didn't score enough. Now, we have the chance to rectify that. There is a huge determination on the party of everybody to succeed. I think we are better this year. We have seen an improvement since the Munster final.

"I'm very positive that we are better than last year. While it's all on the day, if we play like we played against Wexford and Antrim and in the second half against Tipp we should be in with a great chance."

He agrees that the maturity in Tom Kenny's play "he had the confidence to go for a goal against Wexford, he mightn't have had before" and the consistency of Jerry O'Connor has meant a lot to the team.

"Jerry didn't play as well last year, when we brought him on in games. But, you can see the confidence he got from Newtownshandrum's success in the club championship, how well the team did, how well he played.

"Ben, the same way. There's no doubt, without Ben and Jerry, and Paul Mulcahy, Newtown wouldn't have achieved as much.

"Pace is so important in the modern game and they have plenty of it. In the wide open spaces of Croke Park, unless you have it, you will be exposed.

"It must be a nightmare for anybody to be on either of them, they have so much pace, so much skill. And, like Joe Deane, they'll turn on a sixpence for you. They'll hit right and left. And, they're always looking out for each other."

Forget all this talk about Kilkenny going for three-in-a-row and Cork seeking revenge. It's not about denying Kilkenny a bit of history, he insists.

"We just want to win. Everything else is a bonus."