All at stake for the border

CORK SELECTOR Patsy Morrissey understands the rivalry between his native county, and tomorrow’s Munster SHC opponents Limerick better than most. He likes to think of it as border patrol.

“In Newtownshandrum, we’re slap bang against the Limerick border, and the rivalry is fierce,” he says.

“It’s the same everywhere else along the border, from Rockchapel in the west, through Freemount, Milford, Newtown, Charleville, Ballyhea, over to Kildorrery, right across to Mitchelstown in the east.

“The Cork team that goes out on Sunday will be playing for them, these are the people who suffer most when Cork don’t perform against Limerick. For that reason alone, for Ben O’Connor, the Cork captain coming from that area, we’ll be going flat out on Sunday, so these people can hold their heads high on Monday.”

And if Cork lose?

“I’ll be heading for Shannon!”

There’s a lot more at stake than bragging rights.

After a couple of years of internal turmoil, Limerick finally seem to have their act together.

The first challenge for new manager Padjoe Whelahan was to try to get everybody singing from the same hymn-sheet. There was a cost, a lot of talented players were lost along the way, but every member of the 30-man panel representing Limerick hurlers is focused in full.

There was a lot of experimentation during the League, games sacrificed in a learning exercise by the management team, always with the bigger picture in mind.

Their first test comes against Cork tomorrow afternoon and though Padjoe and company are playing down expectations, there is massive drive in this Limerick team.

“Limerick are very low-key about what they’re doing,” says Morrissey.

“They’re playing down their chances, which I can understand, that’s the way to go.

“But I’d like to think that the Cork backroom team are too intelligent, too professional to fall for that, and from what I’ve seen so far, that is definitely the case.

“The game is being taken totally seriously, the players know the score. We’ve emphasised we don’t want glory-hunters, we’re going down to do a job, we’ll be focused for whatever time is necessary, right to the final whistle.

“Anyone going around with his head in the clouds won’t be there for long.”

The Clare management team went into the Waterford game with exactly the same kind of team talk, warning their lads to ignore all the pre-game favouritism bestowed by the press and hurling public. They were wary of a Waterford backlash from the League final loss the week before.

Clare were still blitzed. Can the same thing happen to Cork?

“It’s a different scenario. Galway were completely focused for the League final, Waterford weren’t, no matter what they say. Having lost that game, their backs were to the wall and had they then lost to Clare, they were going to be a team in trouble.

“Waterford are unpredictable at the best of times, but that was one of their special days, when they really turned it on.

“The Cork/Limerick rivalry is a bit more concrete; we’re well aware of what Limerick are capable of doing in the championship to anybody. I don’t care what their form has been like, they will always give a good account of themselves, particularly against Cork.”

What about 2001 with similar circumstances to this weekend, Cork going in as hot favourites, Munster champions, beaten by Limerick, single point, a margin sweeter than any, in the pubs and clubs along those border areas?

“Cork had been disrupted beforehand in the half-back line, and Limerick got a few breaks at the right time in that game. We’re not going down under any illusions, we know what has to be done.

“Dave Mahedy is training Limerick so they’ll be flying fit. He’ll also get inside their heads, get them pumped up, he’s very good at that.

“We had him for a couple of sessions before the All-Ireland club final with Newtownshandrum, and I was impressed. If he can’t get inside a fella’s head, no one can. He’s exceptionally good, a fine communicator, knows exactly the right buttons to push, how to get inside people, to motivate them.

“For the first half-hour, I guarantee you, Limerick will be hopping off the ground. It’s going to be a battle but Donal O’Grady also has the lads well motivated. The plans are in place, everything is organised.”