McCarthy tips Cork to come up trumps

FATHER TIME eventually caught up with Charlie McCarthy in 1980 after a career that spanned 15 years. But his interest in hurling has never waned.

In his county career, McCarthy amassed five All-Ireland SHC medals and captained Cork to victory in the third leg of their three-in-a-row in 1978.

The Barrs man, a selector with his club's senior team, will be an interested spectator as the All-Ireland champions meet the Munster champions at Semple Stadium on Sunday.

And he expects the Thurles encounter to live up to, and even surpass, all expectations.

"Waterford have had Cork's measure of late, winning two out of the three meetings between the counties," he says. "Going back to my playing days, there are similarities between Sunday and the 1967 first round Munster SHC meeting in Walsh Park.

"Cork went into that game as defending All-Ireland champions and we left both titles behind us. Again in 1974 we were on the wrong end of the result against them. As champions you are up there to be knocked and Waterford will have no fears of playing Cork.

"When Gerald McCarthy took on the job as coach, he instilled in them tremendous self-belief, and Justin has continued on in the same vain."

McCarthy admits that the low key build up from the east may be a tactical ploy.

"I would be a little concerned about Sunday in that Waterford are playing it very low key. We hear of their injury problems, and Cork have them also, but there is very little talk emanating from the county about the game. That could be cuteness on their part. "All credit to the Cork selectors they used the league to try and find a couple of new players, but they've gone back to the tried and trusted for Sunday. The only change from the team which won the All-Ireland last year has been forced on them, but Pat Mulcahy is an excellent defender and won't let the side down."

However he has reservations about starting Timmy McCarthy and Kieran Murphy (Sars), given their injury problems. "If there is the slightest hint of weakness in a player, Thurles and Munster championship day will find it. For that reason I would always opt to play 15 fully fit players from the start. As I see it, midfield and the half-back line are going to be two crucial areas for Cork on Sunday. They were totally dominant there last year and, if they can put it together again against Waterford, I would give them a great chance of victory.

"The half-back line of John Gardiner, Ronan Curran and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín is the best in the country while there aren't too many midfield pairings who will outhurl or outrun Tom Kenny and Jerry O'Connor. If all five strike form and Niall McCarthy, who I rate very highly, comes up trumps on the 40, Cork should make it to another Munster final."