‘All of Cork will be against us, but we don’t care’

OPENING an interview with a manager whose side are facing a big game by telling him you’re wishing for a win for the opposition is probably not the best idea in the world.

It’s a measure of the maturity and the intelligence of Bernie O’Connor that he didn’t bat an eyelid.

Tomorrow, Newtownshandrum take on Cloyne in the Cork county senior hurling final, the Little All-Ireland; almost the whole of Cork will be willing on Cloyne, the team from a village steeped in tradition though yet to win a senior crown. As the man who himself led Newtown to the same breakthrough five years ago, Bernie understands.