Selector defends Cork tactics in Munster final loss

CORK hurling selector Patsy Morrissey has launched a vehement defence of the tactical decisions made during the Rebels’ Munster final defeat to Waterford.

In a rare insight into championship decision-making in today's Arena magazine, with the Irish Examiner, Morrissey addresses a number of issues which left Cork fans fuming after their Thurles loss to Justin McCarthy's side.

Morrissey insisted: "It will seem like I'm trying to exonerate the selectors, but, believe me, I don't feel any need to do that. But there is no doubt that Cork hurling fans are upset."

The Newtownshandrum man deals with the controversial swapping of wing-backs Sean Óg Ó hAilpín and John Gardiner, the Cork half-forward line, their use of the extra man after the sending off of Waterford's John Mullane, and the performance of referee Sean McMahon.

He also revealed that centre-forward Niall McCarthy was "probably" no more than 75% fit going into the game with a hamstring problem.

"I'm walking a very thin line here, between giving away the Cork game plan, being seen to be criticising the players, blaming the referee or taking away from the Waterford win, none of which I want to do. But the fans are upset, I've seen that over the past week and for that reason, I'll give the story from our point of view," he tells Diarmuid O'Flynn.

The selectors were due to announce their starting 15 last night for Saturday's qualifier with Tipperary in Killarney.

Arguably the most controversial decision made by the Cork selectors was the positioning of John Gardiner on Waterford's giant Dan Shanahan, with Morrissey revealing that Cork decided "not to out-muscle Shanahan, but to out-hurl him. We felt John Gardiner would be able to do that".

He added later: "People ask if we made a mistake we tried something different, something unpredictable, and it almost came off.

"Perhaps the mistake we made was in making the switch (with Ó hAilpín transferring onto Shanahan).

"Shanahan scored two goals on Eamonn Corcoran against Tipperary in the first-half, but Tipp didn't shift Corcoran and he got on top in the second-half.

"Anyway that was not what cost us the game."