Rebels bid to spoil Cats’ Grand Slam tilt

IT’S been a mutually beneficial relationship. Since Anthony Nash first stood between the posts for the Cork intermediate hurlers in 2003, he’s given the grade unwavering focus. In return he’s picked up three All-Ireland medals – in 2003, 2004 and 2006 – and even though he’s played in bigger matches since, his interest in this afternoon’s All-Ireland IHC final is undiluted.

“It’s an honour to play for Cork at any grade. When Johnny (Keane) said it to Denis (Walsh) at the start of the year, and then Denis asked me, I jumped at the opportunity.

“The way I looked at it is that it was great to be playing matches for Cork.

“Intermediate might be looked on as less popular, but the standard is good. You’ve a lot of talented U21 players on these teams and it’s a stepping stone.”

Wing-back Joe Jordan comes from the same school of thought. A series of brilliant displays for both club and college lead to Jordan being drafted into the Cork senior setup earlier this year. But when the intermediate call came, he was delighted to accept.

“I hadn’t been involved until after we lost in the senior to Galway but then Johnny Keane got onto me. He said he’d love if I could get involved. I went down the Monday night before the Munster final and was delighted to be part of it. To be pitting yourself against the likes of Galway and Kilkenny at any level is superb. It’s a very good setup there with Martin McSweeney and Johnny Keane training us.”

He admitted: “I found the senior experience great this year. I was nervous at the start, but the lads I’d been in the Fitzgibbon Cup with in UCC looked after me for the first few sessions. Being exposed to that level of hurling has brought on my game and I’m hoping to show that now with the intermediates.”

For both the significance of the intermediate experience is embellished due to the presence of their club mates in the setup.

Nash was the trailblazer when emerging from Kanturk to produce awesome shot-stopping displays, but since then he’s observed others making waves. Aidan Walsh and John McLoughlin are shining in football, and Lorcán McLoughlin has joined him in the intermediate hurling squad.

“It’s fantastic to see other lads from your club doing well. For myself to be there on the field with another Kanturk man is fantastic. You wouldn’t meet a nicer, more dedicated guy than Lorcán and I think he’ll definitely go further in Cork hurling.

“It was a great feeling winning the Munster with the two of us on the team, and it’d be special if we won an All-Ireland together.”

Already this year Jordan has claimed All-Ireland intermediate honours with his club Blarney and leading figures from that setup have moved onto the intercounty stage.

“Darragh McSweeney is there as the captain at full-back and he’s a fantastic leader. You also have Paul O’Leary on the panel and Fintan Coleman is a selector. So it’s a huge honour for Blarney, having so many involved. We’ve had an amazing year winning the All-Ireland back in February and we’ve also kept our senior status for next year. After winning the Fitzgibbon with UCC, an intermediate win now would top it all off. It’d be some milestone in my career.”

The obstacle they must surmount is another All-Ireland contending outfit churned out by the all-conquering Kilkenny.

“I suppose somebody has to stop them winning,” muses Nash.

“They’re the favourites in every grade these days and after winning the Grand Slam last year. I think it’s a big thing for Cork hurling as well today. It might not be the most high-profile grade but it’s the only hurling grade the county is left in.

“So it’s important for ourselves and the county that we get some hurling silverware.”