Shields has high praise for new Rebel Jamie

MICHAEL SHIELDS insists he was confident Cork would solve their early season defensive woes and is convinced the experience of regular senior matches together will stand to their youthful backline as the year progresses.

Cork shipped some criticism after conceding nine goals in their first five NFL matches this spring but kept clean sheets in their last three games.

Shields was released to his natural berth in the half-back line for Sunday’s Division 1 final against Mayo, with new full-back Jamie O’Sullivan impressing on the edge of the square.

Shields said: “At the start of the year there was a lot of talk about the full-back line and the amounts we were conceding. But I knew it’d come right for us. Obviously, at the start of a year, you’re going to need training to get into it as you’d be a small bit rusty. Looking at the full-back line there on Sunday, Ray (Carey) is only in his second year while Eoin (Cotter) and Jamie are in their first season.

“They’ll need time. You have to take your hats off to them, they’ve done brilliantly for their first year and they all have big futures with Cork.”

But he had special praise for the man wearing the number three jersey at headquarters. He added: “Jamie was excellent. In fairness to him, every chance he’s got this year he has taken. He’s there on merit and he’s put himself in contention now for the championship.”

He continued: “I enjoyed it out at centre-back. I was always a natural half-back. I felt a small bit rusty out there at the start but nut I grew into the match and I liked it out there.”

Cork coped well in the absence of several established stars through injury and with Graham Canty one of those sidelined; it fell to Shields to fill the captaincy.

“It was a really nice honour being captain. It was a nice honour and getting to lift a national trophy is something I’m always going to remember. Conor said during the week we can’t be relying on Graham, Nicholas and the lads. We’ve to drive on ourselves and I think everyone stepped up to the mark.”

Sunday’s league victory brought an end to the miserable run Shields has endured in final outings. After the desolation of last September’s All-Ireland final loss, he suffered another severe setback seven days later with St Finbarr’s when they narrowly lost out in the Cork SFC final. The third-level arena brought about more final disappointment in February, when UCC lost out in the Sigerson Cup decider.

“Between the All-Ireland final, the county and the Sigerson, I’ve had a lot of bad luck. “It’s been very frustrating and it was a hard few months with those disappointments. But it’s great to have won a final and it is a nice bonus heading into championship.

“We’ll be back with the clubs now for a while. I’m looking forward to that and then getting back with Cork afterwards.”

Meanwhile, former Meath star Graham Geraghty is helping out the Glenn Ryan-managed Longford as a forwards’ coach as the Midlanders prepare for their opening Leinster SFC tie against Louth in Portlaoise on May 23. These are busy days for Geraghty who is managing Meath intermediate side, Na Fianna, from Enfield, as well as continuing his extended playing career with Athboy outfit Clann na nGael.

The Royals will continue their preparations for championship with a challenge against Down on Monday for the official opening of the Oldcastle club’s facilities.