We live for games like this, declares focused Curran

THE school of thought the implementation of the backdoor system in the All-Ireland championships has diluted the fire and brimstone of the provincial scene is one Ronan Curran instantly rails against.

The Cork centre-back is not considering any alternative strategies for the season ahead before tomorrow’s Munster SHC quarter-final against Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The assurance there is a safety net to aid Cork if they fall is of no concern to the St Finbarr’s defender.

“There’s going to be huge cut and thrust to it. I mean it’s Tipperary down the Páirc so it’s going to be massive. It really is the reason a lot of us play hurling — to be in Munster championship matches against Tipperary.

“These big games are what you look forward to. It’ll be a great atmosphere there. I know the backdoor is there, but it’s not the best route to go. If you get yourself through the Munster series, that’s the best way to go.”

For the past two seasons Cork have been forced to swerve off from the provincial course after reversals in the Munster championship at the hands of Tipperary. Qualifier trips to Tullamore and Thurles are something they strive to avoid.

To realise that prospect Curran and his Cork defensive colleagues must nullify the Tipperary attacking threats that have proved their undoing. Two years ago, Seamus Callanan made his championship debut at centre-forward for Tipp and Curran is well aware of the threat the Drom-Inch man poses. “Seamus, obviously, has been going very well for the last couple years. He’s a very skilful player and very fast. But a lot of the Tipperary forwards are very dangerous.

“They all have different attributes and they all need watching. They’ve beaten us the last three times and you would be thinking about trying to get one over them. But, look, it is a Cork-Tipp match and regardless of previous records, you want to get one over on each other.”

Cork have made huge efforts to reverse their dreadful recent championship run against Tipperary by applying a greater focus to this year’s league. Their uninterrupted spring was something to savour following the travails of recent seasons, even if there was dejection at the end in the form of an emphatic final defeat by Galway.

“The last few years have been tough. We were in a situation this year where we’d had a good few tough games and the league final as well. That will all help us, whereas we didn’t have that for the last couple of years. The way we got to blend young fellas into the team was good. It was a great experience for us this year and I feel we’ve good competition for places now.

“The management said everyone would get a league chance and everyone did. That puts the pressure on because you see a young fella coming in and that pushes you on.

“The defeat against Galway might be the best thing that ever happened to us or else it could show us that a few of us aren’t able for it any more.

“Galway are the kind of team that can do that to you. They have those fast, skilful forwards that if you give them space, they will kill you.

“They certainly did that to us and we’d no complaints. But sometimes the league has gone against us and we’ve gone on to give great championship performances.

“The Tipperary game is where we’ll be judged.”