Cusack: It was a very important game for us

IF anyone sought to dilute the significance for Cork of yesterday’s Munster SHC triumph against Tipperary, then goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack’s post-match thoughts provided a firm rebuttal.

The school of thought before this game that the days of these Cork players challenging the hurling elite were gone, was recognised within the Cork dressing-room and as Cusack revealed brought into sharp focus how key this tussle with Tipperary was.

“It was a very important game for us as men and as a group together. Maybe it was said beforehand that a lot of these guys are pushing on a bit. We put it up to ourselves that everything was going to be on the line today and it was just very important to us. I’m just delighted for everybody. Like every inter-county team, they put a lot in over the winter and we had forgotten what that feeling of joy after a game feels like; it’s something we’re going to savour for a couple of hours and then get back to it.”