Carr upbeat ahead of Cork trip

ELEVEN years on from the last time he supervised a team competing in a clash in Páirc Ui Chaoimh, Tommy Carr is preparing for a daunting experience as he returns to the Cork venue next Saturday afternoon.

Back in 1999, Carr brought his Dublin charges south for a National Football League final and found themselves overturned by the home side by 0-12 to 1-7. The action has shifted from league to championship now with the Cavan team that is under Carr’s tutelage preparing for a qualifier tie against last year’s All-Ireland finalists. After their rousing success over Wicklow a fortnight ago, Carr is adamant that Cavan have been pitched into the hardest draw possible on Saturday.

“First of all it’s a tough draw to be facing Cork and second of all it’s tough to have to travel on top of that. We have to be honest that of all the teams to be drawn out, Cork would’ve been the worst team for anyone to get. They are one of the top two teams in the country. I tipped them to win last year’s All-Ireland, even on the day when I was doing commentary. That’s how well I’d view them, they’ve very good footballers and it’s an incredibly difficult task for us. For me they’re as talented as Kerry. They obviously just have a little mental thing to get over when they play Kerry but in my opinion it’s only a matter of time before they beat them.”