All in the mind for Cork after draining journey

A WIDE gulf separates the achievements of Cork and Antrim in hurling terms over the years and only one winner, Cork, is expected. But this is a tricky tie. Antrim are in bonus country having disposed of Dublin last weekend. They have nothing to lose. They come in with the same settled team and they can play with the abandonment and relaxed determination that a lack of expectation bestows on a team.

Jerry Wallace who was Cork’s trainer for a number of years is now in charge of Antrim’s physical conditioning. He is well aware of Cork’s strengths and Antrim will have planned accordingly. They were well prepared for the Carlow and Dublin games, playing defenders deep to clog up the forward attacking channels. Their game plan for tomorrow will be similar and they will hope to keep it a low-scoring game by harrying the Cork attack who are not playing well as a unit.

Cork will be tired mentally and physically after the exertions of the past weekends but it’s the former that will be most worrying. The ideal scenario for Cork is to blow Antrim away in the early stages to deny them any hope in the second half. But enthusiasm, which may be in short supply is needed for this. Cork will have to be positive and economical in possession. They need to enhance their play with more effective use of the ball by looking for the free supporting player rather than belting it long. Attacks begin in defence but only Cork’s excellent defender Brian Murphy is moving the ball out of defence to unmarked colleagues. Tomorrow is a chance to begin the improvement.