Old stalwarts face a new beginning

Former Cork stalwarts Jimmy Barry-Murphy and John Allen will find out tonight just how much things have changed since they’ve been away.

For years with St Finbarr’s and Cork, hurling and football, Jimmy Barry-Murphy and John Allen soldiered together. Then they both went into management and won an All-Ireland SHC title at the helm in Cork, Jimmy in 1999, John six years later, in 2005.

This evening they return to the harness. Jimmy Barry-Murphy once again the Cork manager, John following Donal O’Grady into the hot seat in Limerick.

A new beginning for both and while Jimmy is already on record noting the profound changes to the game during the 11 years he was away, even John, who only finished with Cork five years ago, has seen a difference.

“There’s a lot more emphasis now on strength and conditioning,” he said.

“They seem to be the new buzzwords and you can see the results of it in the players, in the upper bodies — they’re built like rugby players now, a lot of them.”

This isn’t the first time John has stepped into O’Grady’s shoes, having taken over from Donal (another former teammate with club and county) in Cork in 2005. Naturally, there were some consultations between old friends before he took the plunge.

“I talked to him, yes, briefly, and also to Jerry Wallace [Donal’s trainer in Limerick, now manager in his own right with Antrim] and both of them were very positive in everything they said about Limerick.

“There’s a lot of very good young talent. You look at Declan Hannon and Shane Dowling for example, those two have enormous potential. They could be among the top forwards in the game for the next 10 years. Factor in the success of Árdscoil Rís, the success in Munster of the Limerick U21 team last year and there’s a lot of very good youngsters coming through.

“It’s a case of giving them time to settle in, they need to be playing the top teams and top players. Until they do you’re not going to know how good they really are.”

Both Hannon and Dowling get their chance this evening in the Gaelic Grounds in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1B opener against Clare, as do several other members of last year’s U21 side, John obviously not afraid to give youth its fling.

Jimmy is doing likewise in Cork, multi-talented Leaving Cert student Darren Sweetnam (who’s also a top quality hockey and rugby star) given the nod as Cork open their Division 1A campaign with a home game in Páirc Uí Rinn against Waterford, while Conor Lehane — another youngster — starts at wing-forward.

Partnering Darren in midfield, however, is veteran 34-year-old Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, brought back into the fold by Jimmy after being axed last season by previous manager Denis Walsh. It was a statement of intent, as was the appointment of Donal Óg Cusack as captain — he will do things his way.

“The furore about it [Seán Óg’s recall] didn’t worry me,” said Jimmy. “When we sat down as a group and looked at the players available to us we just felt he had a lot to offer still and I hope we’ll be proved right.

“I did say to him that we didn’t bring him back to babysit young players or to mind them. He’s a player himself. But the example he shows in the dressing room and in his preparation rubs off on other players and I think he has a very big part to play still.”

The year out may not have done the Na Piarsaigh star any good but the break — unwanted as it was — may not have done him any harm either.

“He wanted to come back, he was mad to play. To be fair to Sean Óg I think only time will tell if he can play at the highest level again,” said Jimmy. “He knows that himself. But I would be very confident that he can — it certainly won’t be from lack of preparation or fitness.”

Two old friends then with different teams but on the same road.

Neither Cork nor Limerick are seen as being among the favourites this year for either league or championship honours; the hope for both is that under their new management they will soon be back on level terms with the best.

In the meantime, says John, give them a chance.

“There’s a learning curve for managers as well, we need to get to know our players properly on and off the field, their level of dedication and so on.

“This game is a great test to start off with, for us; Clare and Limerick are old rivals, both seen as favourites to top the group.

“It’s a mouth-watering clash, we’ve picked the strongest team available and I’ve no doubt they’ve done the same; we’re going out to win, that’s our aim.”