Tigerish Cork tyros please JBM

Jimmy Barry-Murphy was taking the positives from yesterday’s defeat by Tipperary, pointing to his side’s lack of experience as a factor in Cork’s one-point defeat.

“The bit of inexperience counted against us in the end, we had opportunities and didn’t take them. Tipperary just about deserved it on the day.”

The Cork manager acknowledged that the goal his side had disallowed in the first half was a “major factor”.

“We could have gone in with a five-point lead having played with the wind. We probably needed that. But the players showed great courage after being four points down to come back, though certainly having an extra man helped in that respect. I’m very pleased with the lads and couldn’t fault any of them.

“It’s hard to see it from where we were, in fairness, I just couldn’t see why it was disallowed — we contested a ball in the square and it went in, but to be fair to the referee I couldn’t see it. We take it on the chin and move on.”

The manager was unhappy with Tipperary’s match-winning goal: “Certainly at that stage we wanted a free and it was definite. The player wasn’t gone away and I can’t believe he didn’t give a free. I’m not blaming the referee, these things happen, but in that situation, in a tight game, we’d have preferred to get our free.

“To be fair to the referee, some days it goes with you and some days it doesn’t. In fairness to Tipperary, Noel McGrath finished the chance clinically. I hope we learn from that and when we get those opportunities.that we take them.”

The Cork boss said the qualifiers would be a learning curve all round: “They’re a tough route to go, I’ve never been down that route as player or manager, and it’s new to me. Our job now will be to pick up our players after the defeat today, which can be quite shattering.”

He added that Cork had needed the performance after the crushing league final defeat to Kilkenny.

“The League final was an absolute debacle for us,” said Barry-Murphy. “It was a learning experience for us on the line as well and we took the major share of the blame because we felt we hadn’t prepared the players properly for the challenges that Kilkenny would give. I’m thrilled with the response — they showed great character and great courage to play in front of their own supporters and put up a great show. We didn’t win and we’re never happy to lose, but to come back from the League final they were fantastic today.”

Asked if he’d prefer to face Offaly or Dublin, Barry-Murphy said: “It’s a difficult route for everyone — no one wants to be chasing it that way. We know where we were after the League final so we know that Dublin didn’t become a bad team over night, or Offaly. Regardless it is going to be a very difficult game for us and we’re in no position to be over-confident against anyone. We face into both of those games with trepidation.”

The Cork manager said Niall McCarthy (broken knuckle) was a doubt for the first qualifier game, and rebutted suggestions his side were back up with the best teams around.

“I wouldn’t think that at all. We have a long way to go yet before we’re as good as Kilkenny or Tipperary even. It’s a learning process and a hard learning process, but since the League final the players have shown great attitude. You can’t ask for any more than that.”