Cup talk trumped by Donal Óg

Given the events of the previous evening, the Waterford Crystal Cup semi-final defeat was never going to be the main source of Cork debate in Sixmilebridge.

Selector Kieran Kingston was tasked with speaking to the assembled press after the game, and he admitted the decision not to include Dónal Óg Cusack in the league panel could come into question if it is not a successful year for the side.

“You’ll always have challenges and have questions asked about whether you were right or wrong about guys, or whether it was during a game, ‘You should have brought this fella on’ or ‘You should have brought that guy off’.

“That’s part of it, it goes with the job, it’s why we get the big salaries!”

When asked if the media response to the Cusack decision surprised him, Kingston revealed he hadn’t had a chance to notice it.

“I haven’t seen much of it, because I genuinely haven’t seen the papers yet,” he said.

“A few of the lads were saying there was a bit of coverage. I’ll read up on it tonight.”

Likewise, former team-mate Eoin Cadogan’s tweet in support of Cusack was batted away.

“I don’t do social media!” Kingston laughed.

Kingston did say, however, that, just because Cusack is not on the panel now, it might not mean he will remain off it.

“As Jimmy said the other night on the radio, and as we’ve said all along, we’re open, at this stage in Cork hurling we can’t be opening or closing doors on anybody.

“We haven’t had success in many years, we have a lot of new players, we have players who came in last week for the first time, we must now finalise a training panel over the next number of weeks for the Tipp game. Then we’ll see how that goes and we’ll review it on an ongoing basis during the league.”

With the absence of Cusack, John Gardiner and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín from last year’s panel, however, Cork are now without some big leaders. Kingston feels that it is time for others to step up.

“The dressing room needs leaders and it does have leaders, maybe it’s difficult for people outside to see who the leaders are.

“Leaders develop in training and matches, and it’s hard to see that outside the group. The players mentioned have had huge success, they’ve been great servants for Cork hurling and great leaders, but there are other fantastic leaders in the dressing room as well.

“This is another chapter, we’re focusing on the national league now. Nobody is guaranteed a place, you’re picked on form, that’s it and that could change any time.”