Cahalane: Time to step up

CADBURYS U21FC ALL-IRELAND SEMI-FINAL

To date, however, he has yet to sample All-Ireland glory. One last chance to rectify that awaits if Cork can overcome Cavan in today’s Cadbury All-Ireland U21FC semi-final in Tullamore (3.45pm), and the Castlehaven man admits that exiting the underage ranks without an All-Ireland would be a failure, in his eyes.

“It’s definitely something that has been driving us on,” he said. “We’ve gone out and made a show of ourselves in All-Ireland semi-finals in the last two years, so it’s about putting that right now.

“Even coming up to the Tipperary game [Munster final], our bottle was being questioned and it was something that we decided as a team that we were going to set right.

“This is a big year for us in terms of stepping up to senior and we have to set out our stall as being winners.”

One positive to take from Cork’s U21 campaign to that has been the incremental improvement compared to recent years, when a big performance in Munster would not be followed by a national encore.

Following the impressive second-half performance to overcome Tipp, Cahalane is keen to continue the upward curve.

“It’s nice to always have something to improve on,” he said. “Even from the Tipperary game, people might look at the scoreline and think that we were well over them, but it was a tough game right up until 15 minutes to go.

“It was only when we got a few scores in-a-row that their heads dropped, not that they gave up but it’s hard to come back from that.

“Our thing the next day is going to be about coming out of the blocks early because it’s not something that we’ve done terribly well all along.”

Three years ago, Cork produced a series of late wins to reach the All-Ireland minor final, coming up just short against Tyrone. With the bulk of that side now part of the U21 team, it makes for a near-unbreakable team spirit.

“The one thing about this group of players is that there’s an unbelievable bond between the players and an unbelievable spirit, even compared to previous years,” Cahalane said.

“When we came in at half-time against Tipperary, we were after playing against a tough wind but we said that we weren’t going to take the wind for granted in the second half and start shooting from all angles.

“We went out and played the football that the lads have coached us to play and that we believe we should be playing.

“The minor team that time, we had fierce craic as a team, everybody was fierce close, there wasn’t anybody who wouldn’t have got on with another fella. It definitely helps when everybody is driving it on together.”

Motivation is not something that Cahalane has ever lacked, though. His father Niall is one of the best defenders Cork has produced, and while it provided Damien with a template to emulate, there was also a long shadow to emerge from.

“That was always the way, trying to make a name for yourself,” he said. “I always had to live up to his name and I’m still light years behind where he was in his career. You set yourself a goal, you set yourself a target and aim to be as good as him, and even better than him.

“It was frustrating, being always known as somebody’s son rather than your own man, but that’s something you have to work at.”

Not that he doesn’t appreciate what an asset it is to have his father’s brains to pick.

“Whatever advice he has, I take it on board,” he said. “Sometimes I mightn’t like it because it wouldn’t be the kindest of words, but it’s always constructive, it’s never just barking for the sake of barking. It’s definitely a huge help to have someone at home who can help you through situations in your own career.”

CORK: D Hanrahan (Douglas); C Dorman (Bishopstown), D Cahalane (Castlehaven), A Cronin (Nemo Rangers); B O’Driscoll (Tadhg Mac Cárthaighs), T Clancy (Clonakilty), J Wall (Kilbrittain); S Kiely (Ballincollig), I Maguire (St Finbarr’s); A Cadogan (Douglas), M Sugrue (Bandon), J O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers); D Mac Eoin (Ilen Rovers), B Hurley (Castlehaven), L Connolly (Nemo Rangers).

Subs: P Kirby (Tadhg Mac Cárthaighs), C O’Sullivan (Clyda Rovers), K Crowley (Millstreet), TJ Brosnan (Newmarket), K Fulignati (Nemo Rangers), J Burns (St Finbarr’s), K Hallissey (Éire Óg), C Vaughan (Iveleary), T Hegarty (O’Donovan Rossa).

CAVAN, probable: C Gilsenan (Bailieborough); J McLoughlin (Shannon Gaels), K Clarke (Shercock), C Brady (Arva); D McVeety (Crosserlough), D Sexton (Cavan Gaels), F Flanagan (Butlersbridge); B Sankey (Shercock), M Argue (Bailieborough); G Smith (Lavey), C Conroy (Lavey), T Mooney (Redhills); E O’Reilly (Mullahoran), P O’Connor (Cavan Gaels), J Brady (Ramor United).