Time for Rebels to step up, says Moylan

Cork forward Stephen Moylan says he and his teammates intend to “step up to the plate” following a devastating run of illness and injury.

Patrick Cronin, Lorcan McLoughlin and Paudie O’Sullivan are all non-starters for Cork’s championship opener against Clare on Sunday but Moylan says Cork are upbeat.

“When we got the injuries, Jimmy got us in and told us it was up to the panel to step up to the plate. Fellas have taken it on themselves to step it up and drive on in training. Hopefully we can bring that to the game.

“Paudie, Patrick and Lorcan are losses, with the experience they have. It’s up to other players now though to make a name for themselves.”

Moylan says Cork were encouraged by the fact that underdogs Limerick turned Tipperary over in their Munster semi-final.

“Jimmy was saying that while tactics are important in the modern game, there’s a lot to be said for working hard as well. We’ve seen it twice in the league, we’ve played Clare. It’s their work rate more than anything that’s impressive. They get a lot of bodies around the breaking ball for puckouts. It’s something we’re going to have to match if we’re to beat them.”

Moylan says Cork have worked hard on their fitness since the relegation play-off loss to Clare: “In the last 15 minutes of the game they totally took over. We played them in the Waterford Crystal Cup earlier on in the year and we said their fitness was ahead of ours. Since we broke from the relegation, we’ve done a lot of work, hopefully that’ll stand to us.”

Cork clashed with Clare in the Waterford Crystal Cup earlier this year, but traffic problems meant many of the Rebel hurlers were late to the game: “It was definitely the weirdest situation as we arrived at half-time, it was like something from underage just running onto the pitch. You have to get over it when you arrive and just try to focus on the game. There were five of us delayed in one car.”

The Douglas man feels Clare are under the spotlight this year. “There’s huge pressure on them to win Munster under Davy Fitzgerald. They feel they deserve it. They’ve put in hard work. They’ve won U21 All-Irelands. There’s no pressure on us, we’re rank outsiders after all the injuries that we’ve had. Again it just means we in Cork have to get our own game right.”

Moylan has waited for his chance at senior level, as he points out. “A lot of guys come in straight after minor and U21, it’s a natural progression. It wasn’t for me. I played Cork intermediate for a year. The big thing for me when I came in was that I knew I had to go for it. Coming in after the Fitzgibbon last year at 24, I knew it was my last chance. I was focused and determined to drive it on and try to stay on the panel.”