Lack of experience won’t hamper Rebel hopes, says Murphy

Injured Cork defender Brian Murphy does not feel a lack of experience in the side will be a massive hindrance in Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final with Dublin.

While team-mate Tom Kenny is the only player to have played on Munster or All-Ireland-winning teams, Murphy has no fears of his colleagues’ capabilities, having been particularly impressed with the response to relegation from Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League.

“It has been well-documented that this is a young team,” Murphy said, “but a few of them have been around for a while now, they know what championship hurling is about.

“We got a fair bit of criticism after the league and fellas knuckled down, there are great hurlers in the camp. You have Pa Cronin, Lorcán McLoughlin, Jamie Coughlan, they’re fantastic hurlers, if they’re given time and space they’re brilliant players.

“The use of possession in hurling is huge at this stage but they’ve been brought up with this and know how to work the ball.”

While he is unlikely to be involved on Sunday, Murphy is fully aware of what a great opportunity exists for all of this year’s All-Ireland semi-finalists.

Of the four, Cork, at seven years, have the shortest gap to their last All-Ireland, and Murphy knows that it is vital to take the opportunity.

“Looking at the two semi-finals, I don’t think that there’s anybody out there who would put a lot of money on any team to win the All-Ireland. It’s that open, it’s a case of wait and see how the semi-finals go. Every team now has a bit of confidence and they’d hope to at least get to final, and if they get there win it out. It’s great for the championship that it’s so open, for the players and the supporters that there’s a bit of novelty rather than the same ding-dong every year.”

In Dublin, Cork face a tough test. With impressive wins against Wexford, Galway and Kilkenny behind them, Murphy knows that they cannot be taken lightly.

“We all know that they’re a physical team, they have speed and fitness to burn, but what’s often overlooked is that they have fantastic hurlers,” he said.

“They have been winning minors and U21s for years and in the Leinster final they were banging in goals for fun.

“It’s going to be a new challenge. They have beaten Kilkenny after a replay, which a lot of teams don’t do, Kilkenny usually don’t give you a second chance. We’ll have it tough, we realise that, but I’d like to think it’s a 50-50 game. We were at this stage last year, so we’ll try to get one step further.”