Ring ‘energised’ by Rebel job

A high level of experience is set to benefit new Cork minor hurling manager Denis Ring.

Ring, who led Cork to Munster minor titles in 2000, 2004 and 2005, was also trainer in 2001 when they won the All-Ireland — the last time they’ve done so. Ring was also a selector and physical trainer to the last Rebel side to win a Munster U21 in 2007.

With Killeagh’s Mark Landers as coach and John Mortell (Ballyhea) and John O’Dwyer (Ballincollig) as selectors — with one more to be appointed — Ring is looking forward to the challenge.

“It’s obviously a great honour and I’m energised by the prospect,” he said.

“Any player who pulls on the red jersey has a responsibility to do his best, and as a management team, we have a responsibility to do our best to help them fulfil their potential.

“In college games, you get to see a lot of players and I was on the development squad committee two years ago. I would have seen what this team would have been doing at U16 and U17 level.”

As well as taking his native Fermoy to this year’s IHC semi-final, Ring has previously been involved with Imokilly and Bride Rovers, as well as the Dr Harty Cup side at Blackwater CS in Lismore, where he is principal. Before that, he took St Colman’s College of Fermoy to six Harty wins and three All-Irelands, as well as six Dean Ryans.

It was at St Colman’s that he first encountered Landers, captain on an U14-winning side in 1987. Landers has been involved with next year’s minors for the past three years at development-squad level, and this will be a huge help.

“The last few years, you’d have seen Mark at a lot of colleges games,” Ring said. “His experience is invaluable, both as a player and with his work with Killeagh and on the development squads.”

And, while Cork are without an All-Ireland since 2001, Ring is not going to set any unrealistic targets.

“The first thing is that Cork haven’t been to a Munster final since 2008,” he said, “and not too many of the teams beating them have won Munster.

“We’re down the pecking order a little bit so it’s a case of taking one step at a time and waiting for the draw and seeing how it goes.”