Cuthbert: McGrath Cup will help Cork
Cuthbert takes charge of Cork for the first time in a competitive game against Limerick IT on Sunday. While Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford are not involved – a protest against the seeding of the Munster SFC – he still feels the competition will be of benefit to Cork.
“I’m not sure what way other people would view the McGrath Cup, but for us it provides an opportunity to give games to guys prior to the league starting,” he said.
“Regardless of whether we’re playing another county or one of the colleges, it makes no difference to us, really.
“We just want to get game-time into fellas and have them prepared as best we can for the Westmeath game at the start of February.
“That’s our goal, how far in the competition we’ll go I’m not sure. We’re short an awful lot of players but I’m hopeful that we’ll do okay. The main thing is to get games for players.”
For Sunday’s game in Mallow, Cuthbert has gone with a mix of experienced players and newcomers. Eoin Cadogan and Aidan Walsh, who will both play hurling for Cork this year, are in the 15, and Cuthbert doesn’t foresee any immediate problems as a result of their dual aspirations.
“The plan is laid out in terms of the first couple of games in both our leagues,” he said.
“There is a review period built into that to see if it’s working, and if it is you give it another spell of time.
“It’ll be a case that if the players who are playing hurling can continue to give 100% in terms of their performance in football, and both Jimmy and I think it’s working, you move it on another small bit.
“But, if at any stage it’s not working, it’s a case of us needing to think again.”
Among those to start who were not involved last year are goalkeeper Ryan Price (O’Donovan Rossa), Ballincollig’s Noel Galvin – who has previous league experience – Alan Sheehan of Dohenys and the O’Driscoll brothers from Tadhg Mac Cárthaighs, Colm and Kevin. In addition, the returning John Hayes is also included, as absences create opportunities to nail down spots.
“Absolutely, the squad is very fluid,” Cuthbert said.
“The thing is, with so many guys tied up with colleges and then others out injured, we obviously need bodies so that we can compete in the competition.
“At the same time, it gives fellas an opportunity to stake a claim for a place on the panel if they play well in the McGrath Cup.”
Colm O’Neill remains out as he recovers from a cruciate injury. Patrick Kelly and Damien Cahalane have both had hip operations, while Jamie O’Sullivan is undergoing one today.
“We don’t know how serious it is yet, not until after the operation,” Cuthbert said.
“It’s more exploratory than anything else, but his hip had been giving him problems.”
The choice of venue represents a rarity in the form of a Cork home game outside of the city.
“We asked the board if we could play in Mallow and there was no problem with it,” he said.
“Any bit of training that we have done so far we have moved around a bit, we have gone to different places so there’s no issue.
“It probably suits LIT coming down from Limerick too.”
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