Hayes keen on coach’s new ideas

Cork forward John Hayes says the Rebels are keen to experience a competitive outing next weekend to put some of new manager Brian Cuthbert’s ideas into practice.

Two facile wins over LIT (3-22 to 0-7) and UL (6-16 to 0-7) haven’t tested the Leesiders, but this weekend’s McGrath Cup final against Kerry should be a different affair.

“Brian has great ideas about how he wants us to play, about playing good football,” said Hayes.

“The bad conditions on Sunday weren’t helpful in that regard, and not being tested, really, by the opposition wasn’t a help either.

“It’s probably not great preparation for the league, but we’ll be playing Kerry in the final of this competition next weekend, and at least that’ll be a good test.”

Hayes is hoping there isn’t a flurry of black cards in next weekend’s game.

“You’d hope not anyway. The big thing I think is that referees are going to have to look at what’s happening, the fouls being committed, and decide whether those are deliberate or not.

“If it’s a borderline offence, if it looks like a fella is genuinely trying to make an effort to play the ball but a foul is committed, then you’d hope he won’t be put off with a black card.

“It’s meant to punish deliberate, cynical fouling, after all, but it’s also down to the referee and how he sees it.”

Hayes welcomes the advantage rule being operated now: “It didn’t happen in my case Sunday but at one stage in the first half the referee gave UL a few seconds to play on and when they lost the ball he brought it back for a free.

“For forwards I think that’s definitely a help, because if you’re fouled as you’re trying to play the ball off then there’s a little bit of comfort in that you’ve a chance of getting a free brought back for you.”

The Carbery Rangers club man is glad to be back in the red of Cork, even if the UL game last weekend was a stroll in the park.

“It was probably like last week’s against Limerick IT, we probably expected more of a challenge from UL after they’d beaten UCC the previous week.

“We got a good start, we had 2-3 on the board early on and got another goal just before half-time and another goal just after the break.

“For a college team with an eye on the Sigerson, they were probably going to mind themselves after that.

“I didn’t get the shooting boots on too much last Sunday, but it’s good to be back. Hopefully there’ll be more opportunities.

“After a couple of years out of the scene you’d be more appreciative of it when you get back, you’d have more of a hunger.”