Sherlock says Cork can cope with Murphy’s loss

Former Cork hurling star Wayne Sherlock, right, believes the Rebels won’t suffer from a lack of experience due to the retirement of Brian Murphy.

Murphy’s departure means that Shane O’Neill is the only member of Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s panel to possess an All-Ireland senior hurling medal, but that was as an unused substitute in 2005.

Sherlock was in a similar position in 1999, when Cork won the All-Ireland without any of the panel having previously won one. He believes that reaching last year’s final is sufficient experience for the current squad to push on.

“Brian Corcoran had been involved in 1992, so he had the experience of losing one,” he said, “but he was keen to make it clear to us that you don’t have to lose one before you win one.

BR>

“One thing that we had as well back then was we had it over Clare – the form team at the time – and Waterford at underage.”

While the loss to Clare gave valuable experience, Sherlock also feels it provides motivation for Cork: “It’s a great experience for them to have,” he said.

“As well, it shows them what they could have had and it dangles a carrot in front of them, that’s it there for them if they want it and they work hard enough.

“They saw last year all the publicity involved with getting to an All-Ireland final but they have to realise that when you lose it means nothing. They have to push on now.”

Any replacement for the Bride Rovers man should not be seen as the next Brian Murphy, however.

“Looking at the Cork players from outside, they seem like a strong bunch of players anyway,” Sherlock said.

“Losing a player like Brian is always going to be a blow but I think people should stop making comparisons, players like him or Joe Deane or Sully (Diarmuid O’Sullivan) are only going to be one-offs.

“Brian was one in a million, you’d put him in your team every day of the week. It’s up to the players there now to make their own names.