Young Rebels have point to prove

There are some pretty stark realities facing the Cork minor management team led by Fermoy’s Denis Ring as they start out on yet another Munster championship campaign this evening, taking on Kerry at Páirc Uí Rinn (throw-in 6.15pm).

Prior to 2000, Cork led the All-Ireland role of honour with 17 titles; since 2000, however, Cork have won just one more crown (2001), and have been overtaken by both Kilkenny (20) and Tipperary (19).

Only once before, from 1951 to 1964, has Cork endured such a barren spell, and that period presaged an almost equally barren period on thesenior stage.

The challenge then for Ring and his management team is to try to analyse what’s gone wrong, decide on the remedy, and implement it.

Ring explained: “In the last number of years, a lot of the Cork colleges were left behind in the Harty Cupcompetition, in terms of the work that was being put done in Limerick,Waterford, Tipperary and Clare schools. I know the amount of work that has gone on in those counties at schools level but I think Cork colleges have woken up to this in the last few years.

“A good sign of that this year was Midleton winning the Dean Ryan, then getting to the All-Ireland final, and three schools — Charleville, Rochestown and Hamilton (Bandon) — getting to the closing stages of the Harty Cup, and Midleton weren’t far off either.”

Okay, so that’s the schools getting their house in order. But what of the minor management team headed by Ring?

“There’s been a huge effort made. We have looked at nearly 300 young fellas, we were determined to giveeveryone a chance. We looked at who was coming through from thedevelopment squads, then checked to see if we had any late developers who may not have featured strongly in A squads but who were making great progress and yes, we’ve found a few.”

A lot of hard work then, a lot of positive work also. “There’s a good management committee there now, probably the best I’ve ever worked with in terms of talent and ability.”

“Liam Martin takes control of goalkeeping, puckout strategy anddefence; Mark Landers is a former All-Ireland-winning captain (1999), John O’Dwyer won minor and U21 with Cork, they do a lot of our work on touch and control; John Mortell is almost an assistant manager in many ways in terms of organising, also works with me on blocking, hooking, closing down, then on attack and forward movement. Richie O’Leary is the strength and conditioning trainer, doing great work.”

The greatest satisfaction of all though for Ring is the pride in the jersey is still there.