McDonnell says Nash mania will fade away

Leave it to a defender to put the current free-taking controversy in perspective.

“When I see Anthony going up I get great crack out of it,” says Cork corner-back Stephen McDonnell.

“He’s running up, the crowd is getting behind him, he’s delighted – I just have a laugh. And take a breather.

“Everything that’s going on is just bull. What’s being said isn’t real, it’ll all fade away anyway.”

McDonnell is looking forward to Sunday’s Munster SHC semi-final against Clare: “I’m looking forward to it because it’ll be an open game, the type of game they bring – an open, high-scoring game. I’m looking forward to getting involved, to helping my team out. I’m (happy with my form) but it’s a team game, if I’m happy with my form but the team isn’t doing well then there’s something wrong. So long as we’re putting in a good effort, that’s the main thing.”

Was it unusual last Sunday, having such a big lead over Waterford for much of the game? “It was strange because the previous day we could have lost to the same team, but it was still intense – they were still putting the ball in on top of us, we were still under pressure even though there was a big gap. We were still defending as well as we could.”

They’ll be doing more defending on Sunday. “They have great forwards. So do we, I’m marking them every night! I don’t tend to think about the opposition that much because when I’m training with Cork I’m marking Conor Lehane or Patrick Horgan. You could be marking two or three different players, in different parts of the field, the way the game is now. It’s good to have a look at how teams move, and how the ball is hit into them, but I know the Clare lads at this stage, it’s instilled in the brain.”

The Glen Rovers man doesn’t have a preferred position: “I play where I’m put, I knew when Brian (Murphy) retired the chances of playing out the field were lower, and in the league I was in the full-back line a lot, so I didn’t really think too much about playing out the field. If I end up going out the field, if it happens it happens.

“At underage I played midfield and I’ve ended up out the field the odd time. Is it an advantage? I don’t know, most defenders can play in both lines of the defence.”

He has two newcomers alongside him in defence this year, Mark Ellis and Damien Cahalane.

“In my mind all I want from my teammates is a good effort and to put their best foot forward, and you know you’ll get that from them. They’re both big men, I’m delighted having the two of them.”