Sean Hayes rallies Cork and cautions that Tipperary warrants serious respect
How many times have we heard a similar line trotted out when Tipperary are the vanquished outfit? Rarely, if ever.
Sure, Tipperary football has made significant strides in recent years. The trophy cabinet has been slowly filling up on the Bohernave Road and their standing on the third rung of Munster’s ladder has been consolidated. Respect from the province’s two traditional forces, however, has still to be earned.
The mindset of the Cork and Kerry footballer when Tipperary provide the opposition pales by comparison to when the former pair lock horns. Cork manager Sean Hayes believes, at underage at least, respect has been achieved.
“How could the players not [respect them]? This team were beaten by Tipperary three years ago down in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on a Wednesday night in the Munster minor semi-final,” said Hayes.
“The year prior to that and the year after that, Tipperary also had the better of Cork at minor level. Complacency doesn’t come into it when you are playing a team that has beaten you already.
“The strides Tipperary have made is evident in the fact that this team will have no fear of us, because of past results. On top of that, six of them are playing senior football and their midfielder Steven O’Brien won a Sigerson Cup with DCU. Complacency just couldn’t figure.”
Hayes was pleased with certain aspects of the semi-final victory, but still saw fit to make two changes in personnel and seven positional switches for the trip to Thurles.
“Cian Kiely comes in at half-back, he had a really good run with Ballincollig last year. He was probably unlucky not to get a start against Limerick. He brought a bit of life to our play in the final few minutes against Kerry. He is very pacey, Tipperary are a team that break very quickly and we need lads with legs. Cian has that.
“There were several positives from the Kerry performance when you compared it to the previous week against Limerick. It still wasn’t as good a performance as you would like it to be and we have been working on the areas where we weren’t happy. The two games were a help, in that we learned plenty about ourselves.
“It is a great honour to be going for five-in-a-row, but, for us, it is simply game three in a five-step process.”
Each and every Cork footballer on view this evening was unsuccessful in their hunt for minor silverware and Hayes is at odds to explain the disparity between the two grades on Leeside. The Rebels are chasing their eighth Munster U21 crown since 2006, with just two minor titles annexed during this nine-year period.
“I have been at the minor matches, but I can’t put my finger on why we aren’t winning more. It is a very hard grade to win at, because young lads are only developing. The lads just seem to stick at it and, perhaps, it is the fact they didn’t win at minor that drives them to keep going until they do get their hands on silverware. Sometimes, that can be a help. In Cork’s case, it has.
“Definitely, we have produced some very good U21 teams in recent years and that is starting to be reflected through Brian Cuthbert’s senior panel.
“U21 is a very important grade, in that it is make-your-mind-up-time for fellas. If you can get onto an U21 team, it is the last step before senior. Definitely, you will see at U21 the lads who want to have a cut off senior and will stand up. Then, you will know the lads who know this is their swan song at inter-county level.”
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