Dublin more aligned to Newtown style than Cork, says O’Connor
Ahead of the counties’ Division 1 semi-final in Kilkenny on Sunday, O’Connor, who first developed the short-passing, running game which contributed to Cork’s last two All-Ireland SHC titles, regards Cunningham as a great loss to his native county.
He is also certain the tactic can be even more effective now than it was for Cork when Donal O’Grady and John Allen guided the Rebels to back-to-back Liam MacCarthy Cup successes in the mid-2000s.
As for why it’s no longer in fashion in the county, O’Connor said: “You had too many people in Cork, the powers-that-be, who kept cutting it down. All it takes is for somebody to listen to them but I think it (the style) should be taken further than it was taken before. There was way more room to capitalise on it but it would take an awful level of fitness. However, that’s there now in the game. The levels are as good as soccer and rugby.
“People would complain but it’s a way more attractive game. Everybody is involved. I think there is an opening for a way more of that. Fellas would have to be capable of playing anywhere on the field.”
Cunningham was a selector under both O’Grady and Allen and O’Connor believes he is cultivating a similar style to what was operated by Cork almost a decade ago.
He wished he had stayed on as a selector to Jimmy Barry-Murphy and not stepped down at the end of the 2013 season.
“I would think Dublin are playing more like it. I would have always rated Ger as being a fabulous coach and I think Dublin will get the benefit of him over the next couple of years.
“I think he was an awful loss to Cork hurling. Whatever happened is his own business but I would regard him very highly.”
O’Connor had the benefit of instilling the style in Newtownshandrum from the time his sons, Ben and Jerry, were playing juvenile right up until they became two of the best hurlers in the country.
He admits patience from supporters can wear thin if results aren’t going the right way but insists faith in it will invariably be repaid.
“You must have huge belief in it. If it isn’t working the boy outside the wire will start mouthing and you have to be very single-minded to keep it going and not listen to anybody. It’s your way or no way, as they say.
“There could have been a bit of outside influence. When we were doing it years ago the so-called big voices used to say we weren’t playing traditional Cork hurling.
“What I was half afraid of then was when Cork had a bad game it would be said they weren’t playing the right way and they would be expected to keep up the traditions.”
O’Connor feels Cork have the right materials to earn a first league final appearance since 2012 but has some reservations.
“Cork will fancy their chances. Dublin were the form team going into the last game and they couldn’t hack it with them. Cork are playing well and they have a lot of good hurlers.
“We’ll see how far it will take them but they’ve a lot of fellas playing well. They’re still in a fairly good spot and I hope they win on Sunday but Dublin on a good day can be very good.”
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