Jimmy Barry-Murphy: Cork are definitely making progress

It would have been remiss of Jimmy Barry-Murphy not to have acknowledged Cork’s fortune yesterday, but he was readily humble about this last-gasp victory.

That, though, didn’t stop him acknowledging the resolve of his team to fight back from that 12-point first-half deficit. He cited Paudie O’Sullivan’s goal six minutes from the end of normal time as the jolt Cork needed.

“I thought our lads showed great character in the second half, it was a great comeback. By half-time, nine points looked a big lead and I thought at half-time we’d need a goal or two to win it. One goal in the end probably was a big help.

“We got to six (points behind) and then they got it back to seven again and I thought we were in trouble again, but in fairness to our lads, Aidan Walsh thundered into the game, Rob O’Shea was outstanding at midfield, I thought he got on a lot of ball and the whole pitch of the game changed when we got the goal.

“I thought our lads grew in confidence and just about deserved it, probably lucky to win in fairness. You couldn’t say Dublin deserved to lose or anything like it, far from it.”

Barry-Murphy confirmed Mark Ellis was laid low by a virus and wasn’t able to train on Thursday. Cormac Murphy picked up an injury at the same training session and was ruled out.

It meant Walsh having to man the centre-back position. “It took a while for Aidan to settle into the half back role,” said the manager. “He wasn’t happy at centre back I’d say, but I thought he thundered into the game in the second half when we really wanted him.”

Although it’s against Munster opposition and the prospect of putting to bed a 17-year gap without a Division 1 title, Barry-Murphy wasn’t talking of the final in 13 days’ time as anything but an extra fixture. “That’s vital,” he said of the extra outing.

“We are not playing Championship until June 7 and we are thrilled about that, to get to the final.”

He added: “We will take every game as it goes but we are delighted with the progress we’ve made. I am not saying we are Championship contenders or anything like that. I’d like to think we are as good as many teams around.”

Cork will prepare for the final with a challenge game against Kilkenny in Páirc Uí Rinn next Saturday in aid of the ‘Friends of Jamie Wall’ fund.