Ronan McCarthy says Cork ignoring Tomás Ó Sé comments

Cork football selector Ronan McCarthy responded last night to criticism from former Kerry star Tomás Ó Sé and former Cork footballer James Masters, saying that the Rebel players and management had not allowed recent comments to become a distraction as they prepare for the Munster final against Kerry on Sunday week.

Kerry manager Eamon Fitzmaurice weighed into the controversy this week, describing Cork yesterday as the most maligned team in the GAA, but McCarthy stressed that Cork would not be using the comments to fire their players up.

“I can guarantee you one thing, it won’t be up on the dressing-room wall,” McCarthy said of Ó Sé’s criticism of Cork.

“I think sometimes the media like to hype those things and make more of them. Then afterwards, if you win, it was great motivation, while if you lose nobody mentions it again.

“Really, what we don’t want it to become is a distraction for us. And it hasn’t. We’ve left it and gone about our business.”

Regarding Masters’ tweets criticising Cork manager Brian Cuthbert, McCarthy said: “You’d prefer if it didn’t happen, but people have opinions. They’re entitled to them.

“In the modern game, with social media, people have outlets to express those opinions that they mightn’t have had in the past. But it goes back to the point I’ve made, that if he’d come out and said something very positive about the team, what difference does it make to us? We still have to deliver down in Killarney on Sunday week, and what people say, right or wrong, we can’t control.” McCarthy added that the recent commentary would have no impact on Cork’s focus on the Munster final.

“I’m not going to add or subtract from what’s been said,” said the Douglas clubman.

“People can write positive things, they can write negative things. At the end of the day it doesn’t take away from the fact that we have to go to Killarney and perform.

“I can say no more than that, really.” McCarthy said Cork were practically at full strength for Killarney apart from one or two injuries.

“John O’Rourke is just nearly back full training, I think the game will probably come too early for him. Tom Clancy (Clon) has come back training but again the game has come too early.

“Ian Maguire is in full training but I’d say won’t make the game. It’s just a bit too early for him. Eoin Cadogan is back full training so he’ll be available.”