Kieran Kingston says player attitude counts most

All Ireland SHC Round 2

Former Cork hurling selector and coach Kieran Kingston believes Cork will have no fear of Clare in this evening’s All-Ireland SHC qualifier in Thurles.

Kingston is confident last weekend’s win over Wexford will stand to the men in red: “That was a big positive for Cork after losing twice to Waterford, and the reaction to those losses. Not just that, but the players showed real hunger when it was needed and worked very hard, particularly in the first half, to build up the lead. Cork’s big players produced the goods as well, which is another positive for Cork ahead of tonight.

“A lot of people were saying that Wexford were a Division 1B team, which is true, and clearly they haven’t been going as well this year as they were last season, when they put Clare, then the All-Ireland champions, out of the championship.

“But still, before the throw-in down in Wexford Park last Saturday, I don’t think anyone was predicting that Cork would be able to put down the first half they did.

“We all know how hard a place Wexford Park can be to visit, that’s been true for years, and it’s more than a cliche. Clare found that out the hard way last year, and we all saw what Wexford were able to do to Kilkenny in the Leinster U21 final the other night. Kilkenny got an early goal but once Wexford got going, the crowd rowed in behind them and they dominated totally.

“It’s to Cork’s credit that they were able to keep the crowd quiet last Saturday evening.”

While much of the commentary following Cork’s win has focused on the team’s revised structure, Kingston preferred to highlight the importance of players’ attitudes within any tactical set-up.

“There’s been a lot of talk about Cork’s structure against Wexford; I think there are a couple of sides to that. Mark Ellis was playing deep as well last year, that’s not new. The way the inside line played, with Seamus (Harnedy) and Conor (Lehane), was very good.

“It’s funny to compare people’s attitudes, though — that if you don’t play seven or eight defenders, you can’t possibly be a modern manager, while at the same time you can see Tipperary and Kilkenny play an All-Ireland final in a pretty orthodox set-up, and we’re all raving about that as well.

“For me, the attitude of the players is the key thing with any set-up, no matter how it’s arranged. The system or the structure is important, of course it is - players want to have a system - but the other thing is, you must be cognisant of what’s needed to win the game.

“In a lot of systems, you can end up with five forwards taking on seven backs. No matter how good the tactics or the structure, the attitude and the work-rate of those forwards is hugely significant. If they won’t put the work in to cover the extra man then you’re in huge trouble.

“What nobody ever seems to comment on is the fact that withdrawing a player to sweep from your forward unit may dictate the kind of player you bring in to do the work up front when you’re short that man.

“When you examine Kilkenny’s success, a lot of it is down to having exceptional players, of course. But it’s also down to the willingness of the forwards to work like dogs to pressurise opposition defenders.

“They all do that work, they know if they don’t then they’ll be taken off.” Kingston paid tribute to Cork’s opponents tonight.

“Clare for me are dark horses for the All-Ireland. I’d put them near enough to Kilkenny and Tipperary and they’re shaping up well for this weekend. A lot of things are going their way - they’ve been laying low, Colm Galvin is back in harness for them, they were good against Offaly.

“Tonight will tell us a lot about where Cork and Clare are, both of them, and Clare will have plenty of motivation after being disappointed last year and this year in the championship. Clare can set up in an orthodox way because they have very good forwards, but they can also tweak their system which many people don’t realise.

"Clare can play two different ways in the one game, which is always a challenge for the opposition. They play with a high work-rate, plenty of skill and movement. Against that, Cork like playing in Thurles, they’re coming off a good win of their own and they won’t fear Clare, I think - apart from the All-Ireland final replay in 2013, the Cork record against Clare in the last few years is very good.

“I’d expect an open game, an entertaining game.”