Bill Cooper: ‘Time for Cork to bridge the gap’

A third consecutive defeat to Waterford has left Bill Cooper in no doubt of where Cork stand at the moment.

“We know we’ve a lot of ground to make up.”

There is no talk in the camp of a relegation play-off just yet although the Youghal man accepts Cork need to get up-and-running as soon as they return to action against Dublin in Croke Park on Saturday week.

Echoing Pa Horgan’s comments before Christmas, Cooper says they have to bridge the gap that has developed between them and their rivals in terms of size, strength and intensity.

“We definitely have to up our physicality and our work-rate. Other teams, the likes of Kilkennys and Tipps and Galways and teams like that are hurling at a different tempo.

“Even Waterford the last night were comfortable for a clear proportion of the game. So we definitely need to start hurling at a higher tempo and up the work-rate.”

Without making excuses for the opening two defeats, Cooper revealed that Cork’s emphasis in recent weeks has been on the gym and not ball work on the training fields.

“I think we have a very good squad and we have the players. But it is just about putting a couple of extra kgs on lads over the winter months and as the summer goes on, hopefully it will stand to us.”

In doing so, Cork may have to lose their “nice guys” tag.

Earlier this month, selector Diarmuid O’Sullivan spoke of adding a bit of cuteness to the Cork players.

Cooper says three-time All-Ireland winner O’Sullivan is an inspiration to the panel.

“As a player he was, and he is a great character to have around the place, players gravitate towards him. He is really a good character and it has been really enjoyable so far.”

However, Cooper reveals Kieran Kingston and his management team are only now starting to do field-work with the players.

“Kieran has brought in a completely new backroom team so they have their own ideas and stuff. There’s some new ideas alright but we were only out on the field, you know.

“We’re probably behind a lot of teams hurling wise. We did a lot in the inside over the winter and I suppose they’re just getting going now with the hurling side.”

With three games remaining, Cooper insists the league remains “wide open”. His point is borne out by the strong possibility score difference or head-to-head could end up deciding whether a team makes a quarter-final or relegation play-off.

The 28-year-old appreciates Cork haven’t done much to show they are ready to move on from disappointing 2014 and ’15 seasons.

“I can only speak for myself, but if you don’t perform, you are frustrated. That’s the same in any walk of life.

“You could say frustration alright, but you want to stay positive as well and just try and get that bit of consistency.”

Cork put up a massive 34 points in beating Dublin in Croke Park last year before they completed a snatch-and-grab win over them in the league semi-final.

Ger Cunningham’s side may be playing away from their fortress of Parnell Park but Cooper anticipates a battle.

“They have plenty of motivation going into it especially after the league semi-final last year so we know we’ll get a very hard game off them.”

Bill Cooper was speaking at the re-launch of the official GAA website, www.gaa.ie