Damien Cahalane pushes positives for Cork

There may not be anything at stake for Cork in next Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A clash with Tipperary at Semple Stadium, but defender Damien Cahalane stresses his team must build on the improved showing against Kilkenny last Saturday night.

After the disappointment loss to Dublin, Cork were much more competitive against the Cats, and Cahalane hopes it’s a sign their season is turning around: “If you can’t get yourself up for a game against Kilkenny, you’re wasting your time playing hurling. It’s an old rivalry and fellas were massively up for it.

“Kilkenny are such a quality side, we knew that if we were going to have any hope against them, we were going to have to bring our ‘A’ game. Hopefully we can build on it now for next week and for the following weeks.”

Cahalane acknowledged a new backroom team takes time to bed in. “It wasn’t going to come overnight with the new management team. We’re learning off them every night. We’re blessed to have the crowd that we have – they’re brilliant.

“Saturday night, you could see the start of hopefully things to come. It was a massive performance from the fellas.

“Disappointed not to get the result, but Saturday was about performance, proving to ourselves we could put it up to one of the best teams in the country. We got that.”

The Barrs clubman admitted he and his teammates had been hurt by some of the criticism during the week following the Dublin defeat.

“Any time you get commentary like that it hurts. It was going to go one of two ways – fellas could lie down and say that’s our lot for the year. Or we could come back and try and fight our way back into the league. We did the latter out there. We didn’t get the result but a promising performance. Hopefully we can build on it.”

Cork didn’t close out the game from a commanding position last Saturday evening. But Cahalane pointed to Kilkenny’s calmness under pressure which allowed them escape Páirc Uí Rinn with a one-point win.

“Kilkenny are so experienced. They’re never going to die; they’re never going to panic. They’re always going to keep tipping away. It’s a learning curve for us. Playing against a team like Kilkenny, you have to take away positives from a performance like that.

“After last weekend, people were saying Cork hurling has gone back in the doldrums. There was only one crowd of people who could rectify that – that was us and the management team.

“To be fair, the players brought a different attitude this week, a different aggression and pride. If we keep getting that it will be massive for us.”

Meanwhile Tipp are sweating on the fitness of Seamus Callanan for Sunday’s game.

The Drom & Inch star, a Hurler of the year nominee last year, hasn’t featured for Tipp in this year’s League campaign due to ongoing injury concerns.

It is understood Callanan was on course to play some part in last Sunday’s draw with Galway but shipped a knock in training last week.

On medical advice, team manager Michael Ryan decided not to risk the All Star attacker for the Salthill visit and latest indications from the Tipp camp are Callanan is touch and go for the visit of the Rebels.

A Tipp victory should be enough to secure a top four finish in Division 1A and a place in the quarter-finals – as Tipp have a superior scoring difference to Galway.

Ryan’s men are currently on +8, with Galway on -5, meaning the Tribesmen would require a massive victory over Waterford at Walsh Park should Tipp win.

If Tipp fail to get the job done against Cork, they’ll meet the Leesiders again in their next two competitive fixtures – a relegation play-off and Munster SHC quarter-final.

Tipp corner-back Michael Cahill was due to undergo tests yesterday on the injury he sustained in Sunday’s game.

The corner-back was forced off in the first half after challenging Galway forward Joe Canning.

Initial indications are Cahill has not sustained any long-term damage but he may not be risked against Cork.

It has also emerged Ryan is planning to whisk his players away to Breaffy House for a pre-championship training camp at Easter.

Ryan will bring his entire panel of 40 players to the Mayo resort before whittling his squad down considerably ahead of the massive provincial championship clash with Cork in May at Semple Stadium.