Teddy McCarthy: Are Cork players hiding behind the county board?

Cork icon Teddy McCarthy has questioned the attitude of the Rebel hurlers ahead of tonight’s must-win qualifier game against Dublin, which he describes as “bigger than an All-Ireland” for the county.

“This is the biggest game for Cork for years,” said McCarthy. “After the bad week we’ve had with the minors and U21s. It could be bigger than a Munster or All-Ireland final, because a win is so badly needed.

“And the buck stops with the players. They’re the ones with the jerseys. If you go back a few years, the genuine supporter was blaming the county board for everything, but I know the Cork players don’t lack for anything. They’re supplied with everything they need.

“I wonder if they’re hiding behind people’s view of the county board — ‘if we don’t win, the county board will be blamed anyway’. That kind of attitude. They must be honest with themselves and face up to the fact they haven’t been going well and must now turn the corner for themselves, for management, for Cork. If they can’t take the responsibility then be manly about it and hand the jersey back.”

McCarthy feels support for the team will ebb away on Leeside if a performance and result are not forthcoming.

“What people want to see tonight is an honest performance for 73,74, 75 minutes. If that’s not good enough to win, fair enough, I’ll still clap them on the back, but I haven’t seen that honesty yet. I’m not saying they’re dishonest, not at all, but at times they’re not giving everything they could to support themselves and colleagues on the field. You can have a situation where players aren’t giving 100% honesty on the field as well.

“There was talk about the rain up in Thurles after the Tipp game — were Tipperary running between the raindrops?”

McCarthy said Cork must up their workrate and put in a performance in Páirc Uí Rinn this evening. “They’re good lads and they train hard, all counties are doing that, but I think some of them are living in a bubble if they feel the Cork public loves them without conditions. The tide is going out.

“We as supporters, the trustees of the game in Cork, put the responsibility on those players to turn the corner for Cork. A lot of people are at a low ebb in Cork and they want inspiration. There are good players coming through for Cork; it’s slow and we’re not where we should be now, but the talent is coming through.

“It’s not a cliche to say you’re lent the jersey but they need to show some respect for the people of Cork — to dig out some tough results, and show a bit of an edge to themselves, which is what is needed.

“They’re fit. Everyone can see that. They have the time put in. And if you’re fit, you can hook, block, tackle, cover — you can do all of that. You don’t learn that when you come into the Cork senior set-up — that comes from when you’re seven and eight years of age with your club.

“That’s workrate. A basic. That’s implemented through honesty, and if that will bring us over the line, brilliant. If not, then at least we can say we got a performance. I feel there’s light at the end of the tunnel, but it would be a huge help if the lads gave a boost to everyone tonight.”

The Sars clubman added that the team must change the perception of Cork as a soft touch.

“There’s a mentality out there outside Cork that there’s no need to fear Cork anymore. The only people who can change that around are the players. That’s a pressurised situation, I know, but playing for Cork is all about pressure. It’s up to them to start putting the fear of God, and the fear of Cork, into other counties, starting tonight.”