Pat Ryan: Players don’t carry baggage of Cork’s All-Ireland famine. They see themselves as the best

To put Cork’s barren spell into context, Kilkenny and Tipperary have won nine minor, eight U20/U21, and 11 senior All-Ireland titles between them since Cork’s most recent final victories in each championship

Cork’s Shane O’Regan, left, and Daira Connery celebrate success in the Munster U20 Hurling Championship Final against Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Picture: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

Cork’s desperate want for a piece of All-Ireland hurling silverware is “not a noose hanging around the neck” of the county’s U20 players, manager Pat Ryan has said.

As has been documented in the build-up to Saturday’s All-Ireland U20 decider, Cork have not won an All-Ireland hurling title at minor, U20 (formerly U21), or senior since 2005.