Pat Ryan goes for power and height to bridge gap to Limerick

Cork teams have struggled to physically cope with the savagery and intensity brought by Limerick sides

PHYSICALITY: Ethan Twomey of Cork in action against Kerry during the Munster Hurling League. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

A few weeks after Midleton won the county championship in 2021, they travelled to the Gaelic Grounds to take on Kilmallock in a Munster semi-final, fully intent on tapping into their heritage in that competition, fuelled by a yearning within the club to rekindle memories of a time when Midleton were dominant on that terrain.

In the four seasons Midleton competed in the Munster club between 1983-91, they reached three finals, winning two. Their ambition to return to those days was also driven by their coach Ben O’Connor, who won three Munster club titles in the 2000s with Newtownshandrum. “We’re going to have a right cut off Kilmallock,” said O’Connor after the 2021 county final win against Glen Rovers. “We’re going all out to win Munster and we’re not hiding that.”