Pat Ryan keen to reward Cork supersubs

The impact of the likes of Shane Kingston, Luke Meade, and Brian Hayes off the bench against Tipperary has given management tough calls

BENCH PRESS: Shane Kingston of Cork, centre, before the Munster SHC Round 3 match against Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

There ain’t too much Pat Ryan doesn’t already know about his Cork charges. Ever before he ascended to the top job in the county, Ryan had got a good, long look under the bonnet from his two seasons as coach/selector under Kieran Kingston and his two seasons as U20 boss.

Sunday’s spin to Ennis will leave him better informed again. How could it not? A fixture that will go a distance to deciding Cork’s championship fate. A “knockout” fixture, as Ryan describes it. A sellout fixture on opposition turf. A buoyant opposition.