When Cork's backs are against the wall, 'we do perform', says Brian Hurley
Brian Hurley made his first start of 2025 for Cork against Louth. He had been absent since round 3 of the league due to a quad injury. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Whatever about consistency, winning League starts, or delivering on their annual target of Division 2 promotion, there is one piece of the spring puzzle the Cork footballers never fail to get right.
Sunday, at home to Louth, was a scene that had played out many times before. It was a near mirror image of Westmeath’s visit four years ago, the trip to Tullamore this month three years ago, and last year’s Round 4 assignment away to Fermanagh. Defeat on any of those occasions would have either confirmed relegation or made the drop to Division 3 pretty much inescapable.
Sunday, at home to Louth, fell into the latter of those categories. Defeat would have taken safety out of Cork’s control. It would have sent them into the final round seventh in the table and level on points with a team - Down - who have the head-to-head on them.
Cork once again had to extricate themselves from a tight corner. As they did in 2021, '22, and last year, they showed they are a dab hand at such manoeuvres.
“We knew how big of a game it was, and we delivered. When our backs are to the wall, we do perform,” said returning captain Brian Hurley.
“We probably took our foot off the gas at the end a small bit but today was about getting the win. There was also a bit of hurt there from last year, being honest.”
Pressure too?
“Division 2 is one of them divisions; you’re under pressure every game you play. You’re two points from being promoted and two points from being relegated really. There’s pressure on every game in Division 2 and personally I love the pressure. If you put a bit of pressure on yourself, you get a bit more out of yourself.”
The pressure is not completely dissipated. The job is not fully done.
Along with rubber-stamping Division 2 safety, there’s also an awareness heading to Cavan this weekend that three Sam Maguire spots will be taken by teams currently below Cork in the League standings. They are Down (2024 Tailteann Cup winners), one from Clare, Tipperary, and Waterford in the Munster championship, and one from Kildare, Westmeath, Louth, Wexford, and Laois in the Leinster championship.
It means Cork must, at the very minimum, maintain the fifth-place position they reside in at present.
“Being straight with you, our job is to go up to Cavan and win. That’s all we can do. That’s our controllable and that will be the task for the week,” Hurley continued.
Along with the eight-point victory on Sunday, there was personal satisfaction for Hurley in coming through his first start of 2025. Introduced during the Round 3 win over Westmeath, he had been absent for the four games either side of that because of a quad issue. Against Louth, he went for 53 minutes before management called ashore the soon-to-be 33-year-old.
“I tore my quad twice and just back in again. I’m pushing on now so I’m just trying to get my body right and enjoy the football really.
“It was good to get the hour today. A lot of the lads make your life easier when they’re popping ball in, but I’m sure I can get sharper. I’ll be working on that during the week again.
“I haven’t played a whole pile but it’s [the new rules] exciting in a way. They changed during the week again so it’s just trying to adapt to that again. They’re sticking with them now, so it’s just for everyone to get up to scratch and try to find a few loopholes in between us. It’s exciting and it’s exciting for a forward anyway.”
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