Cork can still live up to great expectations but hype may have affected them, says Tomás Mulcahy

The All-Ireland winning skipper warns that the Rebels can't be written off after one bruising trip to Limerick.

IN THE TRENCHES: Cork's Niall O'Leary and Eoin Downey challenge for a loose ball with Limerick's Aaron Gillane and Shane O Brien. Pic: INPHO/Tom Maher

One heavy defeat is not going to sully the Cork public’s appreciation for this senior hurling team of theirs, insists Tomás Mulcahy.

The 1990 All-Ireland SHC winning captain believes recent hype going into last Sunday’s game against Limerick may have affected their performance.

While Mulcahy feels a lot of the garlands being thrown Cork’s way are merited, they have clearly proven they aren’t yet ready to embrace the expectations that come off a Division 1 title and the back of two championship wins over Limerick.

“There was something lacking on Sunday. Even sideline balls, they were so casual. I’m not saying the players went out to do that but the work-rate wasn’t there as it was previously. Maybe the favourites tag contributed to players thinking things would happen for them rather than making them happen as Limerick did.

“There was huge hype coming into Sunday. It was coming from everywhere and rightly so because they're a very good team. They don't become a bad team overnight because of Sunday. They've proven themselves, they were in an All-Ireland final last year, seconds from winning it after having a very good campaign, and they've brought in new players so the squad has been strengthened.” 

He fully expects supporters to get behind the team when they look to beat Waterford in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday and earn a second crack at Limerick in June 7th’s Munster final.

“The style of hurling, Jesus, we were all enthusiastic about it, because it wasn't very much the short game any more, it wasn't very much going across the field. Yeah, if there was a hand-pass needed, it was done, but mostly it was long delivery, quick striking, very accurate, and I think why the Cork public has got so behind them is the amount of goals they are scoring. They’re very good to watch.

“Now, for Limerick, knowing that what are you going to do? You're going to close all that down, and that's what they did. The half-back line stayed very deep, they left no room in front of our full-forward line. We struggled to get ball in to Brian Hayes, and Alan Connolly, and in front of them Kyle Hayes ran the show.

“There'll be another day, hopefully. People have said, ‘Look, that it was more than likely that Cork would have that fallback of the last match against Waterford,’ but they can't take anything for granted on the basis of last Sunday’s performance. Waterford are now entitled to come to Páirc Uí Chaoimh and say, ‘We can win this match, we can knock Cork out.’ 

“The crowd need to get behind the team again and I don’t think they’re going to give up on them. These players have given us fantastic entertainment and nobody knows more than them that they have a point to prove.” 

With the benefit of hindsight, Mulcahy bemoaned “the lack of a challenge” from Tipperary in Cork’s previous game because of Darragh McCarthy’s sending off at the outset.

Clearly, Limerick’s hurt after last year ran much deeper than anticipated too. “Everybody witnessed what happened last year that night in the Páirc. It was probably one of the most important occasions beating Limerick and then going on to do it in the All-Ireland semi-final as well. If you were in the Limerick set-up, you were waiting for this game and it proved this way. We can’t hide from the fact that we were beaten all over the field.”

Mulcahy also had a nagging feeling about the match fitness of his fellow Glen Rovers man Rob Downey and the Cork captain was replaced at half-time. “Rob is a club-mate of mine. I'm not backing up the guy in a major way, but he has become the main man at number six, and I think everybody was surprised when he was put out to wing-back but we don’t see what’s happening in training.

“I had a concern for Rob going into the match in terms of the dead leg that forced him off against Clare and Tipperary. I was kind of worried in terms of how much hurling had Rob done in that three-week period leading up to the game.

“Going into the cauldron of the Gaelic Grounds to face a team like Limerick, who are hurting and want to prove a point, you've got to be bringing your A game. I’d say he knows himself as do so many others that we were weak in too many positions.” 

Mulcahy is delighted Cork don’t have much time to dwell on things. “I think the best thing is that they've only seven days. Supporters were kind of a bit glum afterwards but I think it's now time to get behind them even more. There’s a fortune to play for. I'd be very, very confident with this Cork team. Don’t rule us out yet.” 

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