O’Mahony: 'If you’re an honest hurling man, you would say Limerick are still the team to beat'

TEAM TO BEAT: Tim O'Mahony not downplaying Cork's Munster final win but believes Limerick are still the team to beat for the All-Ireland. Pic: John Sheridan/Sportsfile

Tim O’Mahony isn’t one for reading media of any kind so what the outside world thought of Cork’s no-show against Limerick last month washed over him.

The Newtownshandrum man imagined the character of this Cork group he is part of would have been questioned in the wake of it but the only opinions he sought were those in his own circles.

“I'm not really into social media,” said the midfielder after Saturday's epic Munster final success. “I wouldn't be reading articles. I don't really be into any of that.

"I think you've just seen the character of the lads. When the final whistle went at the end of extra-time, there was no-one going around a bag of nerves. We knew we'd come down and we had represented jersey the way we'd set out to represent it. So that was number one.” 

He never doubted Cork would be able to give a greater account of themselves. “I think we have a solid group. Between, your elder statesmen, your lads that are still experienced but still relatively young and the young guns who have come in bearing U20 and minor All-Ireland success. They're fearless in ways, and they offer so much to our group.

“Fellas just realised we didn’t represent the jersey the way we wanted to. That was probably the hardest thing about it, but that was something that we knew we had control over. We can control exactly how we represent the jerseys.

“We knew we let ourselves down. And we let family members, club members down. There was 25,000 Cork supporters that came down here three weeks ago. That's not nice to come out after being beaten by 16 points. That's a tough spin back up the road. I just commend our supporters. Beaten by 16 points three weeks ago and there was a fight for tickets.” 

On the Cork-Limerick border, O’Mahony knows the Munster final win will be savoured. As intense as the rivalry is for him, club-mate Cormac O’Brien and Charleville’s Darragh Fitzgibbon, there is immense respect.

“Limerick have been unbelievable champions. Obviously, the history they have set out in Munster, they were trying to beat their own history. That'll tell you the level they've got to.

“We've been on the wrong side of a lot of results against them. I can go back down to 2017, U21 here. Senior games down here, you're just coming out, puck of a ball. It's a small bit of relief because I can't stress it enough we were on the wrong side of too many results with Limerick. They were just so good and are so good. Particularly down on the border, it's sweet. For the entire county of Cork, but north Cork especially.” 

And Limerick remain the standard bearers for the 28-year-old. “We're back into Croke Park. That's where everyone wants to be. In the first round of the Munster championship, if you were told you'd be inside in Croke Park in July, you'd take the hand off the fella for that.

“But, look, if I'm honest, Limerick are still the team to beat. And I'm not playing ourselves down. This is brilliant and everything but if you’re a neutral and an honest hurling man, you would say Limerick are still the team to beat.” 

As for the week ahead? “It mightn't be hot this Tuesday night,” smiled O’Mahony, “but I can guarantee you on Saturday there will be skin and hair flying because fellas will want to get inside the 15 and 26 on All-Ireland semi-final day.”