Pat Ryan still chasing perfection but embracing the buzz around Cork

Cork manager Pat Ryan, left, shakes hands with Dublin manager Niall Ó Ceallacháin after the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final match between Cork and Dublin at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

The four-week break that came with winning an epic Munster hurling final was of huge benefit to Cork, according to manager Pat Ryan. It allowed them to reassess and gave adequate time for injuries to clear up.

They managed it well.

“If we had lost that game we would have been playing Dublin in a quarter-final two weeks later and we wouldn’t have been as well prepared. In fairness to Dublin they were really, really prepared but it was always going to be hard for them to get up to that heights after beating a team of the magnitude of Limerick," Ryan said.

“Our preparation over the last three to four weeks has been excellent, really really good which was a huge focus on what we wanted to do after coming off the Munster final. Credit to the players, credit to their families, their spouses, girlfriends and all that side of it for giving the lads the space to be able to prepare in those four weeks and look we got that performance we wanted.

“Look, it wasn’t perfect, lots of stuff we will go after as regards what we want for the All-Ireland final but we’re in the All-Ireland final tonight and that is a special place to be and we’ll get to watch two great teams go hammer and tongs tomorrow.

“I thought our accuracy was very, very good. After we got the first two or three goals we pushed it a bit too much, we should have been building the score. Then we gave away maybe two soft goals, which we were really disappointed with.

“But we came in at half that and the lads were really focused. I thought our work-rate was a bit down as well. They are areas we will go after, but as I said the commitment the lads have given to the jersey after being beaten in an All-Ireland final last year has been fantastic. We’re back where we were this time last year, the idea is to go one better but we know the opposition will be really good as well.” 

Their focus on a fast start yielded goals in the first quarter from Brian Hayes and Alan Connolly (2).

“We’re targeting goals all time, targeting fast starts all the time. That is the goal of it really, that is the game. Lads were really clinical today. I thought we left an awful lot of scores behind us but that is me being a bit critical, maybe over critical.

“We came out of here fifty-one and a half weeks ago, and for us to get back into a final shows the character and strength and commitment to the jersey the lads have.

“We knuckled down, we got back in. We probably refreshed the panel a bit more. Looked at areas that we didn’t do well as a management team, our S&C, all that side of it, physio - that side of things we could improve on.

“Spoke to players about that. Really went after performances in the league to make the panel as competitive as we could.

“Look, a small thing, the weather was much better this year. Fellas were probably looking forward to going to training. The weather made a huge difference, we were in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Páirc Uí Rinn and there was a great buzz. The year kind of flew.

“The competition within the squad has made fellas step up their game.” 

Ryan and his management team can pull on the experience of last year’s final.

“To be honest, I think we got an awful lot right last year in what we were doing, that wasn’t the reason we were beaten.

“I think we came up and we performed, I think we were 1-7 to three points up after 15, 20 minutes. So, fellas would say, should you have slept in this hotel? Or, should you have done this or done that?

“We just came up against a brilliant team last year. It took an awful lot out of us last year in the semi-final to perform against Limerick and you were never probably going to hit that height that we needed to.

“We were coming up against a brilliant team in Clare that probably didn't hit the same heights in the semi-final and then hit a bigger height in the final than us.

“We were really proud of our lads last year, really proud of the way they dug down. Our job now is to make sure that we get focused back in, fellas get recovered, fellas are ready to go. Try and take as many distractions as you can around it, but, at the same time, fellas need to enjoy the two weeks.

“We're amateur athletes. There's going to be a great buzz around Cork, you embrace it. Unfortunately, we can't go away to Dubai for two weeks and relax and chill out and prepare outside there.

“Fellas have to go back to work, they have to meet their colleagues and all that side of things, or school or whatever they're doing.

“But, look, we'll enjoy the next two weeks and the county board can look after the problem with tickets!

“We'll be back in the gym on Monday in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and back on the pitch on Wednesday.

“Every bit of recovery helps,” he said, “especially for us, having to travel up.

“We came up the night before and that was great, it made a huge difference to us.

“We'll get back down and fellas will recover. The lads are really professional about the way they do it and our S&C and our physios will look after that side of things.” 

Cork will have to handle the favourites' tag after an incredible 20-point victory.

“To be honest, I think we've probably been favourites for lots of games all year bar probably the Munster final.

“What I always say about favouritism, I'd always prefer to be favourites because that means you're doing something right.

“That's the way I look at it, you're doing something right and it's up to the lads. If we're winning matches and we're playing well and performing well, you're going to be favourites.

“But, as we know ourselves, it doesn't make a difference what the bookies are going to do. You have to turn up and perform. We were favourites probably for the All-Ireland final last year with the bookies and we didn't win.

“It's just about being focused on ourselves and making sure that we're ready to go.”