'You have to make the most of every tool that's available': Mark Coleman on Cork's 2026 reset

During his early years on the Cork hurling panel, Mark Coleman didn't buy into the value of one-to-one sessions with the group's performance coach but he now knows it would be "foolish" not to use all the tool available

Cork hurler Mark Coleman said new manager Ben O'Connor is "very to the point". Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Mindset. The Cork mindset, to be more precise. One disastrous half of hurling has lent a fascination around Cork’s psychological state and whether it requires fixing.

One disastrous half of hurling has taken the conversation outside the whitewash and is now more concerned with what the Cork players are doing, and with whom, to correct the mindset.

The job of finding out where the Cork lads are at between the ears has been given to Gerry Hussey. The Galway native takes over as performance coach from Gary Keegan.

Vice-captain Mark Coleman has dealt with Hussey only in a collective setting since they started anew for 2026. Individual sessions, for now, he has not sought.

“He's there as an option, but I haven't reached out to him individually. I’m sure some fellas might have. At the moment, it is just a lot of collective sessions,” Coleman begins.

“He's definitely a breath of fresh air to the group, very hands on, and a good character around the place.” 

The same with Keegan and Cathal Sheridan before him, Coleman will, in time, sit down with Hussey. And when he does, there’ll be no issue opening up.

“I’d have no bother laying out how you're feeling. If you're using it, you might as well be open and honest, and buy into it as much as you can.

“In my first two or three years with Cork, I would have bought into the group aspect of sports psychology, but in terms of individual work, I wouldn't have done a whole pile of it. It’s not until you do it that you realise the value of it.

“It's an unbelievable tool to have available. We have had Gary Keegan involved in the past, who was involved with Irish Rugby, the Lions, and he’s kind of done it all, Irish boxing too. So, when you have the best people in the world available to you, you might as well use it, and if you're not, you're foolish.

“That's something we always kind of preach to younger fellas in the panel to make the most of every tool that's available to you.” 

The mindset work at present is focused on the ability to reset, to be able to regulate one’s emotions, and having the triggers to carry out such.

“Most of the psychological work is outside the white lines really and just being in the best mindset on a day-to-day basis.” 

The overall 2026 Cork reset is being driven by Ben O’Connor. Coleman articulates the early and obvious differences between the Newtownshandrum native and his predecessor from Sars.

“Just in pre-season, Ben's probably a bit more hands-on in terms of the coaching at the moment. Maybe that's something that could be a difference going forward.

“Obviously, they are probably different characters and stuff, and I suppose Ben would be very to the point, and there'd be no nonsense and that kind of stuff, and Pat would probably have a different way about it, more of an arm around the shoulder kind of approach. But they're both good in their own way, and I wouldn't favour one over the other in any way.

“Maybe for the younger lads it probably would matter a bit more, but once you get on in years and have more experience, you're not really looking to the manager or whatever for that comfort or arm around the shoulder. You know yourself if you're going well in training, or you know yourself what you have to do to get on the team, you don't need that reassurance from anyone.” 

Cork scratched a 27-year League itch last spring. The manner in which they collected spring silverware generated a tidal wave of momentum heading into championship.

Prior to rinsing Tipp below in the Páirc, this was a Cork group without silverware. And with Munster added thereafter to further swell their cabinet, there’s a school of thought that climbing steps is not a priority for Cork early on in 2026.

Not so, insists the half-back.

“I know people might say ‘they won't take the league seriously’ or whatever, but you're going out to win every game, and that'll be no different this year,” the 28-year-old continued.

“We did see the value of going far in the league last year, and the championship is just so close at the moment, you can see over the last few years, whoever's won the league have gone far in the championship as well, and vice versa.

“If you're not doing well in the league, there's a good chance you'll be dumped out, so you want to be hitting the ground running, particularly at the back end of the league.”

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