No change in Cork approach as Hayes targets another league crown

A point from their final two games against Limerick and Offaly will secure a second successive Division 1A final for Cork, who are now eight games unbeaten in the competition.

Sun, 01 Mar, 2026 - 18:03

John Fogarty

Cork carried their excellent league form into championship last year and Brian Hayes says they’re taking the same approach this season.

A point from their final two games against Limerick and Offaly will secure a second successive Division 1A final for Cork, who are now eight games unbeaten in the competition.

“I don't take any team inside in the league, no matter what division it is, is going out not to win,” Hayes told TG4 following the latest win over Kilkenny. “You have to get used to a winning mentality and if you can win the games, it gives you great confidence in the way you're playing and the players around you. So, yeah, 100%.

Cork eyeing league final after passing Kilkenny test

"I think you saw the form we had there at the start of last year's championship. That was definitely thanks to winning the league and yeah, we'll definitely be going for that again, hopefully.”

Hayes said manager Ben O’Connor referred to Cork’s poor record in UPMC Nowlan Park before the game. Cork won the league play-off game there in 2019 but prior to it, they hadn’t won since the 1980s.

“Ben and the lads have been speaking about that on the way up there. I think we had a poor record here the last nine or 10 times. I know many of us wouldn't have been playing, but I suppose that was definitely a focus there for the week to come up here and get a result.

“We’ll be going away to Waterford and to Tipperary (in the Munster SHC) and it gives us great practice there to come up here and put in a pure away day performance and I think we got the same up in Galway.”