'A brilliant workout': Ricken delighted as Cork minors win Leinster Development League

The Cork minor footballers struggled for challenge matches last year. Playing in the Leinster Development League has proved very beneficial

Keith Ricken is in his second year in charge of the Cork minor footballers. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

The Cork minor footballers have claimed early-season silverware after seeing off Louth in the Leinster Development League final at SETU Carlow on Saturday afternoon.

It was level at 0-7 each at half-time, but the Leesiders won on a scoreline of 2-12 to 1-13 with green flags from Barryroe’s Riley O’Donovan and Rian Coakley of Éire Óg proving crucial. The captain for this decider was Ballincollig's Joe Miskella, son of 2010 All-Ireland winner, John Miskella.

The young Rebels don’t open their Munster championship campaign until Monday, April 27 so competing in this pre-season competition this year should be a huge benefit for them going forward.

Cork boss Keith Ricken, who is in his second season in charge, was full of praise for his players’ second-half display.

“We were a bit disappointed at half-time,” he said post-match.

“There was a funny wind that was going diagonal across the pitch. It probably favoured Louth after half-time. They started the new half positively and it nearly threw us, but we settled down and got a few great scores.

“Just coming down the home straight, we manufactured a couple of goals and we managed to get over the line. It was a brilliant workout, you were chopping and changing and taking lads off that were playing well. The beauty of this is that we have emptied the bench over the last few weeks.

“Players that got very little game time in a certain match got more game time in the next match. It’s for the players, that was the purpose of this pre-season competition.

“Louth are playing in a couple of weeks in the Leinster championship. They will be delighted with the workout today and we are thrilled too.” 

The young Rebels were scrambling around looking for challenge matches last year. Having competitive games in the Leinster Development League has proved to be wonderfully beneficial.

Cork captain Joe Miskella with the title after defeating Louth. Picture: Max Ricken

“I am just delighted to have had the competitive games and to see the young players get as much game time as you can get into them,” the St Vincent’s clubman says.

“The competitive games are always different from challenge games, there’s always a bit of an edge. We are very grateful to the Cork County Board and the Leinster Council for making it possible for us to compete in the pre-season competition this year.

“We went out and played games week in week out and played well in every game. You're always happy when you are playing games and it has been very good for the players and has instilled plenty of confidence into them.”

Ricken’s charges came through their group stage after winning three games, beat Laois in the last four and then Louth to win the title.

“We have put a big emphasis on our internal matches when we went back for this season. Boys being boys, they love playing matches.

“Winning this should help all of us - management included. It’s all about bringing the next generation through to the Cork U20s and then hopefully the Cork seniors.

“This minor age group is still very much a developmental age group. The fact that it’s U17 and not U18, there’s a big emphasis on development and I suppose that’s the big indicator as to how a player is going.

“The players are playing week in week out and it allows for correction, improvement and for a player that’s maybe falling behind to get back into the mix and so on.

“The biggest learning that I will take out of this pre-season competition is that I have learnt so much about the players.

“There’s just great depth to this Cork team, it’s very hard to get to the bottom of them.

“When you think this group is at their end, they can dig deeper again and that’s what I have found out about the squad so far this year. You're always learning and we have tweaked things from last season.

“It has been a very valuable experience and we also had a second team in this pre-season competition. I am very happy with everyone’s attitude.

“It wasn’t just lads wanting to play for Cork, it was lads wanting to play football for Cork, you get energised by that.” 

The Rebels left Carlow with the sense that this group is building something promising.

Scorers for Cork against Louth: E Ahern 0-4 (0-2 f), R O’Donovan, R Coakley 1-0 each, R Twohig 0-3 (0-3 f), C Murphy 0-2, D Herlihy, K O’Donovan, L O’Neill 0-1 each.

Cork panel against Louth: Conor Downing (Adrigole), Jacob Barry (Aghinagh), Paul Deasy (Argideen Rangers), Éanna Lynch (Ballincollig), Joe Miskella (Ballincollig, capt), Evan Stack (Ballincollig), Ben Hegarty (Ballinora), Billy Looney (Banteer), Conrad Murphy (Barryroe), Riley O’Donovan (Barryroe), Colm O’Riordan (Blarney), Michael Walsh (Bride Rovers), Luke O’Neill (Carbery Rangers), Eoghan Ahern (Carrigaline), Mark Power (Charleville), Tom Whooley (Clonakilty), Fionn O’Donovan (Clonakilty), Rian Coakley (Éire Óg), Darragh O’Sullivan (Erin’s Own), Aaron O’Sullivan (Glanmire), Rory Twohig (Kilmeen), Pol O’Connor (Lisgoold), Riain McCormack (Midleton), Rory O’Sullivan (Naomh Abán), Peadar Kelly (Naomh Abán), Morgan Corkery (Nemo Rangers), Donncha O’Mahony (Newcestown), Kevin O’Donovan (O’Donovan Rossa), Donal Herlihy (Shamrocks), Alex O’Herlihy (St Finbarr’s), Conor Garvey (St Finbarr’s), Kieran O’Shea (Urhan), Cathal Murphy (Valley Rovers), Donnacha Coleman (Youghal).