Defeats just part of the Cork journey for Brian Hayes

Hayes believes the quick turnaround from the league final loss to Limerick to their opening Munster SHC clash with Tipperary will suit Cork

The weekend's Division 1A decider defeat to Limerick was the third national final Brian Hayes has experienced with the Cork seniors. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

So that's a dozen National League or All-Ireland finals now for Cork since last lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup, and how many of those finals have they won? Just the one. Last year's Division 1A final at the expense of Tipperary.

Aside from that, it's 10 losses, a draw against Clare in the first All-Ireland final of 2013 and a world of hurt from 20 years of national disappointments.

Brian Hayes has experienced four of those finals, winning one, that 2025 League final, and losing three, the latest of which came last weekend when Limerick claimed the Division 1A title.

It's not exactly a skill a player ever wishes to develop but Hayes has got pretty good at digging down and mining out the positives from national final losses and moving on.

"We obviously wanted to win the League after being in the final but the result just didn't go our way and we'll be looking to bring some of the things that didn't work out for us on the day into the Munster championship as a whole," said Hayes at the official launch of Centra's sponsorship of the 2026 senior hurling championship.

"It (the League) was all about getting back out there and bouncing a few different styles around on different match days and obviously getting some young lads out there and mixing with some players that play most of the games.

"I think if you take the younger lads and what they've gotten out of it, it'll hopefully be worth it in the long run. I think as a group we're definitely motivated and we're sharp going into the Championship."

What specifically do Cork need to improve on after the latest final setback?

Brian Hayes pictured at the launch of the 2026 Senior Hurling Championship and the Centra GAA Sharpshooter Competition. Winners will receive a €1,000 prize for their local GAA club plus the opportunity for their team to play at the 2026 Hurling for Cancer Research Charity Match later this year. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

"I just think our work rate overall, for a 70-minute performance," responded Hayes. "That's something we'll definitely be going after. If you look at quarter two, I would think we were better than Limerick in that quarter.

"That's something that if we can focus on ourselves completely and take that same energy we had in that second quarter, and what was working there, and just try to amalgamate that together for a full 70 minutes, that would be it hopefully."

The St Finbarr's man has similar feelings about last year's All-Ireland final loss to Tipp, that the things they learned could yet prove invaluable.

"It was difficult at the time but it's definitely not something you'd be carrying with you going forward," said Hayes of last July's Croke Park disappointment. "It's all part of the journey and we'll definitely be better for it happening going forward."

That's the hope anyway. What Hayes can say for certain is that he's glad they don't have to mull over last weekend's loss to Limerick for too long. They've got Sunday week's Munster SHC opener against Tipp to prepare for in Thurles. Limerick, meanwhile, aren't back in action until the following weekend, when they play Cork again.

"I think the way it's actually happening is brilliant," said Hayes of the relatively quick turnaround. "I think Limerick will be watching everyone on the first day. I don't really think that would suit us after the League, you want to get back out there now and play the match and feel like we're ready for that Championship match.

"I wouldn't be one to be watching much of the matches anyway, if you're not playing in them. If you're not used to that Championship pace, I think whoever is not playing in the first match might be slow to start in the games after having not been involved in that first round. I think the teams who play in the first match and who are going in again the week after will be a bit sharper."

Another certainty is that any number of commentators will have their say ahead of Sunday week on Cork's Championship credentials. Already Hayes' former attacking colleague Pat Horgan and ex-Cork goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack have loaded on a little extra pressure by downplaying Tipperary's chances.

"I think for myself personally, you're just trying to spend less time on your phone," said Hayes, explaining how he personally blocks out 'outside noise'.

"I don't really spend much time on social media these days, not as much as I might have when I first came onto the scene.

"We can't really control what happens outside of the group. We're only focusing on how we're doing in training, on what's happening next, whether that's training or a practice match at the weekend or whether it's a Championship match. That's no different now for the next 10 days."