Ben O'Connor: 'I love going up to Thurles. This is what we've been training for'

Cork boss Ben O'Connor is relishing the latest installment in a rivalry he more than once illuminated as a half-forward.

Ronan Curran and Ben O'Connor of the Cork Senior hurling management team at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Picture: Larry Cummins

Can’t wait. Championship is almost upon them. Going up the road to a thronged Thurles. The holders lying in wait. This is why he accepted the job offer. This is everything.

Ben O’Connor, as has been the case across the season to date, was enlightening company at last week’s Cork GAA pre-championship media briefing. There was not a single question ducked or dodged. There never is.

His thoughts on the unfortunate and unhelpful comments of former teammates, regarding Sunday's opponents, have already been circulated, ditto his approach to minding and managing the U20 breakout talent that is Barry Walsh.

There is still so much to get through. As ever, we’ll endeavour to keep out of Ben’s way and keep his uncensored words centre-stage.

An opening-day assignment to relish. Travelling up to the crowd that humiliated Cork on the concluding day of the 2025 championship. The latest installment in a rivalry he more than once illuminated as a half-forward.

“Sunny weather, a day out in Thurles, can't wait for it,” the Cork boss began.

“I love going up to Thurles. This is what we've been training for. The league was fine but it's championship that we can't wait for. The boys are in the same frame of mind. Exciting times.” 

As absolutely crucial as the Tipp game is, there is no Cork person viewing the opening-day assignment in isolation. They couldn’t possibly. Not when Limerick are the visitors seven days later.

A pair of April fixtures that could define a full summer. Two fixtures that could prevent another full summer’s involvement.

“I suppose we're lucky enough. We had a lot of work done on Limerick for the league final, so that makes it a little bit lighter coming into them the week after. The League final performance was probably better after watching it on television than walking out of the stadium on the day,” Ben continued.

“It's a huge couple of weeks. A team that beat you in the league final and a team that are after giving you a bit of a going-over in the All-Ireland final, but we're looking forward to it.” 

We’re reluctant to give too much oxygen to the narrative that the All-Ireland champions - a final they won by 15 points - are somehow coming in under the radar this Sunday.

Maybe it’s the fact that Tipp haven't been seen sight of since March 21. Maybe it’s the fact they hadn’t anything close to their strongest 15 out at any point over the spring.

'They're the All-Ireland champions'

Ben O’Connor knows for certain Liam Cahill won’t mind such talk. They were talked over last July too and look how that worked out for them.

“They're the All-Ireland champions,” stated Ben, just in case it needed stating for those pedaling and pushing the narrative.

“In Munster, we have the last three All-Ireland final winners. Ourselves and Waterford are at the bottom of the picking order, with the three of them above us.

“Tipperary, they were probably a little bit later going back to training this year because they went on a holiday or there was surely something that caused them to go back later. But they knew what they were doing again this year.

“I'm sure they're delighted they have their first Championship game over in Thurles. Being All-Ireland champions, they'll have a huge crowd in, and they'll be delighted to see us coming.

“They're going in the way they want to be if people are putting them under the radar. But our boys won't be looking at it that way, because the last time they were in the Championship, it was against Tipperary. And it was a hiding we got. That's going to keep us focused on the job at hand.” 

Ben’s championship debut was the 1999 Munster semi-final against Waterford. Lose and their year was done. He never liked the knockout system, no matter how much theatre it fed.

The current format is a far more accurate measurement of a team’s worth. Four opportunities to accumulate a sufficient points total. If you fail, you failed because of your own shortcomings, nobody else’s.

“If you don't come out of Munster, with all the games you play, you're not good enough. If you're good enough, you'll come out, because you get a chance. You could have an off-day, and you could win the other days, so you have a chance. I like the format and I think hurling deserves it.” 

His predecessor, Pat Ryan, often remarked that he’d take third place, if he was offered such on the eve of Munster’s opening round. Not Ben. He’s here for the winning.

“No. I want to win it. I want to win Munster. I want to finish top. But it is about getting out. I would take third place, but I want to win it. If we can't win it, third place will do. There's no point saying I don't want to win it. All the other fellas, Limerick, Tipp, they all want to win it. But the main thing is getting out.” 

A bugbear of his is the condensed nature of the round-robin. Another bugbear is the inconsistent policing of the handpass and how “horrible” it is to see players tapping the sliotar off the hurl, afraid to handpass for fear of being blown.

Another bugbear further on again is the abolished maor foirne and the inability to get messages onto the field. In a packed Gaelic Grounds the afternoon of the League final defeat, it was a real learning for the manager himself. There were notes he wanted to get on but couldn’t.

“There must be some middle ground – a fella who can run across the field, pass on the information, keep going to the other side and come back around again.

“I ran in twice the last day. I ran into the field, below at the 21, and I was told the next time you do that, it's a yellow card. I said, 'That's grand, I'll take the yellow, will a red follow that?' and they said it would. I said I'd take that as well. That's the only way you can get information in.

“We don't tell the fellas to throw themselves down and look for the physio or the doctor to go in. I'm sure it is being done but we don't do that. We want to play, keep going, and get a bit of momentum. It's very awkward. I don't see it as an issue for some fella to run in with a message, out the other side of the field, job done.” 

The job is only starting. He doesn't need telling of that.

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