Ben O'Connor content as Cork work ethic rewarded: 'We can battle out games now'

It wasn't free-flowing but the Rebels boss is okay with that, after victory over the Déise. 

MOVING ON UP: Cork manager Ben O'Connor celebrates during the win over Waterford. The points mean the Rebels will progress from Munster once more. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

For the third victory in succession, Cork’s performance against Waterford on Saturday evening was without the bouncing brilliance of recent summers. Free-flowing was not a state of on-field existence that they ever reached at Walsh Park.

None of the above bothers Ben O’Connor in the slightest. He’s more than content that his Cork team continues to show a different side to themselves.

“We're working hard,” replied the Cork manager when asked by the Irish Examiner what has most pleased him outside the three wins and six points accumulated.

“It isn't going to be free-flowing hurling every day. You see a different side to these lads now, that we can battle as well like, because that was a battle outside there, and I don't think it has to be free-flowing for us to win games. We're able to battle out games now.” 

Encapsulating that work-rate and a penchant for the unglamorous was the outstanding Brian Hayes.

Go beyond his seven points from play. Midway through the second half, Hayes dispossessed Mark Fitzgerald as far out from the full-forward line as midfield. And not alone did he win the turnover, he then won a free off Fitzgerald, which Alan Connolly converted to bring Cork within the minimum.

O’Connor was adamant the dogged and digging performance of his towering No.15 reduced to nonsense any claims that Hayes is all style and no rolled up sleeves.

“It has been thrown at Brian before that he doesn't work hard enough. If he doesn't work hard enough, I don't know what forward in the country is working hard enough because that’s the third day this year that he's run himself into the ground.

“Take scores out of it altogether, he's one of the hardest-working players that we have. That's Alan Connolly as well, he was taken off with cramp, and William Buckley.

“That's what's expected in our group, that you work hard. We know we've good hurlers, but we want everyone working hard. That's the minimum requirement.” 

Reflecting on the 70 minutes, there was momentary worry that seven first-half wides, plus a 33rd-minute saved penalty, might prove costly. While never more than three behind, Cork did not lead between the 19th and 60th minute.

“We made more chances against the breeze than it was against the breeze. If you had told us before the game that we'd be a point down at half-time, after playing against that breeze, we'd have been happy.

“As it turned out, we probably should have been up four or five points maybe at half-time, turning around, and I suppose the longer the game went on in the second half, we were maybe worried that we wouldn't get in front,” the Cork manager admitted.

“Every time we got a score, they seemed to come back and put one on the board as well. But as soon as the penalty went in, that gave us another boost, and Darragh nailed the last free.

“Four points up with a couple of minutes to go, we weren’t going to be beaten at that stage.” Whatever hype a third win and early progression out of Munster feeds, it will not penetrate O’Connor’s dressing-room.

“There is no hype with us anyways,” insisted the Cork boss. “The boys will enjoy that there tonight just cause we are after winning a Munster championship match. We'll be back on the field on Wednesday night and driving on for Clare, so there is no hype inside in our camp anyway.

“There might be hype some place else out around the place, but we've only one thing on our mind and that is Clare on Sunday week now again.” Management of Barry Walsh’s workload is why the 19-year-old didn’t start his second championship game in the space of three days, while the manager also confirmed that Eoin Downey, who did start, was sick during the week. His arm heavily strapped, Downey was withdrawn during the second half and tended to on the sideline.

“He was sick during the week, so he was just a bit drained energy-wise. Thankfully, no knock, he just picked up a bug during the week. He hadn't trained, and it was just precautionary more than anything else that he wouldn't pull a muscle as the game went on.”