'You would think they are from the one parish': Ricken's young Rebels enjoying the journey

KICKING KING: Cork goalkeeper Rory Twohig in action during the quarter-final clash between Cork and Meath. Pic:  Diarmuid Brennan/Sportsfocus.

Cork’s minor football campaign has so far proven a successful marriage of opposing outlooks.

The kids’ setting, for kids they are, is to live exclusively in the moment. Forever, right now.

The adults live and look differently. Their attitude is long-term. The adults have thus far made little effort to foist their way of thinking onto the kids.

Cork minor manager Keith Ricken observed his players float home following the Munster decider and All-Ireland quarter-final wins over Kerry and Meath respectively. 

They’ll float back down the road again on Saturday should Derry be successfully overcome in the All-Ireland semi-final (Parnell Park, 4pm).

And if they’re not successful up the road, Ricken knows it’ll be the end of their world for a period. But once that period has passed, they’ll learn that life goes on.

Live first, learn after. That’s what your meant to do at 15, 16, and 17 years of age. The Cork minors are no exception.

“I'm not so sure that you can talk to any young fella nowadays and tell them the importance of studying, or reading, or doing a diary, or saying their prayers, or meditation, or eating healthy, or whatever. It is natural for them to live in this environment of forever, right now,” Ricken begins.

“I think it's important for us to allow that to happen and not put the stamp of an adult on a young person's development because you wouldn't do it anywhere else or in any other type of lifestyle.

“So, from that point of view, they should be bulling for this match and really up for it. And then the elation that comes with winning or the disappointment that comes with losing, that is all part of it.

“Whichever of those emotions they experience at full-time on Saturday, it lasts forever in their head but it’s only right now, whereas when you get older, you’re able to take a longer-term view. The best part of this and what I’m looking forward to will be how they turn out in five, 10, 15 years' time as footballers and as human beings. That’s the exciting part for us.” 

Cork last reached the concluding afternoon of the All-Ireland minor championship in 2019. 

Cork manager Keith Ricken watches on. Pic: Diarmuid Brennan/Sportsfocus

They’ve recorded five consecutive victories to put themselves within an hour of that destination. Ricken has observed on-field development across this run. 

He’s also observed a group growing closer and closer the longer their season extends.

“We have gone under every rock in the county, or as many as we could find anyway. We have a good sprinkle of players from everywhere, but if you go into that dressing room, you would all think they are from the one parish. They all talk, they all chat.

“We have fellas doing the Junior Cert, we also have two doing the Leaving Cert, so if they were in school together, they may never have deep and meaningful conversations, but in here, they would, and they’d chat.

“There’s no one sitting in the one seat all the time and have a little group. Whoever comes in chats to the next fella who comes in, and I think that gives a good sense of how enjoyable it is.” 

The Cork team is unchanged from that which scored a 3-19 to 1-12 win over Meath last time out.

Cork: R Twohig (Kilmeen); R McCormack (Midleton), A O’Sullivan (Glanmire), C Garvey (St Finbarr’s); D O’Sullivan (Erin’s Own), C Downing (Adrigole), É Lynch (Ballincollig); K O’Shea (Urhan), C Murphy (Barryroe); E Ahern (Carrigaline), B Hegarty (Ballinora), J Miskella (Ballincollig); T Whooley (Clonakilty), J Barry (Aghinagh), D Herlihy (Shamrocks) 

Subs: B Looney (Banteer), D O’Mahony (Newcestown), P Kelly (Naomh Abán), A O’Herlihy (St Finbarr’s), M Power (Charleville), M Walsh (Bride Rovers), F O’Donovan (Clonakilty), M Corkery (Nemo Rangers), K O’Donovan (O’Donovan Rossa).