Tony Considine: Cork’s young hurlers must now cope with All-Ireland final day pressure

BEFORE I look ahead to this All-Ireland final, I’d like to take you back to where it all started a few short months ago, when Clare faced Limerick and Cork head to Waterford in the opening round-robin games. 

Not many were fancying Clare to win in Ennis, and definitely no one thought Waterford could beat Cork at Walsh Park. Clare ended up being nine points ahead with about 15 to go before a complete collapse saw Limerick take over. At that stage, Clare were under pressure to even come out of Munster. 

Waterford surprised Cork so they then needed a win over Clare at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Cork were favourites then too before a Clare victory against all the odds. Brian Lohan worked the oracle and his team responded. 

A lot of Cork people were saying then that Cork were as good as out and a lot of questions were being asked. There was fierce criticism from supporters about the team and everyone involved. 

The next big challenge Cork faced the All-Ireland champions, Limerick to try and save their season. Even though, there was no guarantee even if they they would still get through. I was in the Páirc that night and what a performance by Cork, well celebrated by supporters. 

It was that night that made this team.

But they were still hoping for other results to go their way. I’d say prayers were being offered up, even Novenas! 

One person who must take a lot of credit for all this is Pat Ryan and, of course, his management team, as the pressure was enormous on them. But as Pat said himself, he was used to a lot more pressure than that. 

Cork got out of Munster by the skin of their teeth and boy, did they capitalise.

Brian Lohan and Ryan have been key to their counties getting to this All-Ireland. Everyone was expecting Limerick and Kilkenny to come through for the third year in a row. 

Apart from Clare and Cork supporters, the neutrals are also happy that there are two different teams involved. 

The Clare semi-final with Kilkenny was a very poor game. You could say it was a game of two halves, with Kilkenny dominating the first half, and could have been out of sight. Clare hung in there and played really well in the second half. 

In contrast, the following day Cork and Limerick produced a thriller, a replica of the Munster championship classic. 

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Every Cork player playing really well, really enjoying the wide open spaces of Croke Park, and running at Limerick at every opportunity, taking some great scores. The new players for Cork were very impressive. 

The half-forward line of Dalton, Barrett and Harnedy shone. And with Brian Hayes and Connolly causing all sorts of problems for the Limerick defence, and Darragh Fitzgibbon dominating midfield, in my opinion, Cork were very comfortable, even if there were only two points in it in the finish. Cork never looked like losing.

I know the All-Ireland final is all about the players on the day but I believe both management teams have a crucial role in the build-up to the biggest game of the year. They all know who their top players are but All-Ireland finals can do strange things to players. 

A week like this is a crucial week in the lead-up. You have to observe your players and see how they are going in every way. Are they doing things they don’t normally do? That can be a bad sign. 

I believe this is where good management comes in, not alone the manager, but all mentors need to be alert to all that. This is the biggest day of their lives in a sporting sense and while it is good to have some nerves, I think it is crucial they control them and get some help along the way. 

Even the most experienced of players can suffer. As we all know, there are a lot of very experienced players on both teams, together with a lot of first-timers. A lot of Cork players were here in 2021 as were a few of Clare players in 2013.

Cork having beaten Limerick twice will go in as favourites here, but when Clare and Cork meet anything can happen.