Eoin Cadogan warns Cork hurlers against Dublin backlash on Saturday in Thurles

FORMER Cork dual star Eoin Cadogan has sounded a warning to the Rebels not to get complacent as they prepare to tackle Dublin in this weekend’s All-Ireland quarter final.

The ex-full back, who won Munster titles with the county Hurlers in 2014 and 2018, was speaking exclusively to BoyleSports ahead of the Thurles showdown and with potential challengers Tipperary and Galway out of the All-Ireland picture, Cork are now rated the second favourites to Limerick in their quest to lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup for a fifth successive season.

“I just felt there was no energy with Galway,” Cadogan said.

“Was that Henry Shefflin’s last game with them? I would think so. Liam Cahill and Mikey Bevans are two coaches I’d have a lot of time for, all their teams have brought massive energy and huge work ethic. 

“But it just didn’t fall for Tipperary this year either.

“But I certainly don’t think Cork are going to blow Dublin out of the water. I have been impressed with Dublin. 

“For large amounts of the game against Kilkenny in Parnell Park they did a huge amount right, granted it was a different story in Croke Park. “Then they went to Galway and turned them over. I’m sure they’ll be disappointed with the Leinster final performance – it was under par. 

“But they’ve had two weeks to analyse and rectify it. Any team or individual that comes in hurt will typically channel an emotional response and that could come into play against Cork on Saturday.

“Dublin are incredibly athletic and they’ve got very good ball winners in Chris Crummey in the back line and Donal Burke and Danny Sutcliffe. I think they’re going to pose huge questions.

“Cork got the job done against Offaly and I liked that Pat Ryan wasn’t happy afterwards, he was annoyed that we got complacent. 

“He’ll be beating them with that stick this week saying if we go out and perform at a similar level, we’re going to be under pressure.

“Cork will hopefully come out on the right side of it, but I don’t think it’ll be plain sailing at all.” 

Looking back to his time on the pitch, Cadogan denied he’d swap his All-Ireland football winners’ medal from 2010 for a Hurling one.

“I wouldn’t swap it. The semi-final against Dublin that year was the best atmosphere I’ve ever been involved in, the noise from Hill 16 was like a vibration in my eardrums.

“I’ve seen what it takes to win an All-Ireland and I remember my Dad saying to me – with only seven senior football titles in the county, there’s very few men in Cork who can say they have a medal, and I’m lucky to be one of them.

“But I don’t really talk about the medal. I talk about the hardship after the 2007 and 2009 finals, the training camps. 

“That 2010 team has a fierce collective bond, there isn’t a year gone by where we haven’t met up socially.”