CORK PLAYERS SHOWING ‘SAVAGE ENTHUSIASM’ AHEAD OF SEMI-FINAL WITH LIMERICK SAYS MANAGER PAT RYAN

Cork manager, Pat Ryan, took time out of his busy schedule this week to talk to The Corkman about his side’s preparations for what will be one of the biggest games in the county’s recent history – Limerick in Croke Park this Sunday afternoon.

After a reasonably positive campaign when it comes to players being available for big games, Ryan was again able to report good news on the injury front, some players out but the bigger names all ready and willing to go for this weekend.

“We are very good at the moment on the injury front,” said the man charged with bringing Liam MacCarthy back to Leeside.

“We have had two lads that have had to go for operations that would be part of the panel. Cathal McCarthy of Sars and Eoin Carey from Kilworth, they obviously won’t be part of the game this weekend, but hopefully the lads will be back playing for their club sooner rather than later.

“From what we can see in training, there are no lingering effects [from the bug that went around the team before the Dublin game].

“Training has gone very well and we had a fantastic training session last Wednesday and we've gone on from there. Everyone else is fit, healthy, and ready to go.”

The 2024 championship campaign has brought highs and lows, but ultimately where Cork find themselves now is just what Ryan and his team were looking for.

“We are thankfully now where we wanted to be and that is back in Croke Park on one of the biggest days on inter-county hurling,” Ryan said.

“This has been a very enjoyable period since the win over Dublin and this is obviously a very enjoyable week. In fairness to all the lads they have knuckled down and stuck together and pushed on.

"We have spoken about this already, but the performances in the last two games saw a little bit of a dip, but we have seen a big improvement in training since then.

“Of course, this season started badly with a very poor performance against Waterford. What was disappointing most about that game wasn’t the result it was that we knew we hadn’t been anywhere close to what we knew we could do.

“We picked it up for the game with Clare, but again the result didn’t go our way. Still a lot to work on, but the lads stuck at it and we got the result we deserved against Limerick on what was a great night for Cork hurling.

“What was really pleasing after that win was that we were able to keep the momentum going and did well against Tipperary next up and from a position where we looked to be on the brink of going out, we were then back in and into the knock-out stages.”

Getting to Croke Park was one thing, but for Ryan the importance of embracing the occasion and the build-up is also important as players can often get overcome by the experience.

“We are really looking forward to it,” he stressed.

"This is what makes the wet, winter days in the middle of the winter all worthwhile. Lads are embracing it, can't wait to get there [Croke Park].”

Looking to motivate his side ahead of the game with Offaly, Ryan and the backroom team identified it had been a significant time since Cork had won three championship games in-a-row and after that success the target became four – and now five.

“The lads give everything for their county and for the team and so do their families. What they all give up to represent their county is amazing and sometimes you have to throw in a few different things to keep the motivation going.

“One of the lads in stats realised that it had been several years since we won three and after the Offaly win that goal changed to four – it had been 16 or 17 years since we won four – so it became a thing in the camp.

“There isn’t any need for a stat like that for this game as if you can’t get up for what is coming you wouldn’t be an inter-county hurler.

“We are facing a fantastic team in Limerick. There will be a huge crowd there. What else could you want? There is savage enthusiasm, massive excitement, and great spirits round our camp at the moment.

“In the stands there will be massive support too – as there always is with Cork. Towns and venues around the county love to see Cork fans coming as they bring huge numbers and spend money everywhere they go.

“It is fantastic to see the young fans in red following the team into the summer. For a lot of young people, like my own 18-year-old son, following the hurling team around the country is what their summer is all about. And this year thank God they have got plenty days out.”

Ryan has been at the helm for a couple of seasons now, but the Sarsfield’s man is acutely aware of what is expected and what he expects from himself.

“I got the job to manage the Cork squad because the Cork County Board, the fans, the players and myself all want us to be successful – and success is winning the All-Ireland. Cork is a county that needs to be winning All Irelands. That is what we were used to and that is needed to get back to.

“For me personally when my time is up, I will consider that I have failed if I don’t achieve that goal. For myself, the backroom team and all the players all we are doing is make sure that we can win the All-Ireland. That is the goal and that is what we are working hard to do.

“This weekend’s game is just one more step in that journey. Of course, it is a big step against the All-Ireland champions, but still just a step.

“We beat Limerick early in the season, but we all know that this game on Sunday is a very different game against a very different side. We are different too.

"Games like this one, in front of a full house tend to take on a life of their own and this one will be no different. Games like this are the reason that we all play the game. We can’t wait.”

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