Sars' Cathal McCarthy could fill the Barry Nash role for Cork

BACK in early August on these pages we called out the role that Barry Nash performs for Limerick, where he play-makes from corner-back, starting attacks, setting up scores and shooting, and we stated that: “it is difficult to identify a player who might be able to do a Nash-type role for Cork."

Surely the one thing that the recently completed Premier Senior Hurling Championship showed us was that in Sarsfields’ Cathal McCarthy, there is certainly one candidate.

McCarthy was one of Sarsfields’ leading lights in the epic extra-time semi-final win over Imokilly and also in the second-half power surge in the final against Midleton that saw the Séan Óg Murphy Cup head back to Glanmire.

It was in that extra time against Imokilly that he really started to stand out, as the game opened up with him suddenly having the freedom of Páirc Uí Chaoimh to wreak havoc. 

He may have been corner-back but at that stage of the game it was merely a ‘nominal position’ as he had the license to get forward at will to influence the game as he pleased, and the tiring divisional side did not have the legs to be able to limit his influence, as he struck three points in the opening half of extra time, which ultimately proved the difference between the sides.

He ended that game with five points from play and in the final, he managed four more monster points from range, which were pivotal to the two-point triumph, as again Midleton couldn’t keep tabs on his superb movement.

McCarthy started at corner-back for the Cork U20s in the 2022 campaign, to be substituted in the 57th minute by Ballinhassig’s Darragh O’Sullivan, and he came on as a sub for Ballygarvan’s Kevin Lyons in the subsequent defeat by Limerick, before he started at midfield in the two-point loss to Tipperary that ensured Cork had their one early exit in four campaigns at that grade.

McCarthy is very much on the radar from a Cork perspective, even if that 2022 U20 crew did not get the same level of attention as their 2020, 2021 and 2023 counterparts, for obvious reasons.

The fact that he was used at corner-back and at midfield speaks volumes for his versatility, but sometimes getting a reputation as a utility player can end up holding a player back, as they do not get the chance to nail down one particular position. 

Jack of all trades and master of none, and all that.

And while he is enjoying all the plaudits and praise right now, his ability to perform a similar role for Cork will probably come down to whether he can perform the required defensive duties that a corner-back role at inter-county level would inevitably bring.

It is all well and good having a player capable of being an integral part of a side’s attacking unit, but if they are not able to perform their primary duties of stopping scores going over at the other end then it kind of defeats the purpose. 

McCarthy would have to prove capable of being able to deal with the likes of Peter Casey or Mark Rodgers should he get the Cork call-up.

ADAPTABLE

There are other players in Cork who could offer a similar skillset. 

The aforementioned Darragh O’Sullivan obviously, although as he is still U20 in 2024 there might be no harm in being patient on that score.

McCarthy or O’Sullivan might end up nowhere near the Cork team. Pat Ryan and his selectors are ultimately the best-placed people to decide such matters, but it is worth noting that there is more than one way to skin a cat, or in this case Limerick. 

We might all get obsessed with getting bigger, stronger players in to combat Limerick’s hugely physical side, and while Cork definitely need improvements in the area of S&C there are other ways too.

McCarthy is no giant, and other hurlers, such as St Finbarr’s William Buckley, would not be suited to going into a dogfight with the likes of Will O’Donoghue or Kyle Hayes, but there is room in the game for what they bring to the table too. 

There surely will always be room for skilful and intelligent hurlers, just as long as the balance is right.