Cork U20 manager Ben O'Connor hails squad effort

Competition for places is a key driver for the Cork U20 hurling side, according to manager Ben O’Connor.

The reigning All-Ireland champions got off to a winning start in Friday night’s oneills.com Munster U20HC opener in Fraher Field in Dungarvan, beating Waterford by 0-21 to 1-10.

It sets the Rebels up nicely ahead of Thursday’s visit of Clare to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh and O’Connor underlined the importance of a strong squad, ensuring a lack of complacency.

Many of the panel were part of last year’s victory – Cork’s third U20 All-Ireland in four years – while the nucleus also claimed minor glory three years ago.

“The hardest thing is when you’re calling out the team and the 24,” he said, “there are 12 fellas left out and they’ve done as much training as the rest.

“Without those fellas, it doesn’t work. We had five subs who came on and they’re all pushing – there’s nothing to say that it’ll be the same squad or team next week so it’s great to have guys pushing as that’s what you want.”

Cork took to their task well at a wet and windy venue, moving into a 0-10 to 0-2 lead during the first half, ensuring that they always looked likelier winners.

O’Connor was pleased with how the task at hand was dealt with.

“Last year, we were raging favourites against Waterford above in the Páirc and it took us 55 minutes to win,” he said.

“We weren’t any way complacent coming down. We were on to the boys about how important it was to make a good start and we got a few early scores and never looked in any trouble then after that.

“Conditions didn’t make it easy for any of the two squads but it’s the first step and we’ve that out of the way. It’s done and dusted, we’ll forget about it and get ready for Clare.”

With Waterford playing a sweeper, it allowed Cork corner-back Darragh O’Sullivan to operate as their spare man, to fine effect. O’Connor was not surprised to see the player he chose as captain performing so well in such a role.
“Ah sure, he’s a Rolls-Royce, in fairness,” he said.

“It’s hard to believe that he’s not long back after an appendix operation. He’s only back the last couple of weeks.

“The guys back there, they know when Darragh’s back there that he’ll do the right thing and he’s barking orders then at every fella to get them into position.

“That’s a big part of it.”

Also part of the defence was centre-back Oran O’Regan of Erin’s Own, who has done much of his hurling in attack.

“He did fine, I thought,” O’Connor said.

“That was Oran’s first go for us as a back and he’ll learn a lot from the Waterford game.

“He’ll get the video during the week and see a few things he can pick up on. We’re delighted with that as well.”

In attack, Jack Leahy was in fine scoring form, finishing with ten points, eight of them frees as he displayed superb accuracy.

“He was unreal,” he said.

“And it wasn’t as if the breeze was going one way down the field, it was across. When you were hitting with or against it, it was across you so they were hard frees.

“He was lucky that the first couple were straight in front, that allowed him to get his eye in and he was in the zone after that.”

A nine-point half-time lead ensured that Cork were able to dictate the second half.

“We were just trying to keep the scoreboard ticking over,” O’Connor said, “when they got a point we’d try to get a point back.

“We didn’t want to be conceding goals – now, we conceded one there near the end but we were going home on Friday delighted with how things had gone.

“There was a lot of pressure of guys coming down, to see how they’d do after not playing for a while.

“You didn’t know what to expect but I think fellas stood up in difficult conditions and I thought we played reasonable hurling at times as well.”

The focus is now firmly on Clare, with Timmy Wilk possibly back in the mix after injury.

“We didn’t want to risk him against Waterford,” O’Connor said, “especially given the way the conditions were.

“Hopefully he’ll be back next week.”