Pat Ryan on how Cork's hurlers are preparing for 2025
Cork manager Pat Ryan with Patrick Horgan last season. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
The past year delivered plenty of memorable moments for Cork senior hurling supporters both at home and abroad.
Perhaps the standout moment was the one that helped kick-start an unexpected run to the 2024 All-Ireland final.
A balmy May evening saw the Rebels edge reigning champions Limerick at a heaving SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
That 3-28 to 3-26 Munster SHC victory, whatever about its avalanche of scores, was the night Pat Ryan’s blueprint for Cork becoming a serious All-Ireland contender turned into a reality.
As Echo columnist Denis Hurley summed up perfectly in his match report’s opening paragraph: ‘Nothing in Cork moves the needle like hurling. Saturday night in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh showed that in absolute spades.’
The after-match scenes, with thousands of Cork supporters invading the pitch to pay homage to their heroes, left an indelible mark on the county’s senior hurling manager and players.
“Obviously, everyone rises with positivity,” Pat Ryan said.
“I think what you’ll always find with the Cork public is that you know when your back is to the wall, they’ll actually come out fighting even more for you.
“I always say to the players, we have a fantastic hurling population here in Cork. Once you can inspire them, even a small bit, and get them playing the way they feel Cork should be play, once you guarantee effort, supporters will respond to that.”
What made that win over Limerick even sweeter for Pat Ryan was the fact it came off the back of provincial losses to Waterford and eventual All-Ireland champions Clare.
Down four points with as many minutes remaining, Cork dug deeper than they had all year and galloped to a two-point victory. The 41,670 supporters in attendance did not once take their eyes off the action, as intense deep into injury time as it had been since the opening minute.
Shane Kingston bursting through, Kyle Hayes conceding a penalty and Patrick Horgan, the calmest person in the stadium if not the country at that moment, stepping forward to convert before Brian Hayes sealed victory. Vintage Cork and another moment of Rebel hurling magic.
“Even after we lost to Clare, that was the way we wanted to represent the Cork jersey,” the Cork manager added.
“Against Limerick that night, a super team and a super management team, to get over the line and in the manner we got over the line was special.
“We took the game to them but kind of slacked off a bit in the second half. Look, against such a great Limerick team, that are going to get scoring opportunities, but there are things we need to learn from that game for 2025.
“When we are having low points in games, we need to nullify the opposition a bit better but look, for Shane to win a penalty, that night, and for Hoggy to score it before Brian Hayes scored the insurance point, yeah, it was a special night alright, it has to be said.”
So, as another year dawns, one already filled with hope for Cork’s hurling supporters, what will the Christmas and New Year periods entail for Pat Ryan, his management team and panel?
“We are back in the gym right not and will be training four times a week going forward until there is a break for Christmas,” Ryan confirmed.
“That break is down to an enforced GPA ruling and is a great thing because it gives us all a bit of a break.
“We will play Waterford early in the New Year on January 4. That’s a fundraiser in aid of former Waterford senior hurler Brian Greene and the Waterford Hospice. Brian was a brilliant Waterford player who is going through his own health struggles at the moment.
“We have the Canon O’Brien Cup against UCC on January 9. That will give us plenty of preparation before we head to Wexford on January 25. Everyone is really looking forward it and those are great targets to help us get going.”
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