Cork coach Donal O'Rourke feels Tipperary will also benefit from league final in Páirc

While being able to play the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A final at home is of benefit to Cork, their opponents Tipperary will also be able to use the situation to their advantage, Rebels coach Donal O’Rourke feels.

The Munster rivals clash in the decider at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday, April 6 – just three weeks later, they were renew acquaintance in the Munster SHC.

O’Rourke is happy to have home advantage, but he believes that Tipp will gain from the scenario, too.

“It's good for Tipperary as well,” he said.

“They're getting down to play in the Páirc and they're getting used to logistics and things like that, so they'll be using it from that perspective.

“They'll be well used to the surface and things like that after the 70 minutes of hurling, so it's great for them as it is for us."

The Waterford native, in his third year as part of Pat Ryan’s set-up, is not surprised that the game – preceded by the Division 1B decider between Offaly and Waterford – is set to take place before a full house.

"It's not surprising, to be honest,” he said.

“Between ourselves and Tipp, I'd say we'd have sold it out no problem anyway. Waterford and Offaly are obviously going to bring a crowd as well.

“It's great for the players. They love playing in front of big crowds and they like that atmosphere and that cauldron.

“It can be tough on players when it's not going well for you, but when it's going well there's nothing like it. It brings great excitement.”

While Cork’s Brian Hayes – scorer of six goals in a very positive league campaign – will miss the final with a knee injury, the Rebels are relieved that it is not something severe enough to end his season.
O’Rourke expects to see Hayes back at some stage in the Munster championship but he is reluctant to cite a clear return date for the St Finbarr’s man.

“It's probably hard to say,” he said, “I actually don't know, to be honest, the extent of it. Number one, it wasn't what we most feared.

“I'd say he'll definitely see time in the Munster Championship. We'd be confident of that. Whether it be the Clare game first out, whether it be the Tipp game the week after or the Limerick or the Waterford games, I wouldn't be sure.

“I suppose that'll depend on how his rehab will go from here to then.”

If and when he does return, Hayes will be a massive asset for Cork, having developed rapidly since being brought into the panel by Ryan just over two years ago.

“Pat always had fierce time for him,” O’Rourke said.

“He had him with the U20s and he was very, very confident that he could make it as a senior hurler. He had loads of untapped potential.

“First and foremost, he's a huge man and he hadn't filled his frame. He's done massive work with Ian Jones, our S&C, to get to where he's got to. I suppose that probably stood to him, even with the injury at the weekend, he had the work done.

“But Pat always spoke so highly of Brian. He just felt that if he could get his hands on him and get him focused that he could make the jump up to be a real top-class player.

“Look, it's not even that. He's brilliant around the group as well. He's becoming a real leader in that dressing room. He's a great guy and a great player.”