Cork v Tipperary: League final win would be best preparation for championship, say Pat Ryan

While Cork manager Pat Ryan is clear on the fact that Clare in a fortnight is the primary focus for the Rebels, winning the Allianz Hurling League would be the best way to face into the championship.

Cork take on Tipperary at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Sunday’s Division 1A final (4pm), seeking to bridge a gap back to their last title in 1998, when Ryan was a player.

Citing the way that Kilkenny, Limerick and Clare have built on league success in recent times, Ryan is keen to pick up some silverware.

“I would have always felt that it was the best possible preparation [for the championship,” he says.

“It doesn't lie, because the teams that have been winning the All-Irelands have been able to keep their form high.

“I think that's been aimed at us for a long time, that we're inconsistent, and I suppose we've been receiving criticism for a long time in Cork about not taking the league seriously.

“I think we married it well this year in that we got to see a lot of players and got to rotate players. We've come to a situation now where everyone's coming back fit and everybody's ready and it'll be the same at the weekend again.

“There's a couple of lads that kind of need game-time, and, look, they'll have to start in the game at the weekend, just to see can they get up to it.

“I suppose the thing after Sunday is that, look, if you win, it gives you great momentum, it gives you good feelings going into the championship.

“If you lose, obviously there's a bit of negativity around and stuff like that heading into the championship,

“It's the same for Tipperary and ourselves – you can’t beat winning matches. If there’s a trophy there, brilliant, but winning matches brings confidence. At the same time, even if you are winning, you’re still aware of the negatives from each game – why this didn't happen or why you didn't play as well here, why this part of the game didn't work for you.

“That’s what we've been taking out of every game that we've played. We’ve had a good league, four wins, a draw and one loss, so obviously that’s a positive for us.”

Of course, Ryan has first-hand experience of how a league win paved the way for All-Ireland glory a quarter-of-a-century ago, though at the same time the follow-on success was not immediate.

“It was important,” he says, “as we had a lot of young fellas involved in ’98 and then a few more came along in ’99.

“I’m very cognisant as well, we went on and won the league and then beat Limerick in the championship but got well beaten by Clare in the Munster semi-final.

“Championship is where it matters, that’s what we’ll be judged on and this is a stepping stone to where we want to get to. If we can get over the line on Sunday, then it’s all systems go for Ennis and you’ve something in your back pocket to help you prepare for what’ll be a huge game.”

Injury-wise, the overall picture is fairly encouraging.

“Micheál Mullins has a small hamstring issue that he picked up on our training camp and he won’t be back until the week of the Clare game, that kind of way,” Ryan says.

“He was disappointed, obviously – it’s a three-week thing that has come at the wrong time, coming up to championship.

“Aside from that, Robbie O’Flynn is coming back from his bits and pieces, Conor’s coming back from his bits and pieces, so we’re just assessing them as regards what way they’ll be for the weekend.

“Ger Millerick should be back as well.”