Cork minors will thrive on learning experiences, Fergal McCormack feels

While Cork’s victory in the Electric Ireland Munster MHC may not have been achieved in a way to provide maximum peace of mind, manager Fergal McCormack feels that the experience will stand to his team.

A first provincial minor title since 2021 was achieved as the Rebels edged Waterford by two points, 1-19 to 2-15, in Thurles last Friday night. While Cork led by eight points early in the second half, Waterford clawed their way back before a dramatic finish.

An injury-time goal from Cormac Spain brought the Déise within a point only for Cork sub Sam Ring to immediately reply in kind. Even then, there was time for another Spain goal from a free to leave Cork hanging on before Craig O’Sullivan converted a free to make sure of the win.

For McCormack, it was hectic stuff.

“It was unbelievable,” he said, “it happened more or less in front of me there on the sideline.

“Your heart was skipping a few beats after the goal just went in but a big long puckout and to put up your hand and do that, it was just perfect, perfect timing.

“For a 16-year-old to come in and throw the hand up and beat a few defenders and finish was champagne. But we still conceded another goal after that and then showed a bit of bottle as well in the end.

“Craig had his free at the end and Sam won another free as well, which was just top, top class like that.

“It's all consumed into the last five or six minutes but there was a bit going on before that as well. But the winning feeling is just phenomenal, it's fantastic.

“We did well but we've room to improve as well, which is great.”

Cork were on top for most of the game and an 0-11 to 0-6 half-time lead was built on as they scored the first three points of the second half.

“We were looking at stats at half-time and we did okay,” McCormack said.

“We were up five points, which is a great thing at half-time, and our conversion-rate wasn't too bad. We have Niall Collins, who works as an analyst with us and he's as good as what's around.

“We probably could have done better in terms of our choices maybe at times and we seemed to have that cushion but the last couple of minutes was just – we've all been involved in matches whereby things just run away from you and it looked like that could possibly happen at that stage.

“But again as I say, cometh the hour, cometh the man and Sam Ring threw the hand up and off he goes, it was unreal.

“I'm just proud of the lads, they stuck to their task. Every team that you're involved in, you think you deserve to win but I can say, hand on heart, that this is a fantastic bunch of young fellas.

“I keep saying that the Cork minors of 2025 are a special, special bunch. Whatever about victories or where this road will take us, it's fantastic experience for myself and these young fellas, who will remember them for the rest of their lives.”

With All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals and quarter-finals proper to be played, Cork now have a break before their return to action at the semi-final stage.

“We have a month off now and we'll plot and we'll plan and see what way we go about it,” he said.

“My philosophy always was that we want the players to be wanting to go out training and looking forward to going out training and not over-training the lads.

“I think you could see the euphoria in all of our faces at the end of the game, like how much the unity and the bond is in the group.

“Whatever we're victories, and we're all here to win as much as we can, the experiences that have been gained here, from all of us, are lifelong memories, I think.”