'We are so appreciative of Cork hurling fans, they travel all over the country for us...'

The Cork hurling management and players are appreciative of the support given to them by their adoring public ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland final.

The time for talking is almost over as the Cork senior hurlers conclude their preparations ahead of battling Tipperary for the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

As with last year, and previous years, the Rebels senior hurling management team and players are grateful for the Cork public’s support.

A common thread of the aforementioned groups’ answers, during a superbly organised Cork SHC All-Ireland press night at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, was how much the Cork supporters mean to Pat Ryan’s setup.

“We greatly respect what every supporter has given to us,” the Cork senior hurling manager said.

“We know the money that it costs. It’s not cheap to go to matches. It’s not cheap for fuel, petrol, food, a few pints (laughs) and all that side of things.

“Look, that’s what we, the management and players, speak about a lot inside. Honouring the jersey and honouring the people that are following us, making sure we are representing them.

“At the end of the day, it’s about our group, the 38 players, and what we do. It’s about them representing themselves and they’re going after their own dreams of being involved in the All-Ireland final, hopefully being able to compete in it.” 

Pat Ryan’s appreciation of the Cork hurling supporters’ ability to sell out stadiums and get behind the team, in good times and bad, is echoed by the county’s senior hurling captain, Rob Downey.

“Anytime we go in along on the Cork team bus, it is just a sea of red,” Downey stated.

“You look out one window and it’s just a sea of red. You look out the opposite side of the bus and it’s just red everywhere. It’s unbelievable.

“I think the Cork people are the best people in the world, to be honest, but they’re also the best fans in the world. They support us no matter where we are playing. Through good times and through bad times, and we’ve had a couple of setbacks this year, especially the Limerick game.

“Down here again the following weekend and the place was jammed with Cork fans. 

We are so, so appreciative of them showing their support and also making the journey up to Dublin for the semi-final. They travel all over the country for us, it is absolutely incredible.

“We were chatting after the Dublin match and, obviously delighted, that we’ve won. Just to look up to the stands in Croke Park and the place was half full of Cork people, it’s crazy. It’s brilliant, really.” 

HYPE IS UNREAL

“As a Kiltha Óg, Castlemartyr and Imokilly man, it’s a proud moment going out onto the pitch for Cork as, you’re representing all of them,” Cork senior Ciarán Joyce added.

“I’m playing for Castlemartyr and they are going mad there at the moment now, but yeah, it’s great. There’s not many Castlemartyr men have played in All-Ireland finals, so it’s going to be a special moment, definitely.” 

Conor Lehane is one of Cork’s longest-serving players and experienced the importance of the county’s supporters in a career that began back in 2011. The experienced forward believes Cork’s players should embrace the hype rather than hiding from it ahead of this weekend’s clash with Tipperary.

“The hype is unreal, it’s the way it should be really,” the Midleton hurler commented.

If no one cared, then you’d be savage over that as well!

“When you are younger, you probably try and stay away from it, and run from it to stay focused. In a way, trying to hide from it too much is kind of wrong because you’re just kind of stressing yourself out then.

“You should nearly embrace the hype to a certain extent. When we are going out on the pitch, seeing the support from the crowd, people wanting to talk about it all the time and it’s everywhere on social media, it’s unbelievable.

“The excitement is what makes it. It’s the fans, the supporters, that make the sport what it is. It’s great to be playing and to be involved but it’s nothing without any of that. When it is that hyped up, we’ll drive it on as much as possible.” 

Cork’s supporters, according to their senior inter-county manager and players, are the best in the country. Just as well because that famous ‘Rebel roar’ will be needed more than ever as Cork look to end a 20-year famine of All-Ireland SHC success on Sunday.