Mark Coleman sees psychological work as crucial part of modern game

There comes a stage in an inter-county career when the noise dulls and the novelty fades, replaced instead by routine.

But the stakes don’t ease. In Cork’s case and that of Mark Coleman, the stakes have even grown heavier.

Another year, another push, another attempt to bridge the gap that has separated Cork from an All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship title over the past two seasons.

Having come so close without getting there, the Rebels go again, the long road back beginning with Sunday’s league opener against Waterford.

Now among the senior figures in the panel and appointed vice-captain for 2026, Coleman has lived enough of that cycle to understand what sustains it.

Almost a decade at the top level has brought its share of highs and lows, but also an understanding – not just of the physical needs – but the mental aspects, too.

“When I was younger my preparation was good, but it's not something that you'd put a huge pile of focus on,” Coleman begins. “But now I really focus on my preparation and that's where you're going to draw your confidence from.

“When I came into it, it was all kind of flowing very easily,” he remarks. “But as you get older you really learn the value of your preparation. That’s the key. You're looking for every small thing that will improve you as a player.

“Everything from your diet to the work you do mentally is a big thing now away from training. That you're doing your work with your sports psychologists and your visualisation, so basically everything and anything at all that'll give you that extra bit of edge.

Maybe it's a placebo effect on the day or something, but you need to know that you've prepared as much as possible. That's probably the biggest thing I've kind of found over the years.

If you don't feel like you're prepared, you're not going to perform. 

One of the notable changes under Ben O’Connor has been the arrival of performance coach Gerry Hussey, replacing the outgoing Gary Keegan.

“I've done a few sessions with him, Gerry's good,” Mark says. “He's definitely a breath of fresh air to the group, he is very hands on and a good character.” For now, Coleman’s engagement with Hussey has remained within group settings.

OPTION

“He's there as an option but at the moment, I don't know. I haven't reached out to him individually. I’m sure some fellas might have but at the moment, it is just a lot of collective sessions.” Still, he places value on such support.

“It would be foolish not to. It's an unbelievable tool to have available. We have had Gary Keegan involved in the past, he was one of the best in the world.

“So, when you have some of the best people in the world available to you, you might as well use it, and if not, you're foolish. That's something we always kind of preach to younger fellas in the panel, to make the most of every tool that's available to you.” 

It’s advice that Coleman offers from experience. The Blarney hurler didn’t always avail of that option in the early phases of his career.

“It took me a period to realise that to be fair. In my first two or three years, I would have bought into the group aspect of the sports psychology. But in terms individual work, I wouldn't have done a whole pile of it. 

It’s not until you do it, that you realise the value of it.

With the league getting underway this weekend, Coleman also acknowledges the role it played in Cork’s progress last year. While silverware in spring isn’t the primary target, it will not be treated lightly.

“It's funny, going into the league every year, you're going out to try and win every game.

“I know people might say ‘they won't take the league seriously’ or whatever, but you're going out to win every game, and that'll be no different this year,” he says. “We did see the value of going far in the league last year, and the championship is just so close at the moment.

“You can see over the last few years, the champions, whoever's won the league, have gone far in the championship as well, and vice versa.

“If you're not doing well in the league, there's a good chance you'll be dumped out, so you want to be hitting the ground running, particularly at the back end of the league.”