Noel Furlong hails 'top-class' coaching setup as Cork U20s impress in Wexford win

“Any time you get to play in Páirc Uí Chaoimh it's a great night,” Cork U20 manager Noel Furlong began after their challenge match victory over Wexford on Saturday.

“Good experience for our lads as well, because obviously we're playing championship there.” Following the trend of recent seasons, the Cork U20s got their opportunity to play a challenge game in front of the public and at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but the venue added more than just an impressive backdrop.

For Furlong, it was another chance to gauge the competition within his squad, with some of last year's minor contingent – Michael Tadhg Brosnan especially – making a seamless transition.

“They're after integrating very well into our set-up now, and as you've seen there tonight, there's plenty of them, not only Michael Tadhg, but plenty of others putting their hands up.

“We’re seven weeks out for championship now, and there’s great competition there for the squad, which is just exactly what we want,” he explained.

The attacking return proved particularly encouraging.

“That was one of the big highlights for tonight,” Furlong remarked. “I suppose 2-21 in a 60-minute game, I know the seniors weren't far off that score in a 70-minute game, and so it was really pleasing, and a good spread of scorers as well.

“We’d like to think we've a very potent forward line, so it's great to see the competition, because we've other players to come back in, lots of fellas got game time tonight.

“I think 24 lads got on the pitch tonight, so it's brilliant for competition for our lads for the next couple of weeks in the build-up to championship.” Furlong was equally pleased with the defensive display, though he identified frees as an requiring refinement.

“[We’re] just looking for different combinations and trying to get a bit of cohesion between players,” he said. “From a defensive point of view, definitely the big key takeaway for us is a clean sheet. Then on the other side of that, we definitely gave away a couple of soft frees, unnecessary frees, [so] just to tidy up on those.

“The main thing for tonight was just learning more about fellas, and we learned loads tonight, and we gave loads of players' game time.” The injury situation remains relatively benign, with most absences minor, though Killeagh’s Ben Walsh is the one notable exception.

“There were five or six lads unavailable tonight, mostly lads just carrying knocks and small bits and pieces.

“Ben Walsh alright, he got his shoulder operated on there after the club campaign last year, so he's going to be a bit of a longer-term project. But we'd be hopeful to have him back for championship.” Another thing which has impressed Furlong, has been the quality of coaching available to his squad this season, with the addition of recently-retired Patrick Horgan and Carrigtwohill native Niall McCarthy.

“Obviously Niall McCarthy is new in there, Patrick is new in there, and we've a few other people in the backroom team that are new as well. In fairness, the coaching team is being led by Donal Óg, and obviously Patrick and Niall and Tadhg Óg Murphy are part of that, and it's a top-class coaching team.

“The players couldn't ask for a better setup, really, in that regard. And obviously, with someone like Patrick, freshly retired, and having his level of expertise, he's a very deep thinker of the game, so to be able to impart his knowledge on the players is turning out to be a massive positive.

“No different to Niall McCarthy, Tadhg Óg, and obviously Donal Óg is driving the whole lot, so it's a really positive setup to be part of.”