Ben O'Connor hails competition in Cork squad after Kilkenny win: We pick fellas on training

Ben O’Connor had no qualms about making nine changes to his team for the win over Kilkenny – not least because he wasn’t even aware of the scale of the alterations.

Cork had been rotating their side already during the league and injuries to various players – and Shane Barrett’s suspension – meant that the hand of O’Connor and his selectors was forced to a degree for the trip to UPMC Nowlan Park.

However, even with so many switches, there was no noticeable weakening of the team or squad.
“I didn't even realise we had made nine changes, I'll tell you the truth,” O’Connor said afterwards. “I know we had a couple of injuries, but I didn't realise we had nine changes from the last day until someone said it today.

That's just the way we pick teams – we pick a team and we don't look at who played the last day or whatever. We pick fellas on training during the week and that's the way it is.”

And, with a trip to Limerick to come this week – potentially the first of two against the Shannonsiders in the league, with a home championship game at the end of April – the competition for places will be ratcheted up a notch.

“I'd like to be playing myself!” he laughed.

“So if I'd like to be playing, I'm sure all the fellas inside there would like to be playing. It's just the competition in the group. Good healthy competition in the group at the moment.
“We'll maybe have a few fellas back from injury this week now, which will add more pressure to get on the 26 for match day. But that's a great place to be.”

ROOM TO IMPROVE

In terms of the game itself, O’Connor was naturally pleased to have secured another victory.It could perhaps have been achieved in easier circumstances, but he expects further improvement as the championship comes more into view.

“Delighted with the performance, tough conditions out there,” he said.

We got a big performance out of every fella that started and the subs that came on made a difference, so we’re delighted.

“It’s another day out of the way and another win under our belts.

“We could have had a few more goals, but their keeper [Aidan Tallis] had a couple of great saves in the first half, in fairness to him.

“I suppose, with the conditions that were out there, even with the breeze, it was hard to take a shot with the way it was swirling across the field, so the only option is to put up the hurley and run and try to get into a better position.

“I suppose it took us a while to get it going, but when we did, we had a couple of good moves, but we have a lot to work on, it’s only the first of March.”

Given the landscape of the Division 1A table, it’s a championship lead-in that is likely to include a league final and the manager has no problems with that.

“We want to win every game,” O’Connor said, “whether it's league, challenge, whatever it is, we want to win every game.

“If that happens, brilliant; and if it don't, we'll just dust ourselves out and get going again.”