Ben O'Connor - league final result doesn't negate positives from campaign
Cork manager Ben O'Connor before Sunday's Allianz HL Division 1A final against Limerick. Picture: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
If we’re being realistic about it, no Cork supporter will worry too much about not winning the league if victory can be achieved in the Munster SHC opener against Tipperary.
To that end, the question for Ben O’Connor is: at the beginning of the league, how would he have responded if offered a losing final appearance as preparation for championship?
“We got exactly what we wanted out of the league, only we didn't get the cup,” he said after Sunday’s defeat to Limerick.
“We got game-time into every fella, we've got a good buzz in the group going because every fella's getting game-time.
“Look, we've a fair idea of where we're going after this – great to get the league final, but I suppose it's all down to Thurles in two weeks' time.
“I'm always saying that we have a great bunch of fellas, we just have to do a little bit better and the margins are small, so a small little bit of improvement will repay us in the long run.
“We've a great bunch, every night that we're inside in training every fella gives his all. We'll get criticised today for that but we'll be back at it again tomorrow morning, back training and every one of them lads will be on again and it's all about Thurles in two weeks' time.”
Despite the fact that Thurles was always going to be more of a priority, that does not mean that Cork were not trying to win in Limerick on Sunday.
“No, no,” O’Connor said, “we came to win it.
“We weren’t good enough today to win it, but there's no juggling act.
“It's very hard to tell fellas to go in and give it 70 percent. Fellas want to be on the next day and if they got roasted today, they wouldn't be on the next day.
“So no, no juggling act.
“You could be waiting six or seven weeks for a game, but we're playing in two weeks' time now, so we're back tomorrow morning.
“We have five sessions ahead of us in two weeks, that won't be long coming around, so straightaway into it.
“Tonight, the boys will be disappointed and tomorrow morning it’ll all be forgotten about.”
App?
