Ronan Curran: Picking Cork's matchday 26 the hardest part of the job

Ronan Curran had an enjoyable start to life in the Munster SHC as a player.

Picked at centre-back for the 2003 opener against Clare – Cork’s first championship game since what would become known as ‘the first strike’ – the St Finbarr’s man excelled and Cork won handsomely, by 1-18 to 0-10.

For the guts of the next decade, the number 6 jersey belonged to Curran but it had taken a while to become an overnight success.

His first three years on the panel saw little if any game-time and there were times when he contemplated an exit before his patience stood to him.

Now that he is involved as one of Ben O’Connor’s selectors, is it an area in which he can provide guidance to members of the current panel left disappointed by being outside the starting 15 or matchday 26?

“There is a bit of that to it,” he says.

“I don't like talking about my own career to the lads – these fellas are so young, they don't even remember me now at this stage – but it is very hard, especially picking the panel for these things.

“It's tough going when fellas are putting their heart and soul into it all year long and competition is so big. It's so strong now.

“Nearly the hardest part of it is picking the 26, because they're all driving on in training, fellas with great attitudes, so it's tough.

“You try and bring them on as much as you can, but like it's very hard to keep everyone happy like because everyone wants to play, everyone wants to be there. It's tough one.”

Curran’s inclusion in Ben O’Connor’s set-up was not a surprise, given that he had also been involved when the Newtownshandrum man was the county U20 manager.

With experience at club level with the Barrs, Kanturk and Ballincollig, he has amassed a strong portfolio but progressing to the inter-county scene was never part of a grand plan.

“Not really, no, I wouldn't say it was an ambition of mine or anything like that,” he says.

“I enjoy doing it, I enjoy doing the coaching, obviously different roles over the last few years. I did my own club for three years, and another few clubs, and did the Cork 20s, which would have been a different role as well. The Cork seniors is a bit different as well.

“But never really an ambition, I just wanted to do a bit, give a bit back and stuff like that, and it's just led to here, obviously, with Ben getting the 20 job and whatever.

“Myself and Ben being fairly close, and had similar ideas on hurling and stuff like that, so it just fell into place, but no, not really an ambition as such.”

Of course, now that he is in there, the ambition is to help Cork do their best. That starts with Tipperary on Sunday and he knows just what a challenge that is.

“Tactically, they're very good,” Curran says.

“First of all, on the line, Liam Cahill has done an unbelievable job with them. Tipp always have very skilful players. I always find with Tipperary, you give them the ball in hand, they'll hit their player, nine times out of ten.

“They're very wristy hurlers. Their movement is very good. They're very good at finding space.

“Jake Morris obviously has had an unbelievable year last year and a few new guns there in [Darragh] McCarthy and obviously John McGrath as well, goal getter like, so they've loads of danger up front, very organised in the back and really play the ball through the lines very well.

“We have to be ready for all these things, but I think everyone knows that. Their strengths are more their teamwork and their interplay more than anything else.”