Ben O'Connor: Time off will aid battle for places in Cork squad

Afters wins over the All-Ireland and national league champions on successive weekends, Cork are in a good space as they face into a free weekend.

The Rebels will be interested onlookers as Clare face Limerick before getting back in action the following Saturday when they go to Azzurri Walsh Park to face Waterford.

For manager Ben O’Connor, the longer lead-in allows more time on the training ground, affording opportunities to the players keen to push for places in the team and squad.

“The main thing is from last week to this week there was no change on the panel because we didn’t do much during the week,” he said, “there was no chance for any fella to get in or out of the panel this week.

“So, look, we have two weeks, we’re going to have a few matches at training and bits and pieces. Some fellas are going to hit a bit of form, some fellas won’t.

That’s what the next two weeks are for – that’s for the extended panel members to try to force themselves into the 26, that’s what keeps the competition going.

“If you had a game next week, could you leave any fella out that was here today? You probably couldn’t. Just to freshen things up for the next couple of weeks.

“The boys know that as well so they’ll be all on for training on Tuesday night, mad for road.”

Such competition for places has forged a toughness.

“There are questions asked of our fellas mentally, that they’re mentally weak,” O’Connor said.

“Them fellas aren’t mentally weak at all. Delighted with them two weeks in a row that, when the pressure really came on, they were able to get into the battle. Anyone that we play, we’ll outbattle them if it comes to it.

“We like to play nice hurling, but people have us down as a soft touch – we’re no soft touch.”