Previous comeback win stood to Cork minor hurlers, says manager Donal Mulcahy

Cork minor hurling manager Donal Mulcahy felt that his team reacted well to the concession of a goal just before half-time in Saturday’s All-Ireland quarter-final win over Kilkenny.

The Cats’ green flag, scored by James Kavanagh, reduced the interval lead to five points and the Leinster runners-up were within three at the start of the second half but Cork responded positively and ran out comfortable winners.

“I suppose we were up may seven or eight points before half-time and we gave away a sloppy goal that we wouldn’t be happy with,” Mulcahy said.

“The re-focused at half-time, they’re a calm bunch, and they just went back out in the second half and kept doing what they were doing.”

Having needed a late fightback to beat Wexford in the previous round a week beforehand, Cork harnessed some of that momentum. They will now look to do the same as they face into a semi-final against Tipperary.

“It's not rocket-science what we're doing here,” Mulcahy said.

“Genuinely, we have a mantra that we don't get too high or too low in the year.

“The Limerick game was a tough one to swallow and we still hit probably had that in the system last week against Wexford, but I think the manner of the win last week certainly helped lads.

“This week was buzzing in training and we'll have the next two weeks now to kick on from this again.”

With six championship games now played, Cork’s depth and versatility has been on show – only goalkeeper Marley Walsh and corner-backs Jack Batterberry and Nathan Coffey have started each match in the same position.

“Nowadays, numbers don't mean a whole pile in people's heads,” Mulcahy said.

“Even the way training games go, like, you could be playing in different roles and you have to be tuned in.

“It's a 15-man game, so we don't really stick people to positions but we're trying to get them in as comfortable a formation as we possibly can.

“We took these lads on just coming into U15, we've known them for two years and there is a familiarity with the lads, that does help with the lads.

“Again, I keep saying it, these are young fellas and we're just taking that step for 16 and 17 and hopefully it runs on to the U20s then.

“It’s about furthering their development, that’s all it is really.

“Part of the development is that you're trying to increase their skill-set but also increase their awareness.

“These lads, whether they’re playing half-back, midfield, half-forward, it's very similar – at the end of the day, you're looking up and trying to give the ball to a guy in a better position and working hard. It's as simple as that for us.”

A big test awaits against the Munster champions, but Cork will relish it, Mulcahy feels.

“At the outset, I think Tipp and Galway were always going to be the two out in front and they’re in the All-Ireland semi-final,” he said.

“But, look, Limerick and ourselves are there now too and we'll be mad to have a cut off these two teams.”