MAGIC MOMENTS..
Ian calls on Rebels to conjure up spirit of ‘10
CORK captain Ian Maguire has called on his team-mates to forge their own identity as the 2010 side continues to fade away.
From the starting line-up that beat Down in the All-ireland final eight years ago, only one – Aidan Walsh – will start this evening’s Munster semi-final against Tipperary.
Walsh (inset) partners Maguire at midfield, with the St Finbarr’s man, having just turned 24, an unusually young choice for the captaincy.
“When I first got involved, there was kind of the generation of players, Fintan Goold, Michael Shields... I think they used to christen themselves ‘The 86’,” says Maguire. “But there has been a lot of turnover. I suppose I have four years experience now.
“But, look, that’s just the way it is now with inter county. I suppose the big thing was with Paul Kerrigan, he was away with Nemo all year. That’s just the way it went with the League. I put my hand up. There are plenty of leaders in this team, the likes of Jamie Sull, Paul Kerrigan, James Loughrey, they have gone out and performed on the big day.
“And that’s what it’s all about. They know what it takes and we will all follow in behind them.”
He continued: “But I think it’s time for Cork to create an identity for themselves. New players need to step up and follow in the footsteps of 2010.”
Since 2010, all Cork have won is a Munster title in 2012. The Rebels have served up some insipid performances at times but there have been some stirring ones too, most notably the extra-time defeat in the qualifiers last year to Mayo.
“That’s one thing that drives me bananas is this ‘what if scenario’. If you don’t win, who cares?” Maguire shrugs.
“That’s one thing we were working on in the League but it was tough because we don’t have the chemistry that say a Clare or Tipperary had because they’ve had the same team for the last couple of years.”
The Cork footballers don’t tend to be spared when criticism is being dished out, something Maguire stores for motivation.
“You get a bit of a kick off it. I’m just one of these people, I play with a chip on my shoulder, I always will be.
“We’re going in as outsiders in the Munster Championship, people are saying we’re the fourth best team but, look, it doesn’t matter how you’re ranked, once the ball is thrown in, we’re going out to prove a point.”