Meyler wants “learning curve” to continue against Wexford
A YEAR ago, coming off a 2016 campaign that left an awful lot to be desired, Cork got off to a great start in the league with a home win against Clare in Páirc Uí Rinn.
Seven days later in the same venue, however, Kieran Kingston’s side were well beaten by Dublin, showing that in the league, the ups and downs are never too far from one another. For the Cork hurlers, the feel-good factor after Saturday’s win over Kilkenny could dissipate fairly quickly if they come a cropper in Innovate Wexford Park this weekend, something Conor Lehane is well aware of.
The Midleton man finished with 11 points in Páirc Uí Chaoimh as the Cats were beaten, and he felt that the composure shown by the Rebels came from sticking to the process.
“We just stuck to our gameplan,” he said. “When it comes down to those kinds of moments and it’s tight, that’s what you have to do. You don’t take notice of the scoreboard, you just stick to what you need to do.
“When you’re concentrating on that, the result will take care of itself, in a way. You obviously know how the game is going, but we’re all just focused on keeping things going, whether you’re ten points up or ten points down, you train yourself to get into good habits. We hadn’t won against Kilkenny in the league for six years so that’s a handy boost, but it’s just one game to get over, it’s one baby step at a time.
“Next week is another game, we’ll focus all on that and likewise the week after, we’ll just keep going, game by game.
“It’s a cliché, but that’s the way you have to look at it if you want to improve game by game.’
Wexford also got off to a winning start, recording an away win against Waterford. Lehane is certainly wary of what Davy Fitzgerald’s side can do.
“If you come out with a loss next week, you’re kind of on the back foot again,’ he said. “Just because it’s the first game doesn’t make it any more important. In the summer is when it counts, these are all build-up from that. You learn from the small things, try to weed out the mistakes as best as you can and apply the lessons again.”
For Cork coach John Meyler, a key objective in the league is to get last year’s intake to continue their progress, as well as developing the players who are beginning to establish themselves on the panel.
“I was delighted with the guys, Shane Kingston got some critical scores and Luke Meade came on,” he said. “They need to step up to the next level, the younger lads then that started tonight for the first time, they’ve been in the panel for the last year and they’ve stepped up to level one.
“It’s a learning curve for a lot of them, Tim O’Mahony, Seán O’Donoghue, Robbie O’Flynn, Jack O’Connor. They’ve shown tonight they’re capable of it, but go to Wexford next Sunday and that’s a different story.”
Another ‘new’ player is Eoin Cadogan, who was playing his first hurling game for Cork since the league win over Offaly in 2014. Meyler is hopeful that the Douglas man can be a valuable asset to the team in the coming year.
“He was under pressure from Walter and TJ Reid went in there in the second half, but Cadogan is a winner, he has an All-Ireland football medal and that’s why we brought him back, he gives us that character and the younger lads look up to him. He has a presence in the dressing room for the younger guys, like Conor and Hoggie and Nash. I wanted him back and we’re delighted to have him in.”
In terms of manpower for the trip east, Meyler expects to have close to a full panel, with a couple of exceptions.
“[Damien] Cahalane was a doubt with his knee, [Anthony] Nash has the intermediate club All-Ireland final on Sunday. Patrick Horgan is back from his suspension, and Mark Coleman should be back. He was injured last Sunday in a match among ourselves, but he should be okay. We want that contention for places within the panel.”