‘This is where the championship starts for us’ says Meyler

IT’S part of the job but many managers shirk the media task – especially when the result doesn’t go their way but credit to John Meyler he always stands tall, regardless of the line of questioning he is due to face.

Meyler had to again stand up for his team and his tactics last weekend after his side again came out on the wrong side of a top quality league fixture – this time it was the final round of the National Hurling League Division 1A and this time the result hurt.

Cork will now have to play Waterford next weekend with the loser dropping down to 1B while the winners will stay up but still miss out on the league quarter-finals and the chance to get some more serious competitive action under their belts.

Meyler may not have been pleased with the result but he did think that there were positives to build on after the 70 minutes of Semple Stadium action.

“It was touch-and-go, but then Tipp got that goal down the bottom end and that really killed it at that stage. It put them six or seven up. We got back into it with a couple of good points from Luke Meade, but they were getting their scores easier than what we were. We were giving away frees — we just need to look at the video to see where we were fouling.

“Look, we had a chance there with Luke and Jack O’Connor trying to get a goal at a critical stage in the last five minutes, but we didn’t get it. Overall you have to say it was a much better performance on a better pitch and you know with one or two more fellas back again next week that should improve our performance.”

Meyler was buoyed by the performance of two north Cork players in particular.

“I was delighted with Tim O’Mahony at centre back and Darren Browne who came in late for Eoin Cadogan.”

Meyler was also happy with the influence of the bench which he feels shows strength in depth in his squad.

“The subs came on, Kearney got a point, Luke Cork 5 Meade got two points so that is positive. That’s what this league has given us, a bit more strength in depth. Darren Browne came in this morning and that is three league games for him so hopefully he will be ready for the Munster Championship if we want him.

“Cadogan and Cahalane will be back too so that is positive for us as well.”

It wasn’t all about personnel, but as Meyler felt analysis needed to be done on his sides propensity to foul.

“We need to break down the puck outs and the fouls. I don’t know how many Tipperary got from frees but that needs to be addressed.”

While Cork were trailing at the interval the manager was positive enough as the sides headed for the tunnel.

“We were going good, we were there, we were in the game. We turned around to play with the wind but what often happens in that situation when you play with the wind is you might think you have it won but you usually have to work harder than you did in the first half.

“I was really pleased with the effort but perhaps that little bit of composure at times was lacking and the fouling cost us.”

Meyler may have one eye on the championship at this point however he can’t ignore the clash with Waterford that takes place in Páirc Uí Rinn this Sunday.

“It’s another tough game again and even though we played them two weeks ago this one will be much more competitive. Today will put us in good stead – it will be all hands-on deck, it is a must win game – this is where the championship starts for us.”

This Sunday, Meyler will need to guide his side to just their second league win of the year otherwise they will head into the championship proper with the sound of the relegation trap doors still ringing in

their ears. NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1A

P W D +/- L 1 0

Pts 4 -13 2