Under 21s aim to strike back
CORK hurling has the perfect chance to dust itself down and get back moving in the right direction with this Saturday afternoon’s All Ireland Under 21 Hurling final with Wexford (throw-in 4pm, Nowlan Park).
After a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Limerick in the most dramatic of circumstances in last weekend’s All Ireland senior hurling championship semi-final in Croke Park, Denis Ring’s Under 21 side have the chance to bring some silverware back to Leeside.
For some of the players on this Under 21 squad it represents the chance of redemption of a sort – Mark Coleman and Robbie O’Flynn are just two who’ve featured on both panels this year.
Victory would confirm what’s been clear to anybody with a passing interest in the sweet science of hurling – that regardless of last weekend’s defeat, Cork hurling is going in absolutely the right direction.
““Cork are seriously competitive right now at all levels and that has happened really quickly,” Ring told The Corkman this week.
“It wasn’t that long ago we were suffering from mass depression. We have an awful lot to take from this season at all levels but we have come to a point when it is all about winning.
“We are at that stage at the Under 21s and now that is the case for the seniors too.”
Cork boss, John Meyler, meanwhile remains upbeat about the future of his side and the future of Cork hurling.
“Overall I think we were extremely competitive over the 70 minutes, we just lost our way in that critical minute or two and Limerick drove on again. They were very competitive in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and in the National Hurling League and they have matured as they have gone on.
“I think we also have matured but they are probably a bit further on than us with their senior younger players – and I have said that before. The likes of Kyle Hayes, Cian Lynch, who had a massive contribution today, with the Morrisseys also doing really well. You know that is the gap.”