Former Cork senior hurling manager John Meyler believes the team will bounce back from their second successive All-Ireland final loss.
Despite being up six points at half-time against Tipperary last month, a second-half malfunction resulted in the Premier County breezing to a 3-27 to 1-18 success.
Despite the wait for the Liam MacCarthy trophy, which will extend to 21 years in 2026, Cork did still lift the Allianz Division 1A league trophy and the Munster crown. But the one the Leesiders really craved remains elusive.
Pat Ryan stepped down as Cork boss last Saturday, but while Meyler didn’t mention any names, he believes patience is now required.
“We’ve changed managers too much,” he said to The Echo at the launch of the 50th anniversary of the GAA Club in MTU Cork.
Keith Ricken, John Meyler and Kevin O’Callaghan at the launch of the 50-year celebration of the GAA Club in MTU Cork.
“I think nine or 10 managers or something like that in the last 20 years. Every manager has different ideas.
“Different strategies, different game plans and that. It’s time to evaluate and look at where we can improve. We won’t be too far away who ever is in charge next year.”
While the season did end in heartbreak, it was a campaign with many highlights too.
“It was a tremendous season for Cork up to the second half of the All-Ireland final, that’s basically it in a nutshell,” Meyler says, who guided Cork to Munster glory in 2018.
“Losing to Limerick up there by 16 points was really an eye-opener. Cork really weren’t at the pace of the game. But they got it back together again and got back on the road again.
“I thought they showed great character then in the Munster final to go to extra time and then to win the penalties.
I said at the time, that’s a great omen, that’s a great sign that Cork could finally put their chickens in a row and get everything right.
“In hindsight and looking back now, the Dublin game in the All-Ireland semi-final gave a false sense of security that you could just saunter in and get seven goals in a match. That didn’t really help. Cork really needed to be tested there in that situation.
“I think there were little bits and pieces now looking back that didn’t help Cork at all. That Dublin game was over after about five minutes really. On the other hand, Tipperary were battle-hardened.”
Cork’s Rob Downey in action against Eoghan Connolly of Tipperary. Picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
There has been a lot of talk about Cork’s display in the second 35 minutes in the All-Ireland final. They only managed two points in that period. What does Meyler think went wrong?
“I just think there were small bits and pieces,” the Wexford native said.
“Hoggy missed a free to push Cork seven points clear. I remember a Tipperary man in front of me jumped up into the air and he said, ‘We have them now’. I said to myself, ‘What’s he on about?’ Then it all went wrong.
“There were just little signs and next minute every Tipperary player gave a 9/10 performance. Their work-rate was unbelievable. Then the sending-off for Eoin Downey didn’t help either.
“Tipperary then had a sweeper and momentum, little things like that. There were an awful lot of little things that just all added up at the end of the day.”
After losing heroically to Clare after extra time in the 2024 All-Ireland final, there was belief that Cork could go that extra step this year. It wasn’t to be, but the former Cork boss is still confident about the future.
“After losing in 2024, we’ll go another step forward and then we will win it in 2025, but it just doesn’t work out like that. Then to have the first ever All-Ireland hurling final against Tipperary.
“I think Tipperary found their team at the end rather than at the beginning, whereas Cork’s team was kind of set in stone from the beginning and just maybe one or two tweaks or whatever as the season progressed. But Tipperary were evolving and every game they improved.
Dejected Cork players after the All-Ireland final defeat to Tipperary. Picture: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
“It’s disappointing, but I think Cork will recover because they’re a young team.
I think it just needs a few tweaks. Cork haven’t replaced Bill Cooper in midfield.
“I think that’s one of the key things. You need to have somebody in midfield like Bill that really dominates the game physically and demands more of players. Cork have got to find that.
“They’ve lovely hurlers. They’re fast, skilful, mobile, but you need a little bit of grit and determination.
“You need a touch of a Roy Keane kind of figure in midfield and that’s really what Cork hurling is crying out for.”