{"id":258283,"date":"2026-01-22T17:04:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T17:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/258283\/"},"modified":"2026-01-22T17:04:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T17:04:09","slug":"plan-b-could-turn-tide-for-all-ireland-chasing-cork","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/258283\/","title":{"rendered":"Plan B could turn tide for All-Ireland chasing Cork"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shane McGrath believes it only requires a small change from new Cork hurling manager Ben O’Connor to get the Rebels over the line and end their Liam MacCarthy drought.<\/p>\n

The Rebels have lost five finals since their last All-Ireland triumph in 2005, including three of the last five finals.<\/p>\n

While the 16-point defeat to Limerick in the 2021 showpiece was as comprehensive as it gets on the big day, by defeating the Treaty juggernaut at the penultimate stage in 2024, the stage seemed set to walk up the steps of the Hogan Stand as champions.<\/p>\n

In extra-time, Clare dashed those hopes. Last year, a first league title since the 90s, a dramatic Munster title after getting over Limerick was followed by a demolition of Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final.<\/p>\n

Throwing away a six-point interval lead, the Rebels folded after the resumption as Tipperary took the glory, condemning Cork to their most harrowing defeat yet.<\/p>\n

Manager Pat Ryan has stepped away, the county\u2019s leading marksman Patrick Horgan also exiting the stage.<\/p>\n

Ben O\u2019Connor takes charge of his first Allianz League game when the Rebels host Waterford on Sunday, and speaking on the RT\u00c9 GAA podcast<\/a>, former Tipperary hurler McGrath is of the opinion that the three-time All-Ireland winner only needs small tweaks to bring the biggest prize back to Leeside.<\/p>\n

\"Ben
\nCork hurling manager Ben O’Connor<\/p>\n

“Cork are a class outfit, they tick every box,” he said. “It\u2019s just getting it done on the final day.<\/p>\n

“Big performances in Munster, in All-Ireland semi-finals, outstanding individual performances, they are just finding it hard getting it done on the biggest day of all.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s not physicality, they are physically as strong, if not stronger, than most teams. It\u2019s not hurling, they are probably the best stickmen.<\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t know what it is.<\/p>\n

“A subtle style change may help, or changing up the gameplan when required.<\/p>\n

“Maybe a Plan B if Plan A doesn\u2019t work. Plan A worked so, so well in the All-Ireland semi-final and it didn\u2019t work in the final.”<\/p>\n

Despite the final disappointments in the last five seasons, Cork are currently joint-favourites alongside Limerick to land All-Ireland honours in 2026, but McGrath believes only a subtle change is needed.<\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t think they will change much in terms of physicality and effort level, but maybe the way they are playing and setting up, that might be the way they go at it,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Maybe Ben O\u2019Connor will bring that different style of play to Cork, because I don\u2019t think much else has to change.<\/p>\n

“They will still be one of the hardest teams to play this year.”<\/p>\n

\n

Listen to the RT\u00c9 GAA Podcast on the RT\u00c9 Radio Player<\/a>, Apple Podcasts<\/a>, Spotify<\/a>, or wherever you get your podcasts<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Watch Tipperary v Galway in the Allianz Hurling League on Saturday from 6.30pm on RT\u00c92 and RT\u00c9 Player. Follow a live blog on the RT\u00c9 News App and on rte.ie\/sport. Listen to Saturday Sport on RT\u00c9 Radio 1.<\/p>\n

Watch Allianz League Sunday from 9.30pm on RT\u00c92 and RT\u00c9 Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on the RT\u00c9 News App and on rte.ie\/sport. Listen to Sunday Sport on RT\u00c9 Radio 1.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Shane McGrath believes it only requires a small change from new Cork hurling manager Ben O’Connor to get…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":258284,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[61,60,112],"class_list":{"0":"post-258283","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-ie","9":"tag-ireland","10":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258283","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=258283"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258283\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/258284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=258283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=258283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=258283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}