AIDAN WALSH, DAMIEN Cahalane and Eoin Cadogan have a big week in front of them.
The trio will line out for Cork’s footballers in this Sunday’s Munster Senior final against Kerry and then, they must turn their attention to recovery so that they might help the hurling side at the same stage of the Championship seven days later.
Hurling captain Pa Cronin allowed himself a small laugh when asked if he sweated a little on seeing the trio named on Brian Cuthbert’s side, but was soon eyeing up the difficult turnaround that awaits them.
“In fairness to them, since them came into our panel they have been fantastic. All of them have played really well,” says Cronin.
“I know from playing inter-county, if you’re playing week on week it’s very tough. So having a seven-day turnaround is going to be very tough for them but hopefully they’ll come through it.”
Hope may not have too much to do with it. Cronin points at Walsh in particular as one who has been able to juggle the demands of two codes, but adds that there’s no danger of friendly fire between Jimmy Barry-Murphy and his counterpart in charge of the footballers.
“Aidan Walsh especially has taken to it very well. Cadogan has been out injured a small bit and Damien Cahalane has been very good as well. Brian Cuthbert is my club, Bishopstown, and he would have played under Jimmy back in the day so they have a great understanding.
Say if it’s a football night, they might come down and do the warm-up to keep their skills and touch all the time. Because hurling is a lot harder to take up than the football.
He adds: “It’s all about getting the timing right now and hopefully stay away from the injury side of things.”
Outside of the Munster Championship, Cronin is keeping a wary eye on matters in Leinster. And when four of the superpowers of the sport clash this weekend, Cronin finds it tough to choose a winner.
Hurt
“I saw Kilkenny’s game against Galway, they look very, very strong. They look really, really back and on top of their game. I haven’t seen too much of Dublin this year but no doubt they’ll be hurting over what happened last year as well.
“The Championship is an incredible Championship now. I think absolutely anybody can win it and that going into any Championship game….like, you couldn’t pick the winner from Galway-Tipp this weekend. How are you supposed to pick a winner there?”
Fortunately for Cronin, he doesn’t have to. His job is to ensure Cork, whoever they have fit and raring to go, taste victory on 13 July.
Liberty Insurance are delighted to be the first joint sponsor of both the GAA Hurling All Ireland Senior Championship and the Camogie Championships.
