DESPITE FACING A season on the sidelines through injury Donal Óg Cusack remains involved with the Cork hurling setup in a coaching capacity as they prepare for their championship opener next Sunday against Tipperary in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Cusack was stretchered off after rupturing his Achilles tendon during the first-half of the Rebels last meeting with the Premier county in April’s league semi-final clash in Semple Stadium.
But the Cloyne goalkeeper, who came off crutches last week in a notable step in his recovery from injury, has revealed that he was delighted to accept manager Jimmy Barry Murphy’s invitation to pursue a coaching role with the squad.
“A couple weeks after I got hurt, Jimmy came down to me and said he want to get me involved in the coaching side of things. Obviously I’m happy to do that. I work now for Jimmy and Ger (Cunningham), and do whatever I’m told. That’s the atmosphere Jimmy has created. He listens to everybody. It’s not just goalkeeping, it’s any part of it. Ger (Cunningham) might say to me, I want you to take this bit now tonight.
“That’s the journey I’m on now. I got the crutches off this week as well. It was a big milestone for myself. I got the boot off last week but that will be going on again over the summer. I’m very lucky that I’ve Deccie (O’Sullivan, Cork physic), Dr Con (Murphy), Eanna Falvey and the surgeon Johnny McKenna around me. They’re great guys. It’s a case of taking every week as it comes, adjusting your targets.”
A key part of Cusack’s remit is working with the three goalkeepers now operating in the Cork squad — Martin Coleman, Anthony Nash and Darren McCarthy. The unavailability of the 35 year-old through injury has created a rare void in the Cork goal for next weekend, as since making his debut in 1999 Cusack has only failed to start in one championship game when he was suspended for the 2007 Munster semi-final against Waterford. Martin Coleman was his replacement for the league final defeat to Kilkenny last month and endured a difficult afternoon as the Cats plundered three first-half goals but Cusack has backed him to recover from that disappointment.
“Marty Coleman is a very experienced goalkeeper. He didn’t have a great day that day but he’s strong and he knows he has to get back up on the horse. If you make a mistake in goals, it’s very visible to see. He comes from a goalkeeping family and he knows that’s part of it. Marty’s been top class for Ballinhassig and Cork over the last number of years.
“I couldn’t say enough about that man and how he approaches the game, the way he lives his life on and off the pitch. He’s an absolute gentleman. The four of us have all been working together. Darren (McCarthy) was in all through the winter. I’ve been working with Marty and Nashy (Anthony Nash) closely for the last few years so there’s nothing new there. They’re great guys.”
Aside from Cusack, Cork boss Jimmy Barry-Murphy will have to plan without Niall McCarthy for next Sunday’s tie after he sustained a hand injury during a recent club game with Carrigtwohill.
But attacker Luke O’Farrell is expected to be back in the frame having shaken off a hamstring problem while teenage sensation Darren Sweetnam is also available after the conclusion of his Leaving Cert examinations.