CORK FACE A difficult task on Sunday as they travel to the home of Munster and All-Ireland champions Tipperary in the provincial quarter-final.
With several youngsters breaking onto the Rebels team this year, they’ll be looking to 28-year-old defender Stephen McDonnell to lead from the last line of defence.
The Cork skipper remembers making his own debut in this competition six years ago, when he picked up Lar Corbett.
“I remember it like it was yesterday,” says McDonnell. “I was on Lar Corbett and he had been Hurler of the Year the season before that, so you’re nervous.
“You just want the ball to be thrown in, and once it is then you’re at ease. That’s what happens.
“The build-up, the constant talk, that’s what’s hard. It’s easier once the ball is thrown in, and when that happens you’ll see the younger lads come into their own.”
For McDonnell, the difficult part is keeping your mind off the game in the build-up.
“It’s one thing saying it and another thing doing it. In my experience it’s hard, when you’re young, not to think about it or talk about it.
“Your family, relatives, friends – it’s hard not to talk about it, but you reassure them that what’s being said doesn’t really matter, one way or the other – that once the ball is thrown in, it’s all good.
“Reassuring them like that is as much as you can do as a player, but the young lads will be fine. They’ll be in the zone.”
With 12 U21s introduced to the senior panel this year, McDonnell recognises the life they bring into the camp.
“You look at any organisation and when they bring in new faces, the older people can learn a lot from those younger people, they can bring in a great buzz, a lot of energy. A lot of stuff goes on.
“It reminds you of when you came in yourself, the older players have a chance to mentor the younger lads, but once the ball is thrown in it doesn’t matter how old you are, everyone is on the same level. In championship, there is no age.
“They (the U21s), bring an extra buzz — they’re coming in with the mentality they want a game and they want to drive on. The older players see that and drive on with them, so they feed off our experience and we feed off their energy, and we come together as a team and go forward.
“You need people at all levels — it’s the same with the Glen, we have new players, the middle ground, and the old stock, and we’re building that with Cork too.”
They face a power-packed Premier outfit with arguably the most dangerous attack in the game. He’s ready for the challenge.
“We’re aware of that and excited about trying to hold it. As a defender you want to be challenged, not to go through the motions. I thrive on being challenged anyway.
“As a man-marker in the full-back line, if the other team scores points, what’s the challenge? If they get goals then you look forward to the challenge, and the whole team is looking forward to it – and Tipp have very good forwards.”
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