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Cork hurlers 'delighted' with impact of Doug Howlett

Cork Senior Hurling High Performance Lead Doug Howlett watches on during the 2019 Allianz Hurling League Division 1A Round 4 match between Limerick and Cork at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. 

Cork Senior Hurling High Performance Lead Doug Howlett watches on during the 2019 Allianz Hurling League Division 1A Round 4 match between Limerick and Cork at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. 

By John Harrington

Cork hurling team manager, John Meyler, says Doug Howlett has had a very positive impact on his players since joining the backroom team as a high performance coach this year.

Former rugby star Howlett, who is still the record try-scorer for the All-Blacks and a 2008 Heineken Cup winner with Munster, has been a very visible presence on the sideline for Cork so far this year.

According to Meyler, the New Zealander is very proactive in how he engages with the players.

“He’s a fantastic sportsman and brings a wealth of experience in terms of performance at the higher level,” said Meyler at the launch of the Munster Hurling and Football Championships in Dungarvan yesterday.

“He’s very much hands-on, and we’d hope he’ll bring that to the table. We’re delighted with him and the lads are delighted with him.

“It’s about performing, and I spoke to him during the week about going into Newlands to play South Africa in front of 80,000 people - what’s coming at you, knowing what’s coming at you against Tipperary in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday week when there’s 40,000 people there.

“Tipperary have a new management, it’s going to be really competitive - a lot of the players have been there as well, in fairness, but it’s about allaying their fears. It’s about performing at that level.”

Cork hurling manager, John Meyler. 

Cork hurling manager, John Meyler. 

The recruitment of someone like Howlett is very much in character for Meyler because he’s always strongly been of the belief that hurling coaches could learn a lot from other sports.

“Massively,” said Meyler. “You look at the likes of Barcelona and Manchester City, the way they move the ball - a lot of hurling is like that at the moment, working the ball and getting it back in high-pressure situations.

“You learn from sports like the NFL in terms of set plays and so on. You have to keep yourself open to the various sports around the place.

“It’s extremely challenging, the level of physicality has gone up in the last couple of years. You’re trying to find those players, that’s what every county is doing.”

One player who certainly looks like he has the physicality required for the highest level is Cork defender Tim O’Mahony.

He only turned 22 last January, but was Cork’s most consistent player during the League at centre-back and looks set to anchor their defence for their first match of the Munster SHC against Tipperary on May 12.

“This time last year he was flying it and then he broke his elbow in a club match against Kanturk in Charleville,” said Meyler.

“He’s played five or six games there (centre-back) now so we’ll see where he’s placed against Tipperary.

“He has matured, it’s his third year on the panel and now he’s matured he has a huge role to play on the panel.”