Cork manager John Meyler pictured during Sunday's Munster Championship clash against Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds.
By Cian O'Connell
It was a most satisfying Sunday afternoon for Cork at the LIT Gaelic Grounds with manager John Meyler stressing the importance that sheer hard graft played in the victory.
Following the seven point triumph over the All Ireland champions Meyler acknowledged that it was a significant difference compared to a week previously against Tipperary.
Patrick Horgan's 52nd minute goal proved to be the key score in an always interesting encounter.
“There are five teams in Munster, three of them weren’t today and they can all beat each other on any given day and everybody knows that," Meyler stated.
"There are five really good teams and the Munster Championship is really competitive and you don’t take anything for granted.
"We knew that coming up today that we had to up our performance, our work-rate, which wasn’t good enough last Sunday, but we got it.
"We got some great scores. I suppose Hogie’s goal midway through the second half was the turning point, really, and it really drove us on, it copperfastened us. We didn’t want to end up with the six-point loss again like last August."
Niall O'Leary and Darragh Fitzgibbon celebrate following Cork's victory over Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds.
Horgan's 1-9 contribution and the manner in which Cork's substitutes delivered important roles in the triumph pleased Meyler.
“He’s a quality player and he has been one of Cork’s best players over the last 10 years and he has shown that by his frees, by his general play, but that goal he had the ability and the nerve to put it away and make sure it went in," Meyler remarked.
"It kind of settled us then and a couple of points from Daniel Kearney and the subs made a difference, (Shane) Kingston came in and (Declan) Dalton got two points so they really drove it on."
The depth of the Cork panel carried weight in the closing stages which also encouraged Meyler.
"We got criticised for our performances in the League and that's what we tried to do, we tried to strengthen the panel using the League for competitive games and we were without Alan Cadogan," Meyler stated.
"Then we lost (Conor) Lehane after a few minutes, then for the likes of Alan and Shane Kingston to come in.
"Shane had played really well against Tipperary last week and was unfortunate to be left out, but then (Aidan) Walsh came in and played his part, Dalton came in and played his part so it's not 15 players anymore, it's 20, 21 and then your extended panel as well, they are the guys that drive on the players on the pitch."
