Fáilte chuig gaa.ie - suíomh oifigiúil CLG

Hurling

hurling

Meyler thrilled with Cork character

Cork manager John Meyler with his son and Republic of Ireland footballer David Meyler and Cork supporters from Bride Rovers GAA club after victory over Clare in the Munster SHC Final. 

Cork manager John Meyler with his son and Republic of Ireland footballer David Meyler and Cork supporters from Bride Rovers GAA club after victory over Clare in the Munster SHC Final. 

By John Fallon

Cork manager John Meyler said that their strong finish to the opening half was the key to them retaining their Munster title.

The Rebels found themselves eight points adrift as half-time approached but a goal from Luke Meade helped cut the gap to 2-11 to 1-10 at the interval.

And they then struck the opening three points after the restart as they pushed on to retain their crown.

“There were very few little words at half time really," said Meyler. "The game was won in the last five minutes of the first half when we went eight points down and got it back to four. That was critical.

“Our work rate wasn't good enough in the first half. We were sloppy, we were yard behind Clare so all we needed to at half time was to get that composure back.”

Meyler said their focus quickly switches to the All-Ireland semi-final when they will hope to make up for the disappointment of losing to Waterford last year.

“It's just another match now and it's over. We are in an All-Ireland semi-final and we need to rectify what went on last year.

“That's not acceptable what happened last year against Waterford and we will be emphasising that to the players.

"We have won a Munster championship; we are unbeaten in eight Munster championship matches. We now go to Croke Park in four weeks' time and we need to step it up again and I have no doubt that we will because there was incredible character in those players out there."