AT the launch of the Munster championships at the end of last month, Cork hurler Robert Downey spoke of how challenging it can be to play centre-back in the modern game.

BY JOHNNY CAROLAN

Downey and the other candidates to fill the Rebels’ number 6 jersey have a valuable sounding-board in selector Ronan Curran, winner of two All-Irelands and three times an All-Star in the pivotal position.

Looking in from the sideline now, the St Finbarr’s man can appreciate how the role has evolved in the decade and a half since he retired.

‘It's incredibly different,’ he says, ‘I can't see myself out there doing that, to be honest.

‘The amount of running and ground fellas have to cover now in the half-back line is a totally different ballgame to when we were there. The movement of the forwards, the gameplans, the space created, it's a lot tougher.

‘It's up to us to try and cut that space down a bit as much as we can, but it's very hard against Limerick. You push up on them, there's loads of space behind you; you drop back, they play it through the lines.

‘They've created that problem for teams for ten years now, and that's not going to change. So it is harder for a half-back line, because it's such a possession-based game, and if you leave your man, if you give your man five, ten yards with Limerick, they will hurt you.

‘Tipp are very similar like that, very wristy hurlers, very good ball to hand and stuff like that, so it's just a new game for a half-back line now.’

Curran’s inclusion in Ben O’Connor’s set-up was not a surprise, given that he had also been involved when the Newtownshandrum man was the county U20 manager.

With experience at club level with the Barrs, Kanturk and Ballincollig, he has amassed a strong portfolio but progressing to the inter-county scene was never part of a grand plan.

‘Not really, no, I wouldn't say it was an ambition of mine or anything like that,’ he says.

‘I enjoy doing it, I enjoy doing the coaching, obviously different roles over the last few years. I did my own club for three years, and another few clubs, and did the Cork 20s, which would have been a different role as well. The Cork seniors is a bit different as well. But never really an ambition, I just wanted to do a bit, give a bit back and stuff like that, and it's just led to here, obviously, with Ben getting the 20 job and whatever.

‘Myself and Ben being fairly close, and had similar ideas on hurling and stuff like that, so it just fell into place, but no, not really an ambition as such.’

O’Connor liked to have Curran sitting next to him in the Cork dressing-room and the bond endures.

‘We were always close enough,’ Curran says, ‘when you get a bit of success and stuff, you grow closer and stuff like that, and I always enjoy talking hurling and thinking hurling with him, so, yeah, it just led to this, I suppose.

‘It's a good bond alright, we tear the heads off each other at times as well, so there's a bit of both, but I suppose we both, and everyone else in the management and backroom as well, want the same thing.

‘We're all here just to try and facilitate and get Cork to where we want them to get to. Hopefully we can do that, but there's massive challenges ahead.’

The first of those challenges is Sunday’s Munster SHC opener away to Tipperary, a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final.

Cork come into the game on the back of a defeat in the league final against Limerick a fortnight ago and of course there is the question of whether the All-Ireland has left scar-tissue.

From what he has seen in the camp, the response among the players has been strong.

‘It hasn't surprised me because if they've got to this level they've obviously worked very hard to get here,’ he says.

‘None of these fellas are here on just skill alone, they put a lot into it. You can be sure that their dream was to play with Cork when they were young fellas like, and they're making a lot of people proud, families, clubs, around the county and stuff like that.

‘So it doesn't surprise me that there was no lack of drive or ambition this year to get back on the pitch. When the Cork crowd are behind you, it makes it that bit easier.

‘The support we get for every game down here is unbelievable. So that drives the players on as well.’

But of course, Tipp represent a sizeable challenge.

‘Tactically, they're very good,’ Curran says.

‘First of all, on the line, Liam Cahill has done an unbelievable job with them. Tipp always have very skilful players. I always find with Tipperary, you give them the ball in hand, they'll hit their player, nine times out of ten.

‘They're very wristy hurlers. Their movement is very good. They're very good at finding space.

‘Jake Morris obviously has had an unbelievable year last year and a few new guns there in (Darragh) McCarthy and obviously John McGrath as well, goal getter like, so they've loads of danger up front, very organised in the back and really play the ball through the lines very well.

‘We have to be ready for all these things, but I think everyone knows that. Their strengths are more their teamwork and their interplay more than anything else.’