ALLIANZ NHL DIVISION ONE FINAL: SEAN MORANanalyses the benefits of a revitalising league campaign for Cork

IT’S BEEN a long 12 months in Cork. Just over a year ago the county had to scramble through the aftermath of the long-running and bitter controversy of the players’ strike to avoid relegation from Division One of the Allianz National Hurling League.

Tomorrow evening after a revitalising campaign which saw them top the table, Cork face Galway in this year’s final. Denis Walsh has restored order, confidence and a sense of momentum as the championship opener against Tipperary approaches in four weeks.

Seen as very much his own man and unafraid of unusual judgment calls – his selection of Eoin Dillon, just in the panel a couple of weeks, at full back the latest example – the former Cork dual player and All-Ireland medallist is on the verge of guiding the county to a first NHL title in 12 years.

Whatever the outcome, Cork will be – barring disaster in Thurles – in upbeat form when the Munster champions come down to Páirc Uí­ Chaoimh.

Walsh’s task on taking over was to shepherd the side through what was a damaged 2009 and then begin reconstruction work.

Since winning back-to-back All-Irelands in 2005-’06, Cork hurling has been on a downswing, regardless of the controversies that have sapped energy and morale. Over the seven weeks of the regulation league season he chopped and changed the team, routinely making seven or eight changes in order to get a look at as many players as possible.

John Considine, the county minor manager who saw his charges record a thrilling extra-time victory over Tipperary on Wednesday, took over as interim coach last year after the resignation of Gerald McCarthy and while the county board initiated the process that ended in Walsh’s appointment.

He attributes the new mood of well being to both this season’s preparation being free of distraction and the fact the championship challenge last year fizzled out early.

“They’re in a good position. They could pick up a national title and if not, it’s not all lost because they have Tipperary coming over the horizon in just a few weeks. If they win it’ll be the first in 12 years and that was the team that went on to win the next year’s All-Ireland.”

The team’s rebuilding has always been more focused on re-equipping the attack where retirements and the passing of time had taken more of a toll than in defence where the back nine have largely survived. In recent years a number of players have been tried without looking likely to strike fear into the defences of top-ranked teams.

Optimism this year is based on the form of Patrick Horgan, who has posted some good performances in the league, and the towering forwards Aisake ÓhAilpín, whose trajectory has been less certain after an improving debut championship last year, and Michael Cussen, who has switched from the football panel.

“People have been raving about Patrick Horgan’s performances in the league but he’s been building up to this; he hasn’t become an overnight success. This guy is serious about his preparation. Last year people would say he missed 2-2 in the Munster match with Tipp but he had been causing problems and it was his finishing that let him down.

“Now he’s a year older and stronger but the scepticism about the attack and a player like him won’t be answered until the summer. There have been flashes but players have to come out and do it in a Munster championship match, especially against Tipp.

“Aisake Ó hAilpín looked in the league game against Tipp to be causing all sorts of problems for Pádraig Maher, laying off great ball, but he needs to do that for sustained periods before people will be convinced. But things are moving in the right direction and there is improvement. The question will be asked, ‘is it enough?’ and until that’s answered there will be scepticism.”

Those reservations are based on inconsistent performance. Attackers aren’t going to be on fire for 70 minutes of every championship match but successful ones will pose a threat for periods in every match and put up scores. The apprehension is that top-class performers tend to announce themselves at an early enough stage rather than eventually come good.

Considine disagrees there is a formula for developing senior intercounty forwards, pointing out that those with successful underage careers get more opportunity than late developers simply because they have shown ability at elite level. But there are other considerations.

“Some players like Patrick Horgan and Paudie O’Sullivan don’t have the physique when they’re younger but will get stronger. When you look at Aisake Ó hAilpín and Michael Cussen they’re bigger and I don’t think you get that consistency anyway.

“They depend on the ball being played in a particular way because they tend not to have the footwork to adjust quickly in the same way that smaller, faster players can. A smaller guy will always be busy. Bigger guys just aren’t as busy.

“The inconsistency or variability can have an up side because when they hit a streak they can destroy a team. Maybe it’s unfair they’re always judged on the peaks of performance because at stages they can be exceptional. In our day we’d Mark Foley who scored 2-7 in a Munster final and then we think we’d a poor return when he gets 1-1.”

Both Ó hAilpín and Cussen start tomorrow. The latter has better technique and point- scoring ability but isn’t as reliable a winner of high ball. The team’s success in blending the players will have a decisive influence on who starts in the championship.

Tomorrow will also test Horgan’s form and help establish whether a reliably workable role for Cathal Naughton’s pace and penetration is to be on the wing and put Kieran Murphy’s claims for centre forward under a spotlight. It won’t give Denis Walsh all the answers but it might thin out the questions.