Pat Ryan aiming to work the oracle during reign with Cork hurlers

When he took the job as Cork under-20 manager in 2019, Pat Ryan gave an insight into how he sees the game – and those playing it.

"Developing the player, the person, making them better kids, making them more grounded, making sure they are looking after their schoolwork, their jobs, that is all a holistic approach to the player.

"Winning is a huge part of it but we can't put winning at the top, it has to be the development and hopefully winning comes out of that. Of course, we have to win. The more successful you are, the better they feel about themselves. Cork is all about having a winning culture," he said in an interview with the Irish Examiner.

That winning culture is built on a foundation of excellence over the years with 80 All-Ireland titles across senior, under 20-21 and minor with 111 Cork hurlers winning All Stars since the scheme was first introduced in 1971.

But they haven't brought Liam MacCarthy home to Leeside since 2005 and, upon replacing Kieran Kingston as senior manager last year, Ryan admitted his three-year term would be a failure if Cork didn’t get over the final championship tape in that time.

No matter what happens, title wise, however, it’s very unlikely that anything involving Pat Ryan and his accomplished backroom could ever be deemed a failure – or anything near it. He is an out and out hurling man; a talented former player who joined the Cork underage set-up well over a decade ago and who has scarcely stopped learning since.

The word from Cork players is that the level and quality of training and coaching is top class with Cappoquin’s Donal O’Rourke impressing everyone.

Ryan’s other coaches and selectors are all highly regarded. He has known Wayne Sherlock for over 25 years, he worked with Donal