When did Conor Mac get his chance and if so should a player be entitled to only one chance? Why was he then brought into the extended panel for the last round of the championship when you say 'they didn't fancy him'?
Cormac Deane was named as sub for every game and came on once, if he wasn't up to speed why is this the case, your hypothetical 'maybe' rests nowhere really!
Mark O'Brien was brought on with 3 minutes of normal time left in the Munster semi-final when Cork were a beaten docket. Did the management in your own words also not 'fancy him' all year? Yet they brought him on to save their year, how sad!
All 5 selectors are responsible for the selection but surely the Manager and Coach over 2 years are more responsible for repeatedly poor selections. It's easy to crack you up but you hypothetically defend the management on 3 non-selections without any reference to the dropping of James O'Brien. 'Another muppet' who can't call a spade a spade.
Conor Mc was part of the training panel right up until it was reduced to the final 30 at the start of February. He was then brought back into the extended panel for the last couple of weeks. He was also involved with the extended panel last year. To suggest management never gave him a chance simply isn’t accurate. They saw plenty of him over two seasons.
Cormac Deane played both U19 championship games in March, so management had ample opportunity to assess him as well. This was the same competition where Jack Counihan caught their eye and earned a call up. Perhaps Cormac hasn’t developed as quickly as some people expected. The management team have watched him far more closely than any of us from the outside.
Mark O’Brien undoubtedly has talent, but talent on its own isn’t enough at intercounty level. From the games I’ve seen him play, I would have concerns about his work rate and overall contribution away from the ball.
James O’Brien was unfortunate not to start. However, management opted for John Murphy, who offers greater mobility and covers more ground. In hindsight, that decision didn’t work out, but every management team makes selection calls based on what they believe gives them the best chance of winning.
There is also a significant shortage of quality backs in Cork hurling at present. That’s why Matthew Barrett ended up at full back and why four of last year’s minor team started. If there was a queue of proven defenders available, would that have happened? Probably not.
As for the management team, Tadhg Óg was there last year as well. If responsibility is being shared around, surely his name should be mentioned too. The reality is that some people seem determined to focus solely on Furlong and Cusack because they don’t particularly like them.
One final point: it’s very easy to criticise from the sidelines. If you feel so strongly about it, why not put your own name forward or get involved in a set up yourself?
