Cork's Pat Ryan has claimed that the team is in a really healthy position ahead of their All-Ireland final clash with Clare tomorrow.
Cork and Clare will meet in the All-Ireland final for the first time since 2013, with both sides eager to lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup once again. Clare came out on top in that contest due to a younger Shane O'Donnell's hat trick, while Cork hasn't tasted All-Ireland success since 2005.
The clash between the two Munster sides is sure to be an interesting one, and many would assume that Cork's players and staff would be nervous ahead of the Croke Park finale. However, according to Ryan, the Rebels are ready to rock on Sunday.
"We're confident; we feel we're in a really good place," Ryan said this week.
"We also know the challenge that's ahead of us. Clare has been in the top two teams for the last four or five years, in my estimation.
"There'll be huge support up there from two mad hurling counties. It's a 50:50 game. Hopefully, we'll get the bounce of the ball on the day and bring Liam MacCarthy home."
Cork will have gained huge momentum from ending Limerick's quest to become the first side ever to win five All-Ireland crowns in a row. Meanwhile, Clare overcame a very strong Kilkenny side in the other semi-final.
Aaron Fitzgerald of Clare is in action against Alan Cadogan of Cork during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A match between Cork and Clare at Páirc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. (Photo By Ben McShane/Sportsfile via Getty Images) )The two sides have already met in this year's Munster championship, and Ryan believes that Cork's ability to overcome obstacles will stand to them in this year's final.
"Being beaten by Waterford and Clare were disappointing results," added Ryan. "But we felt we performed very well against Clare that night. We know how good Clare is; we've seen how good they are.
"We knew our backs were to the wall (against Limerick). And in fairness to these players, when their backs were to the wall before, they've always performed. We got massive support on the night from the huge Cork crowd that came down.
"That belief was there in ourselves (for the semi-final). We knew we were going to perform on the day. We were good value for our win.
"It was just our efficiency and those one or two scores we were able to take. And they had one or two wides towards the end, which was uncharacteristic of them."
Cork will play Clare in the All-Ireland SHC final on Sunday at 3:30 PM at Croke Park.
You can watch the game on RTÉ2, with build-up from 2:15 PM, while coverage on BBC Two NI starts at 3 PM.
