All-Ireland champions Cork have brought in Derek Barrett to man the troubled midfield position in the team to face Tipperary in Sunday's Munster hurling final in Thurles. It's no great secret that manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy has had problems finding the right balance in his midfield pairing, a shortcoming that was manifest throughout their successful campaign of last summer.
For Barrett, however, it's a chance to bring some stability in what is sure to be a mammoth confrontation with Tipperary's John Leahy and Tomas Dunne. He will partner Mickey O'Connell, with Pat Ryan, who had started in the semi-final win over Limerick, dropping down to the bench. Barrett performed consistently and effectively throughout the National League at half back and is also reported to have been highly impressive in recent training sessions.
Last year's captain Mark Landers has found himself struggling somewhat this season with a combination of injury and non-selection. The other half of the All-Ireland-winning midfield, Mickey O'Connell, had a superb start to the championship last year against Waterford but has been a little bit disappointing since.
"Finding the right blend has been a problem for Cork," says Clare coach and selector Louis Mulqueen. "There has been some chopping and changing for the last two seasons, and while the backs and forwards will always pick themselves, there is room for something a little more solid at midfield to work and link the two, something which hasn't quite been there yet.
"Tipperary do have the greater balance, and it's one of the main areas where they will be pushing to win. Take John Leahy and Tommy Dunne. You're looking at some very impressive speed and linkage between the half backs and half forwards. We thought that Colin Lynch and Ollie Baker would hold their own against them the last day but we had no answer, and we struggled big time with the amount of fast ball coming into their forwards."
Mulqueen also believes that Leahy has already put up two All Star performances this summer, has answered his critics, and shows no signs of slowing down. But he also feels that Dunne had one of his best games against Clare. "If Cork can find two natural midfielders, you'd wonder who could stop them," he adds. "But at the moment it's the one thing preventing them from being the complete team. I have no doubt that Mickey O'Connell is a very talented and skilful hurler but he has had a problem producing the 70-minute display."
According to former Cork player and selector Tony O'Sullivan, the options presented to Barry-Murphy have each got strengths of their own. "I have been very impressed with Pat Ryan," he says. "He hit a great amount of ball against Limerick and was unfortunate not to convert a few more of his chances, which could easily have made him man of the match.
"And I don't think there's anything wrong with Mickey O'Connell either, he also did well against Limerick. Mark Landers does have a fitness problem but also has the experience, so they're all good players."
O'Sullivan believes Barrett may lack some championship edge at the moment but has few reservations about his playing abilities.
Bringing out Sean Og O hAilpin is something that both Mulqueen and O'Sullivan regard as too much of a risk. "I've seen Sean play at midfield and he was tremendous, probably the ideal place for him," says O'Sullivan. "But it means breaking up that half-back line that has always been so solid."
