In Cork's Allianz Hurling League victories over Limerick and Galway, Donal Óg Cusack saw positive signs beyond the score board for the Rebels.
The three-time All-Ireland winning goalkeeper identified greater desire for forwards to turnover the ball and also indications that Pat Ryan's team are beginning to close the strength and conditioning gap between them and Limerick.
'Nobody is going to get too carried away in Cork'
"There were three things Cork were really looking for out of the league," Cusack told RTÉ's Allianz League Sunday.
"Had they closed the gap in terms of physical conditioning with other teams? We know Limerick have stolen a march on everybody else.
"Could [Cork] nail down some challenging positions like full-back and centre-back? And the next thing was could we get attackers that enjoyed hunting as much as scoring? There was positive signs [on Sunday].
"It's a foundational part of the game. It's been so obvious in Cork's play over the last number of years that we haven't matched other teams in terms of intensity.
"We know attackers need to be as hungry to defend as much as score now. I guarantee you Pat Ryan or nobody else is going to get too carried away in Cork but there's definitely positive signs."
12 February 2023; Cork manager Pat Ryan before the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A match between Galway and Cork at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Cusack continued: "I definitely think from a strength and conditioning point of view, Limerick have set the bar over the last number of years.
"All teams seem to lose a couple of steps to Limerick on that but I would say definitely you looked at Cork players over the last number of years and that's not something that happens overnight.
"Proper strength and conditioning starts at 15, 16, with having really good programmes in place, educating the players about how they should be training, how should they be looking after themselves.
"I would have said it was missing in Cork. I can tell you absolutely for a fact it was missing in Cork. But I would say slowly but surely it appears as if we are starting to close the gap. But that isn't something that happens overnight."
Dónal Óg Cusack has been impressed with Cork but is sure that nobody in the Rebel County is getting too carried away at this stage. pic.twitter.com/pFFl2wmPAJ
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) February 12, 2023
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