U-20 success whets appetite for ‘ultimate goal’ of senior step-up, insists Rebels star Ben Cunningham

A commanding second-half display against Offaly saw the Rebels secure their third All-Ireland U-20 crown in four years with Cunningham (above) leading the line up front as he rifled over four points from play.

Much has been made of Cork’s All-Ireland SHC famine stretching all the way back to 2005, though, with Cunningham and Co eager to make a mark at the highest level over the coming years.

“That’s the ultimate goal – all of us have the ambition to play Cork senior hurling,” Cunningham said. “Playing U-20s is unbelievable and we all love it, but the ultimate objective is to play senior and that’s what we’ll try to do.”

While insisting “things are looking good at the moment,” Cork boss Ben O’Connor wasn’t getting too carried away with their underage dominance in recent seasons, but he does feel the Rebel wheel is turning.

​“It is important to be winning at underage. We won’t get carried away. You are not going to get eight or nine off any U-20 panel coming through. You’re lucky if you get two or three going forward,” O’Connor said.

“But if we keep winning and get two or three every year, in five years there’ll be the bones of a team there.

“If the fellas that move on from the 20s to the seniors next year, and with the seniors being so young as well, things are looking good at the moment.”

One player unlikely to feature for Cork, however, is defensive powerhouse Ben O’Connor after the St Finbarr’s dual star signed on the dotted line with Munster as he switches his focus to rugby.

His manager, and namesake, insists the door is always open for a return to the small ball, though.

“Of course, it is disappointing to be losing a lad like Ben. You saw how important he was there, in the second half especially. But look, he wants to give a go to the rugby. The GAA is always here to fall back on again,” the Cork supremo said.

“There aren’t too many days in rugby that you’ll have a day like this. So hopefully this might put a doubt in the back of his head.

“But look, best of luck to him if he goes playing rugby next year. Always there to come back if he wants to.”