Johnny McCaffrey believes Dublin's late collapse to Cork in the Allianz Hurling League semi-final was a blessing in disguise.

Leading by 2-15 to 0-12 at half-time, the Dubs succumbed to a sensational comeback by the Rebels which culminated in Seamus Harnedy's last-gasp winning point.

"We're treating it as a lot of positives because of how we played in the first 55 minutes," the former captain told RTÉ.

"Even near the end when Cork got a run on us, we still had the chances to win the game. If you weren't creating those chances you'd be disappointed but we were and you'd be hoping that the next day you'd take them and put the team away.

"It taught us a great lesson and hopefully we'll put that right the next day.

"Cork got a good momentum on us, got a couple of scores in a row. When we got our chances near the end we didn't take them and the goal that they got propelled them on.

"It's very hard to stop a team like Cork if they get a run on you. They've got the forwards there who can score from anywhere and that's what they did on the day."

While the league ended in disappointment, McCaffrey feels it was a successful campaign overall for the Dubs who are now focused on their Leinster SHC quarter-final meeting with Galway.

"You know you have to be 100 per cent for the first game against Galway," the Lucan Sarsfields clubman stressed.

"That's great for us and it's something that we're really looking forward to, a big game early in the summer. Sometimes that can set you up for the rest of the summer.

"They've had a lot of time since the league and had plenty of time to prepare for this game. They've had a couple of injuries over the league as well and will be hard to beat in Croke Park.

"The Galway game is the biggest game of our year. If we can get a victory then it could set us up for the year."

Tweet

Most Read Stories