Patience pays off for Conor Lehane

Like so many of his Cork team-mates, Conor Lehane had never taken part in a penalty shootout before Saturday night’s never-to-be-forgotten Munster SHC final.

The Midleton man was second up for the Rebels, his shot with no shortage of pressure attached – Limerick had scored their first two shots while Darragh Fitzgibbon had missed for Cork.

Lehane made no mistake, however, and Cork prevailed 3-2 in the shootout to claim the provincial title for the first time since 2018. Lehane was involved on that occasion, as he was for the wins of 2014 and 2017, and adding to the collection – and contributing so heavily, with two points and then the penalty – is special.

“Just the best feeling in the world,” he said, “especially the way it went, it wasn't just like a one-sided game or anything, it went down to the wire in the best way possible.

“You'd rather not be in too many of those situations. But when it comes out the better end for you, it's the best feeling in the world.”

Prior to Saturday, Lehane’s only appearance in the championship had been as a late sub in the last round-robin match against Waterford, in which he scored a point. The lack of match practice was not a bar to making a difference, though.

“You just want to make whatever the impact is,” he said, “whether it be scoring, tackling, whatever the case may be, you just got to impact in the best way you can.

“Look, getting scores is brilliant but there's more to it than that. Everyone on the is completely capable of doing the same thing. It was just lucky that we got a chance today.

“Extra time then, we'd a chance to go back in the dressing room, we'd to wait around another five or ten minutes. You just want to stay out on the pitch and keep going but that's the way it goes and you've just got to react the best way you can and just make sure you're in the right headspace.”

Lehane’s Midleton colleague Tommy O’Connell also came on to get a point, while Shane Kingston scored three after his introduction.

“Shane was unbelievable,” he said.

“He's lethal in general. Look, sometimes the ball will go for you and then other times the donkey work that someone might do that you mightn't see that has a huge impact on the game, can happen too.

“It has been [frustrating] but sure, look, that's the nature of the game. You wouldn't be involved unless you didn't know that going into it.

“I have no issue with the talent that's there, representing Cork the best way they know how. They've done themselves justice numerous times. It's healthy competition.

“You just try stay as patient as you can and avoid injury if possible. When the chances come, then just be as tuned in as you can and try and make some sort of impact.”

Cork winning was a scenario that few could have foreseen after the 16-point loss at the hands of Limerick at the same venue 20 days earlier, but within the camp, nobody was panicking.

“I think it's just not getting too carried away,” Lehane said.

“It's your job as a team and a to keep the head. If there is an unbelievable win that we had or a horrific loss, you have to go back to the base and just drive on again.

“You can't get carried away because if you do, it'll affect you day to day. You just keep the head, know where things went wrong, highlight them and then make sure that doesn't happen again and hope it works out.

“We chatted about it, dived into it, really discussed what went wrong, or what did we do well as well at the same time that you might dismiss and just make sure you correct it for the next day.”

The next day is a while away yet, that’s a nice ‘problem’ to have.

“It's a long time alright,” Lehane said, “you'd nearly rather be out a bit sooner but it's the best way to be after winning a cup so couldn't be happier.”