CORK manager Pat Ryan has been praised for his “refreshingly honest” explanation as to why he doesn’t name dummy teams.
Unlike just about every other team across inter-county football and hurling, the Rebels actually line out on matchday with the same starting XV as is named a few days in advance.
“This isn’t my team. This is the Cork public’s team. This is the players’ team more than anything.” Cork boss Pat Ryan on why he doesn’t like naming dummy teams, and the importance of being honest with his players. pic.twitter.com/aPVDdsF4OV
— RedFM Sport (@BigRedBench) July 3, 2025
It’s only a small thing but is appreciated by GAA supporters nonetheless given his peers are so uber-secretive around their starting teams.
RedFM recorded a clip of the 48-year-old outlining why he bucks the modern trend of trying to catch opponents out with a late switcharoo or two.
He detailed: “You can’t keep anything in Cork anyway! I don’t want to be telling the players, ‘Don’t say this now to anyone.’
“They have to go home and tell their mam and dad are they playing, are they not playing. Your friends, you’re getting texts. I find that’s only putting more pressure on them for the following week.”
In Cork, where the hurling team are under a constant microscope, Ryan reckons keeping secrets from the public would be a futile exercise.
He said: “I’m not going to question any manager who wants to put in dummy teams or doesn’t want to put in dummy teams.
“But realistically, bar probably Limerick, I think everything gets out of every other dressing room.
“If you look at Nickie Quaid this year, nobody knew that was coming. That shows how tight they are and that’s probably a challenge for all of us to be.
“Our training sessions aren’t closed-doors either really – to a degree. We don’t want to invite 25,000 people down.
“We often get a mother coming up with her kids looking for autographs and she’s sitting on the side of the field.
“Look, this isn’t my team. This is the Cork public’s team and it’s the players’ team more than anything. We try and be as straightforward as we can.”
The above clip has been well-received by GAA enthusiasts up and down the country. Journalists are obviously going to find his directness especially welcome.
Among the quote-tweets praising Ryan, host of the BBC’s GAA Social podcast Thomas Nibblock posted: “What a refreshingly honest clip.
“Nothing spectacular, or earth shattering- just a fair winded answer to a question. Can’t wait to Saturday. 5pm, BBC2.”
Similarly Derrick added: “Pat Ryan is one of the most genuine & sincere men you’ll find. This is proper honest and straight talking stuff, which is sadly becoming a rarity.”
SEMI SELECTION
On Thursday Ryan made three changes for Saturday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Dublin.
Niall O’Leary comes back into the defence after coming off the bench in the Munster SHC final win over Limerick last month as Damien Cahalane drops out.
Robert Downey replaces the injured Cormac O’Brien (quad) at centre-back and Declan Dalton comes into the firing line for Séamus Harnedy, who is out with a hamstring injury.
Ger Millerick returns to the bench after recovering from a broken finger.
CORK: P Collins; N O’Leary, E Downey, S O’Donoghue; C Joyce, R Downey, M Coleman; T O’Mahony, D Fitzgibbon; D Healy, S Barrett, D Dalton; P Horgan, A Connnolly, B Hayes.
DUBLIN: S Brennan; J Bellew, P Smyth, C McHugh; P Doyle, C Burke, A Dunphy; C Donohoe, B Hayes; R McBride, F Whitely, D Power; S Currie, R Hayes, C O’Sullivan.
