‘It's surreal' – Cork ace Brian Hayes reveals what it's like to hurl with hero Patrick Horgan ahead of Limerick showdown
CORK hitman Brian Hayes says playing alongside Patrick Horgan is a dream.
Hayes has lit up
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PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month for April in hurling, Brian Hayes of Cork, revealed what it's like to play alongside his hero Patrick Horgan
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Patrick Horgan and Cork take on Limerick in the Munster SHC this weekend
The St. Finbarr's man netted twice in their round 1
But learning from the master has been key. Horgan, turned 37 earlier this month and will go down as one of the all-time greats.
Their stalwart fired 1-9 against Tipperary last time out, and age is only a number for the Glen Rovers man.
And Hayes admits hurling alongside his hero is beyond his wildest dreams.
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He said: 'Yeah, I suppose playing next to him, it's very surreal really I suppose. It's class as well.
"I suppose watching him growing up, obviously he would have been Cork's main forward from whenever I was supporting the team.
'And now to play with him and to be friends with him off the pitch as well, it's very cool as well in that element of it.
'I suppose from what he's given to me, picking his brain with different scenarios and learning things that he would have come across over the years.
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'He's very good to pass on information to me with that. I suppose having a good bit of banter with him then, keeping him intact as well in the gym and on the pitch when he's dodging a few things!
'I suppose he needs that as well. I suppose that's the environment we have. Although Patrick's obviously one of the greatest hurlers of all time within our group, he's just another one of us.
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'I suppose it's great to be able to have that banter within our group that we can go up against one another before we go up against anyone else really.'
And the Cork hype train is in full swing after reaching the final last year, as Clare edged a classic 3-29 1-34 after extra-time.
Pat Ryan's men look primed to end their 20-year wait for glory when Hayes was only four years old and his uncle, Ger Cunningham was on the Cork backroom team.
Cunningham lifted Liam MacCarthy three times as their number 1, but Hayes is not getting carried away by the current hysteria aeahd of their trip to Limerick.
He said: 'My mother and father would have taken me up in 2005 because my Uncle Ger would have been involved in the backroom team that year.
'I suppose we would have obviously gone up in supporting Ger and the Cork team as a family. There's a few photos of us going up in our O2 jerseys up around Jones's Road.
'But I suppose of the day and stuff like that you wouldn't really have too many memories.
"I think I remember the homecoming alright on the Monday, briefly. I suppose the match you wouldn't really, I probably wasn't even watching it.
'Any year really that any Cork team goes out, or any team around the country, you want to be winning. I suppose that's the end goal. I'm sure no team has any fear saying that, sure, why else would you do it?
'Obviously, there's the enjoyment of it as well, but the thought of winning and at the end of putting in all the hard work with some of your best friends is obviously something that you dream about.
"There's nothing in it between the top teams. I'm sure whoever's there this year, it'll be the same, one- or two-point game.
"I suppose for us it was just about coming back and building on that. I think we've done that so far, so hopefully we can keep it going."
BRIAN HAYES is the PwC GPA Hurling Player of the Month for April. PwC are proud sponsors of the Player of the Month awards across camogie, hurling, football and ladies football.
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