Walsh admits that players are hurting

New Cork hurling manager Denis Walsh has his work cut out for him as he attempts to pick up his players after Sunday’s 27 point defeat at the hands of Kilkenny.

The Cats showed little mercy to Cork in running up a massive 4-26 total and Walsh has admitted that spirits were low in the Rebels camp after the defeat.

'There are a few fellas who are very flat at the minute and I think you can appreciate that everything has taken its toll over the last few month,' he said.

'It was savage, really. The physicality more than anything else. (Kilkenny) were very sharp and had no weakness. I couldn't see any weakness out there really.'

'I took my first training session on Thursday and I said to them that I would be offering no excuses whatsoever and that you just get out and get on with it, and we were just asking them to work, work, work as hard as they could.'

Meanwhile, Kilkenny boss Brian Cody denied that his side were out to punish or embarrass Cork and simply played their natural game.

'We went out to play as well as we possibly could. Cork have only played two matches in the league and they are only together under new management for the first time.

'They are a very serious team and they are going to have a serious say now in the year's hurling.'