In either pre-match or post-match interviews, Jimmy Barry-Murphy has always conducted himself with the utmost decency.
When speaking to RTÉ Sport after Cork's defeat to Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-final, you could clearly see that the man was hurting after watching his side fail to show any real fight in exiting from this year's championship.
And while JBM did say that his troops "have given everything and that he could not for any more from them" over the last few years, his assessment of the defeat to Galway should be a cause for even greater worry for those who care about Cork hurling.
"Galway were much, much better than us and we seemed to be second to every ball all over the field," he said
"Very few of our players played up to the standard that we'd expect from them.
"Galway were too physical for us and just too strong for us on the day" - JBM
"From the word go we gave away a soft goal playing with the wind and that set the tone for the game. We were comprehensively outplayed. Sometimes you have to put your hand up and say that the better team won.
"Galway were too physical for us and just too strong for us on the day. They won all the physical battles. We were fighting al ost cause from a good bit out.
After coming close to winning an All-Ireland title in 2013, the question is have Cork slipped that far back that they are now well behind the likes of Galway?
"Maybe we are" was Barry-Murphy's succint response.
"Sometimes you have to face reality. On today's display we were off the pace"
When asked whether he'll be in charge in 2016, JBM replied "I can't wait for next year."
On seeking clarification for that response, JBM, maybe somewhat tongue-in-cheek. added "can't wait for next year."
