For a first year in charge of Cork, 2018 proved to be positive overall for manager John Meyler as he guided the hurlers to within an extra-time period of the All Ireland final.
In the end, Limerick mounted a comeback by the end of normal time before pulling clear in extra time as Cork just fell short.
Meyler joined Joe Molloy on Off The Ball and acknowledging the difference the Limerick bench made, he feels Cork will need to find a few extra players to build upon their own growing squad.
"We need another two or three more players to have more strength in depth and that's what we'll really need to find in the next few weeks now in the Club Championship in Cork," he said.
Contrasting their situation with Limerick, whose talented former Under-21s crop have made the grade and transition to senior, Meyler also said: "They have that block of experience which we don't have. We need to find a few more players and Alan Cadogan was a big loss yesterday".
Meyler, whose son David plays soccer internationally for Ireland and at club level for Reading FC, also pointed out the emphasis he feels is placed on training over matches within the GAA in comparison to soccer and how the round-robin format and consequent increase in games in Munster and Leinster proved to be a welcome addition.
Cork hurling manager John Meyler celebrates with his son David ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
"The format has been incredible," he said of the Munster Championship which saw all five sides guaranteed two home and two away matches.
"I think the GAA have to realise how successful the Munster Championship was."
Continuing on that theme, he added: "This bloody thing of training for four or five months, starting back in November, December and January, training in the sh*t and the mud... my son is playing with Reading and he's just had six weeks of pre-season. They'll be finished on Friday when they play Derby County.
"He's done six weeks of pre-season training. In the sunshine as well and they have played six challenge matches. Now, he's only played one full 90 minutes.
"The GAA is obsessed with training and four or five week breaks instead of playing the matches and that's it, you know."
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