The Rebels need to back up victory

NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2

THE late Jimmy Magee described Colm O’Neill as one of the most talented forwards of his generation and to be fair to the Memory Man he was rarely too far wrong.

O’Neill has often been the only bright spark in a Cork setup that has failed to really deliver in almost a decade, but the Ballyclough man has also had his off days (who hasn’t with three cruciate knees surgeries behind them?) and on those occasions Cork invariably lost.

Roll on last weekend and Cork headed to Navan to take on a Meath side that also have failed to reach anything close to the heights they regularly maintained in the 90s.

Cork’s mission on this day was clear. A win was a must, nothing else would so if they were to first secure Division 2 status before then pushing on to put in a late challenge for promotion.

Cork saw off Meath by four points last Sunday and in so doing put themselves in with an outside chance of getting back to Division 1. Something few would have thought possible when the men in red and white were being overrun by Cavan a few weeks back.

Last weekend’s four-point win over the Leinster side was hard won but not undeserved and Mr Magee’s favourite player was right at the heart of it.

O’Neill put in his best performance in quite a while, dominating the scoreboard and the unfortunate defenders that were assigned the duty of following him around the field. What these defenders got to see up close and personnel is just what a talent Colm O’Neill is and what the proud Ballyclough man brings to the table when he sings in tune.

1-6 is a very credible tally from the game – add that to his all-round influence and this was a genuine man of the match display from a man that has many awards to his name already.

O’Neill will be expected to re-

peat these heroics next time out when Cork entertain Clare on St Patrick’s night. Cork should be buoyed by the win in Navan and should be able to carry on with an equally if not more impressive display against the Banner.

Cork and Clare sit fourth and fifth respectively in the table however Clare are still far from secure.

Cork, for their part, are also not technically safe however a point from any of their two final games should end that possibility – but Cork are at last looking at the sides above them rather than behind them and with some luck and two good wins in their final brace of games there is a chance at the most unlikely of promotions.

Ronan McCarthy will be making sure his players are focussed on one game at a time with Clare front and centre in the Rebels’ consciousness, but there is little wrong with aiming high, particularly after a sustained period where it seemed the Cork boys with the big ball could do little right.

North Cork football fans will also be delighted to see that Matthew Taylor got his first start for Cork, rounding off his display with a well worked point. Taylor is a super footballer and could do with a sustained run in the county’s top side so that all the county’s football supporters can see just what Mallow GAA fans have been witnessing for a few years now.

Clare come into Sunday’s game with a less than impressive record in the league this season. Only one win from five is difficult reading for Banner fans however a pair of draws means that they, like Cork, have lost just twice.

Clare’s loss to Roscommon last time out by seven points would have hurt, particularly as it came in Ennis so it will be interesting to see if it deflates or inspires the men in blue and yellow. Clare have put in some credible displays this season, drawing with a high-flying Tipperary side before heading up north to see off Down by two points.

Clare have plenty about them when their back is up with the likes of David Tubridy, Eoin Cleary, Gary Brennan, Keelan Sexton, and Pearse Lillis all likely to have an impact this weekend. The quintet can all score and can all give their respective markers torrid afternoons.

Cork should be buoyed by the win in Navan and should be able to carry on with an equally if not more impressive display against the Banner

The midfield battle is likely to be key this Sunday with Ian Maguire and perhaps Kilshannig’s Cillian O’Hanlon getting another chance to shine for Cork while for Clare, Cathal O’Connor and Gary Brennan are more than likely going to be the pair charged with dragging their side forward and competing under the high ball.

The winner of this midfield battle will likely influence the result of the game.

While the middle third is obviously important it will ultimately come down to the scoring prowess shown by the forwards this weekend.

Cork have Mark Collins and John O’Rourke in good form of late with Sean White from Clonakilty also doing well.

This is likely to be Cork’s last game without the Nemo Rangers lad so all on the pitch this St Patrick’s night will be hoping to impress to ward off challengers to their jerseys – and that is a real positive place for Cork football to be in right now.

In the back-line, Fermoy’s Tomas Clancy has done well all season and is likely to get the call up again this time round while Taylor deserves another shot to build a partnership with Clancy and Brian O’Driscoll in the half-back line.

The week that is in it, Cheltenham an all, predictions or tips are not in short supply as everyone seems to be an expert at all things horses and sport in general however if pushed for a winner in this one you would be hard pressed to find someone prepared to look past what could be a Cork side tentatively and belatedly finding their feet.

Verdict: Cork