Mourne men will

Cork v Down

NEXT up for Cork is a home clash against Down.

The Mourne Men began their campaign with a draw against Tipperary before beating Derry last weekend, leaving them a point behind Cork in a tie for second place with Tipp and Longford.

So far, Cork have had to earn the right to play against both Offaly and Leitrim, but Rebels wing-forward Ruairí Deane doesn’t necessarily expect that to be the case in every game. Down have a reputation for trying to play positive football and the Bantry Blues man is keen for Cork to focus on Cork first and foremost.

“We’re just going out to try to play good football and get the best performance out of every individual and as a team,” he said.

“We’re not directly targeting any opposition, we know that there are no easy battles. We have Down next weekend, that should be a very tough game down in the Páirc. I can’t say we’re targeting trying to wear teams down and taking it as it comes, but we’re definitely trying to play the best football that we can and get the best out of ourselves.”

However, despite both sides sitting in the upper reaches of the table, it’s too early to call it a promotion battle, Deane feels.

“You can’t really look at it like that,” he said.

“It’s only your third league game, there’s a good spell left there. It is one of the bigger tests you’re going to come up against this year, they’re a good footballing side, not too long ago they were playing Cork in the 2010 All-Ireland final.

“They’re definitely a good side that you have to respect but we want to get the best out of ourselves too.”

Likewise, Cork manager Ronan McCarthy expects a stiff test from Paddy Tally’s men.

“To be fair, Down would have plenty of quality in their forward line and they had the Kilcoo lads back on Saturday night too,” McCarthy said.

“I don’t think Down would come down with any fear of going out and playing their football. I do think, with the way the game has gone, lots of teams – including Dublin and Kerry – do get men behind the ball and you have to be patient and keep the ball and make sure you don’t get turned over.

“Regardless, we just have to keep trying to do that.”

In terms of access to players who weren’t available in Carrick-on-Shannon, McCarthy is optimistic.

“We should have a few back,” he said.

“There was club Under 21 on Saturday and Sunday so we lost a few players owing to that. There’s the Trench Cup on Friday so you take a guy like Cathail O’Mahony, who played last Thursday, then Sunday, Tuesday