REBELS RINN A DIFFICULT SPOT
IT’S been a pretty grim 2019 for Cork GAA so far as the Pairc Ui Chaoimh fallout rumbles on and both of their flagship teams without a League victory to their name yet.
Thankfully all home matches Cork were due to have in both codes in the League will take place at Pairc Ui Rinn after the farcical state of the pitch at their flagship ground.
Things aren’t as bleak for the hurlers as the footballers, however, with John Meyler’s side well used to underwhelming League campaigns. They were in a relegation play-off last year before going on an unbeaten run that only ended after extra time in the All-ireland semi-final having picked up another Munster title en route.
Cork will be formidable later in the year, but whether they’ll improve sufficiently to break the semi-final glass ceiling remains to be seen.
After losing their opening games to Kilkenny and Wexford, you could argue Clare are ideal opposition, Cork having lost to them just once in eight League and Championship games since the 2013 All-ireland final, including beating them twice in Munster last year. But Clare, with Tony Kelly (left) back from suspension, look to be ahead of them at the moment.