Young guns promise bright future but present in a little less certain

Diarmuid Sheehan suggests that while Cork may be struggling at the moment they’ve a team full of potential

ELL, after the buzz of last year many eyes in the hurling world were trained on Cork this year to see if last year’s heroics were the sign of things to come rather than just one battle in a protracted war to get back to where the boys in red feel they should be.

Without wanting to spend too much time looking in reverse it is fair to say that the John Meyler reign has not hit the heights just yet – that said the loss to Kerry for the first time in over a century is hardly something to be shouting from the rooftops.

Cork started the league season perfectly, with a hardfought win over Kilkenny in the spectacular surrounds of the redeveloped Páirc Uí Chaoimh however since then things have not exactly gone to plan for the Rebels losing out to Wexford, Clare and most recently Waterford – who now sit on the same points as Cork at the foot of the Division 1A table.

Pre-season hype aside, this was always going to be a tough season for Cork with a change of management and a terrific season behind them that many feel came a little too early for this young and must be said exciting side.

Cork are still in many people’s eyes a little on the light side which opens them up to being bullied in certain quarters on the pitch. The change in the game over the years has leaned towards bigger, more physical specimens however Cork have often had their greatest successes with nifty, hugely talented players rather than with overly powerful players (The Rock obviously excluded).

All that said, Cork do have some bite in certain quarters but the question of whether it will enough to see off a Tipperary side that are getting better by the day is unclear.

Cork will need to show much more than they did against Waterford the last day out which was a day that saw many of the big names fail to make the impression required at this level.

Of course, relegation from 1A to 1B isn’t a disaster, but it can hardly be described as the best preparation for the revamped hurling championship which is coming faster than many can fathom.

Cork really do need to be playing against the best, week in week out, if they are to progress in the way that Meyler and the Cork sporting public crave. Next weekend’s fixture away to Tipperary is going to be difficult however a win really will turn their early season story from a potential negative to a definite positive.

Cork don’t need to make the final to call this campaign a good one but they do need to avoid a potential relegation clash with Galway because at this stage it would be hard to see that one going the way of the Munster men.

The days of saying it is only the league are long gone.