Cork hurling selectors have a few hard calls to make for clash with the Cats

CORK will take on Kilkenny in championship for the first time since 2013 at Croke Park next Sunday, 2pm.

As expected the Rebels cruised past Westmeath, the beaten McDonagh Cup finalists, in Mullingar, rattling over 40 points to go with a Robbie O'Flynn goal in a 23-point victory. 

Patrick Horgan top-scored to the tune of 10 points, five from play, while O'Flynn came off the bench to plunder 1-4, Alan Cadogan, Shane Kingston and Seamus Harnedy each managed 0-5 and Conor Lehane landed four points in his return to the starting line-up.

Three weeks since their disappointing defeat to Clare in the other Cusack Park in the Munster round-robin series, John Meyler's troops were focused from the throw-in and 15 points ahead at the break the management were able to take off Cadogan, Bill Cooper and Mark Coleman.

Darren Browne made his first championship appearance at senior level in replacing a fellow Duhallow native when the Kanturk club man was introduced for Millstreet's Mark Ellis.

Darragh Fitzgibbon was deployed at centre-forward as the selectors looked at their options with a view to the Cats in Croker. Cork have been beaten the last three times they faced their rivals on Jones Road, in 2006, '08 and 2010, as the quarter-final win six years ago was in Thurles. 

Aidan Walsh was absent for this qualifier due to a hand injury but may return to the panel for the collision with TJ Reid and co, while Daniel Kearney and Luke Meade could also come back into the line-up for their work-rate and link play down the wings.

By the same token, it will be difficult to leave Lehane or Kingston out, especially in the vast expanses of Croke Park where their speed is a significant asset.