GAA confirm league details for Cork, with no home games for footballers
Eoin Cadogan of Cork in last season's league game against Westmeath. Picture: INPHO/Brian Reilly-Troy
CORK inter-county teams returned to training this week, ahead of a busy league programme from early May.
The Rebel camogie, ladies football, hurling and football teams will all be focused on delivering in the championship, but with the quick turnaround from the league in this Covid-impacted year, building up momentum will be important.
The final details of the hurling and football leagues were confirmed today, and while the Rebels will host Waterford, Westmeath and Galway at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in the hurling, the footballers won't have any home matches in the regular section.
Their clash with Kildare on May 15 is fixed for Semple Stadium due to the Covid training breach which saw manager Ronan McCarthy suspended for 12 weeks, followed by trips to Laois and Clare. That Kildare game is at 3.30pm in Thurles on the same date the hurlers meet Tipp that night at 7.30pm.
Each football county is guaranteed a league semi-final or relegation play-off on June 12 or 13, but there will only be league finals if both finalists aren't in championship on the last weekend of June. Cork are in Division 2 South, with Meath, Westmeath, Mayo and Down on the other side in Division 2 North.
The Cork hurlers have five league games with the top teams from Division 1A and 1B declared joint-winners, barring a championship meeting which can double up as a league final, ala Limerick-Clare last winter. Kieran Kingston and his selectors will be eager to blood a few new recruits, but also garner some confidence-building victories.
Ephie Fitzgerald's ladies footballers have three league games from May 23, at home to Tipp and Dublin and away to Waterford, with the league semi-finals on June 12/13 and the final two weeks later. The Rebels were heading for a 12th title since their breakthrough in 2005, before the league was cancelled.
There are two guaranteed camogie league games for Paudie Murray's charges, home to Tipp on May 15, away to Waterford on May 29, there are league quarter- and semi-finals from June 5/6, with the final set for June 19/20. Cork would be expected to top their group, but either way, they'll have at least one knockout game to set the scene for the summer.
Cork's second camogie squad will also be in league action, a boost given the Association only permitted one team per county last winter for championship, which ruled Mark McCarthy's squad out.
Waterford, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 3.45pm.
Tipperary, Thurles, 7.30pm.
Westmeath, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 3pm.
Limerick, Gaelic Grounds, 7.15pm.
Galway, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 1.45pm.
Cork have drawn Limerick in the Munster hurling semi-final, with Tipp meeting Clare or Waterford on the other side.
League relegation play-off on August 7/8. No league final, unless it can be doubled up with a championship meeting.
Kildare, Thurles, 3.30pm.
Laois, Portlaoise, 7pm.
Clare, Ennis, 1.45pm.
Relegation play-off or league semi-final on June 12/13.
League final on June 19/20, only if both counties aren't in championship action the following week. Otherwise, there will be joint-winners.
Cork were paired with the winners of Waterford v Limerick in the Munster semi-final, it's Tipp against Kerry or Clare on the other side.
Tipperary, home.
Waterford, away.
League quarter-finals.
Relegation play-off and league semi-finals.
Relegation and league finals.
Championship details have yet to be confirmed.
Tipperary, home.
Dublin, home.
Waterford, away.
Relegation play-off and league semi-finals.
League final.
Championship details have yet to be confirmed.
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