Young footballers to watch in the league this season: 

PRESSURE ON:

Cork were fancied to push for promotion from Division 2 this time last year but a loss at home to Meath put them on the back foot across the league. As was the case this January, they had impressed in securing the McGrath Cup in 2023 but that didn't translate into a top-two finish.

Instead, Dublin and Derry went up but there's no one as strong in this year's second tier.

Cork will be doing very well to come away from Donegal at the weekend with a victory but with Louth and Cavan the next two games on the horizon, the footballers can recover if they don't get the better of Jim McGuinness' charges.

The Rebels only have three home games but the last of them is against Armagh on March 23 and could well be decisive in their bid to return to Division 1 for the first time since relegation in 2016 at the hands of the Kingdom.

At the very least, they need to be among the first four in the table which secures their place in the All-Ireland series.

FOOTBALLERS TO WATCH:

John Cleary and his selectors went for stability across the league and championship last season and they'll probably do likewise over the coming weeks.

However, there are still positions up for grabs, with Mícheál Aodh Martin's absence creating a vacancy in goal and an obvious need to bolster the attacking options having struggled for scores in the quarter-final loss to Derry.

Patrick Doyle is set to edge out Chris Kelly in goal, the Knocknagree club man making a couple of crucial saves in the McGrath Cup final against Kerry before scoring and saving a penalty in the shootout.

Darragh Cashman will certainly get minutes in the league having kicked some fine points in the preseason competition while Mark Cronin, Blake Murphy and David Buckley are in the mix up front. 

Buckley produced one of the greatest ever county final displays for Newcestown against Dohenys last winter, kicking 0-9, 0-6 from play, and was a marquee underage football for Cork before injuries stalled his progress.

WEATHER WOE:

That Irish weather doesn't lend itself to outdoor action in January isn't a new development. What has changed is the volume of action that takes place around Christmas, with the split season bringing the league forward and even the round-robin format at second level increasing the number of Harty Cup and Corn Uí Mhuirí games.

The uncertainty over fixtures led to the abandonment of the Munster Senior Hurling League for 2024, after first fog, then ice, and lastly rain saw Cork versus Limerick postponed three times. 

With a hectic schedule from here until the Munster Championship in April, there was simply no wiggle room. 

The dome in Connacht has been in constant use over the winter, and it's the type of option Munster GAA could do with. Given the €30 million-plus worth of debt weighing down Páirc Uí Chaoimh though, there will be no major outlay on such a facility in the short term.

PATRICIAN ACADEMY ON THE RISE:

Kerry schools have monopolised the Corn Uí Mhuirí in the modern era, with no Cork team landing the trophy since Coláiste Chríost Rí in 2011.

Patrician Academy from Mallow are still flying the Rebel flag this season, taking down Coláiste na Sceilge in the quarter-finals to secure a clash with Marc Ó Sé-coached CBS Tralee. Goals from Dylan O'Connell and Cathal Mullins decided the encounter at Banteer during the week and there's no reason they can't take another step in the semi.

It's the first time Patrician Academy have reached the last four since 1998. They were pipped by Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh on that occasion, with Críost Rí then beating the Bishopstown side in the final, to retain the Corn Uí Mhuirí.

'The Sem' are fancied to make it three in a row this year, with St Brendan's, Killarney well on top of the roll of honour with 24 titles already. Clonakilty Community College gave them a decent game in the quarter-final on Tuesday but still finished 10 points adrift at the final whistle.