Cork v Armagh: Rebels name team for final league fixture 

CORK football manager John Cleary has kept the faith with the same starting fifteen which defeated Meath last weekend for Saturday’s final Allianz Division 2 football league clash of 2024 against Armagh at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7pm). 

The Rebels come into this one high in confidence after three successive victories, safe from relegation and will finish in third place in the final standings if they win and Cavan are defeated at home to a Fermanagh side on the brink of relegation.

Winning games naturally breeds confidence, but the manner in which the Rebels defeated old rivals Meath above in Páirc Tailteann last Saturday will just raise the confidence levels up another notch. The away side looked in bother heading down the home straight, trailing 1-11 to 1-8, but Cork showed composure and guile as they kicked the last seven points to win by four points, 1-15 to 1-11.

Cork did play quite well overall, even when they were behind, but the performance in the last quarter is exactly what they are capable of especially when they move the ball with pace. The introduction of the subs did help, most notably Steven Sherlock.

To finish the league with four wins on the bounce, and beat a quality team in the shape of Armagh, would be a statement of intent from Cleary’s charges.

Armagh are already promoted to the top tier of the league, along with Donegal, which was secured last weekend, but it would be foolish to think that Kieran McGeeney’s side are making the long trip down south just for the weekend. They will want to finish the regular league season on a high note.

Cork will be in the same mindset. The Leesiders will want to get a result to consolidate, or even improve their current joint fourth position, which was good enough to get them into the Sam Maguire Cup last year.

The Rebels open their Munster championship campaign in two weeks’ time, against Limerick in the quarter-final on Sunday, April 7 in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 2pm.

It’s important to note that it will be busy down around the Páirc tomorrow, with Limerick meeting Kilkenny at 4.30pm in the Allianz Division 1 hurling league semi-final. A large crowd is expected to go through the turnstiles.

CORK (v Armagh):

Christopher Kelly (Éire Óg);

Kevin Flahive (Douglas), Daniel O’Mahony (Knocknagree), Tommy Walsh (Kanturk);

Luke Fahy (Ballincollig), Seán Meehan (Kiskeam), Matty Taylor (Mallow);

Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s), Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg);

Paul Walsh (Kanturk), Seán Powter (Douglas), Brian O’Driscoll (Carrigaline);

Chris Óg Jones (Iveleary), Conor Corbett (Clyda Rovers), Brian Hurley (Castlehaven, capt).

Subs:

Micheál Aodh Martin (Nemo Rangers), Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty), Darragh Cashman (Millstreet), Thomas Clancy (Clonakilty), Kevin O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers), David Buckley (Newcestown), Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree), John O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers), Killian O’Hanlon (Kilshannig), Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s), Jacob O’Driscoll (Valley Rovers).