The Echo Sport Podcast: Super Saturday for Cork GAA in Páirc as U21 club footballers short changed

The Echo Sport Podcast takes in all the latest GAA action. 

Now in its third season, every week Éamonn Murphy will be joined by The Echo team including Barry O'Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.

This week we examine the February window for club U21 football, which was washed out before the finals could be completed. 

Do inter-county managers have too much control over underage players? Is there an alternative time of the season when it can be held?

Where do the Cork footballers stand in the pecking order after shipping three goals in a loss against Monaghan? Despite two defeats from four Division 2 league outings, they could still get back to the top flight but in their current guise, they're probably not strong enough to survive in that tier anyway.

TIGHT

Defensive frailties were a concern even when they edged out Westmeath in a thriller and they'll need to tighten up at the back with Roscommon in the Páirc this Saturday night.

There's actually a triple-header in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, with the ladies footballers, fresh from getting a win up on Monaghan, also hosting the Rossies, and the hurlers meeting Kilkenny.

Pat Ryan's side will be desperate to show more than they did up in Thurles. Tipp were four-point winners but, aside from the first quarter, the livelier, harder working and more clinical outfit.

Cork have a bit of an injury crisis at the moment, from Rob Downey, Mark Coleman and Seán O'Donoghue at the back to Seamie Harnedy, Shane Kingston, Alan Connolly and more up front.

That doesn't excuse a lack of intensity and bite though. Especially when Cork need a couple of young guns to force their way into the championship first 20.

Cormac O'Brien has been consistent in the three league games at wing-back and Micheál Mullins grasped his chance in the five slot. Another U20 All-Ireland winner Diarmuid Healy had a host of possessions after coming on in the second half.

We'll know a bit more about where the hurlers and footballers are at after the Super Saturday triple-header.

You can listen to the Echo Sport Podcast every week wherever you get your podcasts or on www.echolive.ie/podcast