John Horgan on why Cork hurlers should grab chance to get to a league final, starting in Ennis

There is no doubt that this season's league campaign is carrying greater significance than it might have done previously.

From what we have seen thus far in the top two divisions, some of the fare on offer has been compelling and entertaining and the new format of the competition, the top two from each division going straight into a final showdown and the bottom two being relegated has energised matters.

It has made players and management teams more aware of the higher stakes involved and the counties involved want to, at the very least, preserve their current status.

Cusack Park in Ennis hosts what is surely the game of the weekend on Sunday, last season's best two teams in the championship and the two who will contest the opening game next month in the Munster championship.

Cork's victory over Kilkenny and Clare departing the Gaelic Grounds having bagged the league points against Limerick has set things up very nicely for the trip to the Banner County.

Having lost their first three games, Clare were in grave danger of going under without trace in the secondary competition and inside and outside the county criticism was forthcoming from some quarters that the appetite had been lost.

The news last week that hurler of the year in 2024, Shane O'Donnell would not be involved this season because of injury only added to the negativity.

Yes, Clare had been very poor in some of those opening couple of league games but in some instances over half the team and more that lifted the MacCarthy Cup last July were not in the starting 15 for various reasons. In their opener against Kilkenny only four of the starting All-Ireland final team featured.

It wasn't panic stations for Brian Lohan but the losing sequence needed something done about it and on the Ennis Road last Sunday that's exactly what transpired as they secured a psychologically very important victory over the team that many consider to be short enough priced favourites for the big championship campaigns that are coming down the tracks.

ABSORBING

Clare's need was far greater in this great rivalry with neighbours Limerick, another loss and it was Division 1B hurling next season.

The game did not reach the heights of the championship that these two counties are nearly always capable of but it was an absorbing contest with Clare's commitment, performance and attitude levels going up a couple of notches.

Tony Kelly ended up with man of the match award, no surprise there for one of the best hurlers it has been our privilege to watch in action.

John Conlon was back marshalling the defence and all of the starting six forwards registered on the scoresheet.

In Cork's win over Kilkenny only half of that number delivered.

Similarly to what Pat Ryan is doing with Cork, Lohan is doing with Clare, introducing a couple of newcomers and hoping that they can be championship contenders in April and May.

One young gun stood out for Clare last Sunday, Jack O'Neill came into the attack and fired over three quality points as did another newcomer, Sean Rynne.

Their scoring contribution did not match Cork's newcomer on Saturday, Diarmuid Healy but they impacted heavily in this Clare victory.

Cork's involvement in Cusack Park next Sunday is a dress rehearsal for the championship collision on April 20th and it carries significant implications for both counties.

A Cork win and a place in the league final becomes a distinct possibility while a Clare victory would be a big step in their efforts to avoid the drop.

Of course, when two counties are meeting just a couple of weeks out from the far more important championship game there might be some speculation that neither will want to display their full hand.

A Cork victory on Sunday on the sod that they will be trod on next month would be a very favourable outcome against a county that has had the upper-hand on them in recent times in both the league and championship.

Given how well they performed in the Gaelic Grounds and on home turf, Clare are probably slightly more fancied and there was a lot to admire about them last Sunday.

The couple of newcomers slotted in nicely, the tried and trusted led by example and it was by far their best day out since last July.

The loss of O'Donnell is immense but at least they will have time to get on with things without his big presence and if one or two of the newcomers against Limerick can step up that bit further, that will compensate for his loss.

What of Cork? Plenty of positives, a few negatives too in the journey thus far and, of course, the absence of key players who will be championship starters has to be factored in.

Cork have conceded a few sloppy goals in their last two outings, maybe scores that could have been avoided and more assuredness in defence must be forthcoming.

There must be a far better return from the attack as a unit than there was against Kilkenny when only young Healy, Patrick Horgan again and Shane Barrett made the difference in that department.

With every passing game, Pat Ryan will want to be closing in on a settled team for the championship.

Injuries to key players are hampering him and his management in that regard and maybe an appearance in a league final would get important game-time into players who have not been featuring.

Rob Downey's return against the Cats and his performance was a significant factor in getting the win last weekend and the performance of Healy in the half-forward line has been the main plus of the campaign to date.

In a few of the games, too much space has been provided for the opposition and that is an issue that will be addressed.

As things stand currently, there is a very good chance of getting into the league final and maybe winning it as Limerick and Clare have done in recent years on their way to championship glory.

WINNING HABIT

Success bred success for them and it could for this Cork squad too. The ideal situation would be to get to a league final and to avoid another Munster county that you would be meeting sooner rather than later in the championship.

A Cork-Kilkenny final or a Cork v Galway final would be ideal but there's plenty of hurling to be played before that might come to pass. But the opportunity has now presented itself at this point for Cork to get back into a league final and to win it.

Maybe it's time to try and grasp it and a win on Sunday would go a long way towards that.

Historically, Cusack Park has not been a great venue for Cork teams in general but there's enough about this team right now for that to change and to gain whatever psychological edge that might exist before the two face off again next month.

Cork to win.