The Echo Sport Podcast: League title lifted, Cork hurlers hurlers turn towards massive Clare clash

Cork, league champions again at last.

It's not the big prize we all crave so badly but Pat Ryan's side bridged the gap to 1998 in style over the weekend.

All the pressure was on the Cork hurlers in the final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh and they rose to the occasion, delivering a first-half display on par with their efforts against Limerick last May. This time there was no dramatic fightback, with the Rebels comfortable winners.

There was a cracking atmosphere as Cork stitched three goals in the second quarter though the second half was a strange affair, with the Rebels making a host of mistakes. Clare will have watched on with interest, particularly how Ronan Maher shielded his full-back line by dropping in front of the D.

The major question now is if Cork will carry their momentum and form into the summer, starting with that trip to Ennis on Easter Sunday. They blitzed the Banner for six goals in the league but as we all well know, championship is a very different animal.

There's a real battle for places in Cork's first 15, with Cormac O'Brien looking to keep Mark Coleman out of the wing-back berth and Deccie Dalton and Seamus Harnedy pressing for attacking spots.

SNAPPED UP

The interest in the team is incredible with tickets for the provincial action being snapped up during the week. The scene is set for a thrilling Munster campaign.

On the football front, the Cork seniors and U20s had solid victories in the last week, but both now face very difficult games against Kerry.

Ray O'Mahony's charges are in Tralee on Monday night, curtailed by injuries to key forwards Dara Sheedy and Ed Myers. Even if they lose they're still likely to reach the Munster final due to the round-robin format.

The seniors host Kerry on Easter Saturday in a straight knockout Munster semi. Did they show anything up in Limerick to suggest they could knock the league champions out of their stride?

On the local scene, we round up the club hurling and football action over the weekend, including a fine victory for Glen Rovers over league champions Sars and Cill na Martra's defeat of Castlehaven, who haven't been at their best so far this season. Plus Teddy McCarthy was honoured with a new statue in his memory at Riverstown.

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.

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