What Cork GAA fans need to know ahead of the league openers

Cork have certainly maximised their McGrath Cup campaign. The silverware itself isn’t of major concern, but winning while trialling 46 different players will provide ample benefit.

The Rebels tested more different players in pre-season than any other county bar Wicklow, who used 51 players according to @TheNumbersGael on X. However, Oisín McConville didn’t take their final game on Friday, instead handing the opportunity to the county’s U20 manager to study his troops.

By contrast, Cork’s round five opponents, Derry, kept a tight group of 22 players for their two McKenna Cup fixtures.

As well as blooding a handful of fringe prospects, John Cleary has got minutes into most of his frontline players as they aim to hit the ground running when Cavan visit SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the League opener next weekend.

Seán Meehan and Seán Walsh were the only two players to feature in all three games against Tipperary, Limerick, and Kerry. Rory Maguire, Colm O’Callaghan, and Conor Cahalane played every minute of their two appearances.

Cork’s total of 17 debutants ranks behind Wicklow (27), Dublin (24), and Limerick (21), who fielded a scratch team in their opener against Tipp. The Blood and Bandage’s second-round opponents, Louth, tried the fewest rookies with three.

Most of the debuts granted by Cleary were against the Treaty, while Dara Sheedy and Michael McSweeney added their names to the newcomers list when featuring off the bench at Fitzgerald Stadium.

The context for the McGrath Cup success is that some Kerry players are hardly back in the door for pre-season. This was more of a blow-out for them than the tune-up it was for Cork.

The Rebels have tended to be a step ahead in their preparation at this time of year. They have been to seven successive McGrath Cup finals, claiming the last three on the spin, while winning four of their last five New Year’s derbies with the Kingdom. Come April or May, it’s a different ball game altogether.

Nevertheless, it’s always good to see the right attitude to turn a late two-point deficit into a one-point win. Cleary’s stoppage-time objections to the 50-metre advancement of a free, which was later reversed, showed some hint of competitive spice.

CORE

A dozen Kerry players who featured in July’s All-Ireland success saw game time. Cork had the majority of their strongest starting team in action.

Seán McDonnell and O’Callaghan have been scoring well. McDonnell could’ve traded in a couple of his points for goals against both Tipp and Kerry. Brian Hurley’s two-point radar was encouraging. Daniel O’Mahony was his usual tight-marking self on David Clifford.

It was similarly difficult to read too much into matters at Mallow as Limerick defeated Waterford by eight points in the Munster Hurling League final.

The Déise are Cork’s opponents in Sunday’s National League opener, which will receive a greater focus from Peter Queally.

Waterford were able to disrupt Limerick’s puck-out and will plan to do similar on Leeside. But for a bucketful of wides (eight in the first half), they could’ve led at the break. From there, they couldn’t piece together back-to-back scores.

Shane Bennett was sharpest on show with 0-2 from a new station at wing-back, while also dealing with Gearóid Hegarty.

Ballygunner’s All-Ireland triumph will provide a boost ahead of the League, although the likelihood of seeing any of those players back in white on Sunday seems remote.

On Sunday, the younger Mahony brothers were their standout attackers. Kevin Mahony was often outnumbered by Loughrea defenders, but never outmatched, scoring 0-4, being fouled for 0-3, and assisting 0-2.

Older brother and joint-captain Mikey Mahony dispatched the killer goal in the 35th minute. He had a permanent influence with his smart use of the sliotar from a deep-lying wing-forward role.

With teenager Mark Hartley chipping in with a point and Minor Hurler of the Year and All-Ireland-winner Cormac Spain next off the production line, Ballygunner won’t be stopping anytime soon.

CLASSIC

Dingle won a third consecutive drama-filled classic in the football final, completing a first-ever clean sweep of club titles by Kerry.

No doubt, it will have been noted in St Finbarr’s how easily they could’ve gotten over the line in that Munster final and how close they were to competing for the Andy Merrigan Cup themselves.

While Cork quickly packed away the McGrath Cup to the dressing room, the celebrations will be raging for a while on Slea Head.

On the week that Ballylickey’s most famous son, Seán Ó Sé, passed away, it was touching to see An Poc ar Buile get a few renditions amid the Croke Park festivities.