John Horgan: Cork adding extra options but we can't read much into February hurling

Different strokes for different folks, that might be one way of describing the approach of inter-county hurling managers to the league.

Some might want outright success more than others. Some are satisfied with how they perform with a number of new players on board. Then you have the managers who just want to preserve their top-flight status and not get sucked into a battle to avoid the drop.

Over 30,000 supporters, a quite staggering number went through the turnstiles at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh last Saturday to view the latest instalment of the age-old Cork and Tipperary rivalry and for the most part they got value for money.

It wasn't a humdinger of a contest, not the type of game that we'll be expecting in April when Semple Stadium will host the same two counties in a Munster championship opener that will carry a vast amount of more importance.

MORE IMPORTANT

The perception in advance of last Saturday's clash was that it carried more weight for Cork than it did for Tipperary, given the events of last July and the need for them to put down an early marker that might be beneficial in some sort of way in a few months.

League and championship assignments are worlds apar, of course, but there is nothing wrong at securing the early bragging rights that are the table.

And yes, the Cork victory was a sort of redemption for what transpired last July in Croke Park but the full redemptive package cannot be collected until the championship curtain goes up.

But credit where it's due, this was a continuation of the positivity accompanying this Cork team since the secondary competition began and winning games is a good habit to be developing.

The positives certainly outweigh the negatives on this league journey thus far and a victory in one of their two away games against Kilkenny and Limerick would most likely seal their place in the final.

A victory in the Gaelic Grounds or Nowlan Park would have Ben O'Connor's men on eight points and with every respect to Offaly, victory on home turf on Leeside should be theirs when the Faithful County arrive in town.

That would give them at least 10 points from the twelve available in the six regulation games, more than enough to give them the opportunity of retaining the league title. Yes, we are being a bit presumptuous in stating that kind of scenario and every league game carries an amount of uncertainty.

There's a break now for a couple of weeks before the trip to Noreside and that provides the new Cork management team with ample time to reflect on the happenings over the three games against Waterford, Galway and Tipperary, those outings reaping a nice bit of a dividend.

Given how intensely competitive the Munster championship has become with the round-robin format, the likelihood is that when two counties from that province collide in a league encounter, that level of intensity won't be on view.

Yes, we had that all in fracas before half-time last Saturday night but the contest overall did not ignite to any huge extent.

Cork were the superior force for the greater part of the game, they were better balanced and their attacking formation was certainly more productive.

A return of 29 points, 23 from open play with nine different contributors, was one of the night's big positives, even if Tipperary had three more players on their final scoresheet.

Darragh Fitzgibbon and Alan Connolly were the standouts in the scoring stakes, sharing 15 points and the Charleville player just edged out the Rockies man for the Man of the Match accolade.

Fitzgibbon is certainly leading by example in his role as the new Cork captain and his placing in the half-forward line has to be giving the management plenty of food for thought.

Will that become his permanent home on the team rather than his midfield slot, one way or the other it is looking like a win-win situation.

Both midfielders on Saturday night, Ethan Twomey and Micheál Mullins were withdrawn in the second half and the introduction of Tim O'Mahony gave a steelier edge around that sector and the Newtown man got on the scoresheet with a tasty point.

Of course, in any league campaign it is all about viewing players in different roles and how they adapt in giving the management the that options they seek.

Five of the starting six Cork forwards were on the scoresheet and Willie Buckley had another positive display in his bid to become a candidate for permanent inclusion and a haul of four points was damn good going again.

Diarmuid Healy was another serious operator in the Cork attack, a player with a fine aggressive edge to his game whose star continues on an upward trajectory.

Deccie Dalton's penalty effort in the first half didn't carry the same force as the one he converted against Waterford and it could be said that Rhys Shelley's save from his effort was the only real save of note from both keepers throughout.

The Cork management will be happy with a clean sheet and little fault could be found with the Cork defence and it must be noted that two of the half-backs, Mark Coleman and Eoin Downey, shared four points between them, a brace apiece.

The younger of the Downey brothers had a fine night's work overall and competition for places in this sector continues to intensify.

In fact, that is probably the big takeaway from the three league outings to date, competiton for places throughout the field is greater now than it has ever been.

Yes, there are nailed-on players certain to be championship starters, that number will likely be in double figures and at the end of the day the bulk of last season's team will still be in place but Ben O'Connor will ensure that any slackness from any player could have repercussions.

The debate right now might centre on who is the most viable candidate for the number three jeresy, what is the best midfield partnership and who will be the starting six up front.

HEADACHE

At this juncture in the early season proceedings, it might take the wisdom of Solomon to pencil in the 15 players who will be starting in Thurles in April against the All-Ireland champions. And that has to be the type of headache any management team wants in February, the newcomers on the block challenging those who were in possession of the jersey last season.

Kilkenny back in their day, Limerick, more recently, were looked upon as the two counties with the strongest panels.

That appears to be changing now with last Saturday night's protagonists carrying the heavier artillery that is available to their management teams. And ultimately it's panel depth that can make all the difference as the much tougher questions are posed.

From a Cork perspective right now, it's so far, so good.