Cork v Offaly: Rebels near to clean bill of health for deciding game

Cork manager Ben O’Connor expects to have close to a full squad to choose from for tomorrow night’s last regular-season Allianz HL Division 1A game against Offaly at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7pm).

A win or a draw for the Rebels will secure a place in the league final – a defeat would even suffice if Limerick were to beat Galway in what is effectively a play-off for a place in the decider.

With Cork coming off the back of a training camp in Portugal, Diarmuid Healy’s quad injury is the only major worry, with Robert Downey (shoulder) and Mark Coleman (hamstring) set to be back in contention as O’Connor and his selectors name their squad tonight.

“Duds [Healy] is still the most serious fella,” he says.

“Brian Roche was out for a short while but we would expect that he’ll be back as he’s not too far off now, either.

“Ethan Twomey was meant to start against Limerick but he picked up a knock in training beforehand and missed out – he should be back in action either this weekend or early next week.

“Otherwise, we’re okay – any other injuries that we had have cleared up. should be right. Touch wood, that’s the way it’ll stay now.”

While the visitors, with five defeats from five to date, are already relegated, Cork will not be taking anything for granted. That competition for places is so strong means that O’Connor has faith in whatever 15 will start.

“Exactly, that's what it is,” he says.

“We're going to put out a strong team this weekend and, as with all the other games, we're going out to win.

“If we win, the carrot at the end of is a league final and that's the second-biggest competition in the game nationally, so we'll be looking to drive on for that.

“If we win at the weekend, any other permutations make no difference to us then.

“There's other outcomes where we could still lose out, but if we win at the weekend, all of that is knocked on the head.

“That’s our objective, we’re going out to win at the weekend.”

Cork’s last six home league games have drawn crowds in excess of 20,000, with more than 30,000 at the most recent one, the home clash against All-Ireland champions Tipperary last month. Tickets for tomorrow’s game are priced at €20 or €15 for students and OAPs while juveniles are €5.