The Echo Sport Podcast: Footballers step up when it matters, hurlers gear up for Limerick... again

The pressure was on Cork to secure promotion to Division 1 for the first time since 2016 and they rose to the challenge in Omagh.

A great start meant they were up by a point having played into the strong breeze and, after a nervy spell midway through the second half they kicked on, helped by the introduction of Brian Hurley.

Hurley, Ruairí Deane, Ian Maguire and Brian O'Driscoll were in action when the Rebels last competed at the top grade and have stayed the course. Going up is a massive boost before the Munster championship and a great achievement by John Cleary and his management team, who were heavily questioned in recent seasons.

PLATFORM

Can they now beat Meath in Croke Park to add a bit of silverware? Hopefully but it doesn't matter, because the hard work has been done in coming out of a very competitive division and gives Cork football a platform next season and beyond.

The Cork ladies football are also into a league final. With a game to spare to boot.

On the hurling front, we wondered if Cork would experiment at the weekend given Offaly were already relegated. Instead, they picked a championship-level line-up and smashed the visitors for six goals. 

Barry Walsh, despite the U20 game coming up away to Tipp this week, was given a half and raised a green flag while the return of Padraig Power from injury to rifle two points was a boost. 

Ciarán Joyce was redeployed at full-back as we predicted but hardly tested. Eoin Downey continues to look the part at wing-back though and Mark Coleman was full of energy on the other flank.

There wasn't a lot learned from a facile victory but the crowd of nearly 20,000 is a testament to the incredible backing the hurlers have. They'll pack out TUS Gaelic Grounds for the league final in what will be a belter with a Limerick side who looked terrific at times against Galway but also could have been caught late on.

There's also a round-up of the latest league action with Charleville grabbing their second victory in a row as they look to build on an impressive championship in 2025.

Now in its fourth season, every week Éamonn Murphy is joined by The Echo team, including Barry O’Mahony, Denis Hurley, Rory Noonan, Jack McKay, John Horgan and more to discuss all the latest Cork GAA news on and off the field.