Cork v Offaly: Details confirmed for All-Ireland SHC quarter-final
Cork manager Ben O'Connor near the end of Sunday's Munster SHC final against Limerick at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Cork's All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Offaly has been set for Sunday week, June 21, at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles with a 3.30pm throw-in.
Having lost Sunday's Munster SHC final to Limerick, the Rebels' next task is to take on the Faithful County, who finished in third place in the Leinster round-robin. Dublin, beaten by Galway in Saturday's Leinster final, will take on Clare, who came third in Munster - that game is also set for Thurles but on Saturday, June 20 at 7pm.
Speaking after Sunday's loss to Limerick, Cork manager Ben O'Connor felt that plans could have already been in place, given that there were only two possible permutations for that side of the draw.
“We set out our stall at the start of the year to win the league, we didn't,” O’Connor said.
“We set out our stall after that to win the Munster championship, we didn't; now we're starting a new competition.
“We've Offaly in two weeks’ time. Our video lads will be on tomorrow doing the analysis on them.
“’Tis great the GAA couldn't tell us where the fixture is on in two weeks’ time. They knew for the last couple of weeks it was either going to be Cork or Limerick. We'd have liked to have known that as well a bit earlier. But we'll drive on after that.
“Anywhere they want to play it in the country, we'll be ready."
Cork captain Darragh Fitzgibbon missed Sunday’s game, and the win over Clare prior to that, as he recovered from appendicitis. He was named as one of Cork’s four stand-by players for the final, generating some discourse as to whether he would be a late addition to the matchday panel, but there was little chance of that happening.
With Declan Dalton having been on the 26 against Clare but ruled out due to a calf strain, Brian Roche stepped up to the squad.
“Darragh will be another couple of weeks,” O’Connor said.
“We wouldn't risk anyone. He was on that [standby list], Deccie picked up an injury last week, so he was out of it [the panel] this week because of that. It's the only reason.”
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