Cork firmly focused on Tipperary clash

Cork travel to Tipperary on Sunday in confident form after their win over Galway in Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie championship.

The game throws-in at 3.30pm on Sunday at FBD Semple Stadium, and the Rebels will be looking for a bit of revenge over the home side.

Tipp knocked Cork out of the Munster championship several weeks ago at Semple Stadium and were deserving winners on the day.

Cork’s win over Galway last Saturday was a bit like the expression – one swallow doesn’t make a summer.

The same can be said for the Rebels – one win won’t make their summer.

But it was a much-needed win for Cork and a confidence boost to Ger Manley’s side.

Some outside of Cork would have put the Rebels down the pecking order in terms of winning the All-Ireland so it was a timely reminder that they are not gone away.

They won’t be getting carried away with the win and know another tough challenge lies ahead on Sunday.

Tipperary are the Munster champions and are one of the sides fancied by many to be in contention to lift the O’Duffy Cup.

They started their All-Ireland campaign last weekend with a loss to Waterford, another side on the up.

Tipp won’t be happy with that and will be determined to bounce back against Cork as they hope to secure a semi-final spot.

Of the four teams in this group two will automatically go to the semi-finals and the other two to quarterfinals, where they will take on the top two in the other group, which most likely will be Kilkenny and Clare.

A win for Cork will put them on six points and that should be enough to secure a semi-final place. It won’t be guaranteed but if Waterford manage to beat Galway the same day, then it would secure Cork and the Deise’s semi places.

Both would be on six points and with Tipp and Galway on zero they couldn’t be caught ahead of the final group games.

So there is a lot to play for at the weekend for all four sides, but all Cork can do is worry about themselves and try build on their win over Galway.

There were many impressive parts to that win, but none more so than their work rate.

It was obvious to all watching they had done a lot of work in this area over the last six weeks.

That coupled with the move of Meabh Murphy to centre-back and Laura Hayes to midfield were key parts of their win.

Speaking after the Galway game, captain on the day Libb Coppinger, said: “The league wasn't exactly what we wanted from it but I think looking back we probably learned a lot and we've improved a lot since then.

“We had a six-week block there together and everyone just worked extremely hard and we're delighted to come out with a result today.

“Everyone on that field gave it all and left it all out there and I think that's really all we were talking about the last couple of weeks is just working hard and when you work hard, the rest follows itself.

“It's a win today, but that's all it is. Nothing is achieved yet, so we play Tipp next Sunday and that's going to be a massive battle.

“We're focused on them now because that's the next job at hand.”