Anthony Daly: The jury is still out on Cork but at least they’re back on the road

Cork’s Patrick Horgan and Dublin’s Eoghan O’Donnell battle for the ball in their All-Ireland SHC qualifier in Semple Stadium on Saturday night. ‘It was positive for Cork that they didn’t have to rely on Patrick Horgan to shoot the lights out but it was equally as positive to see Seamus Harnedy rekindle the class and guile that was dormant last weekend,’ says Anthony Daly. Picture: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

I know full well what life is like in the qualifiers, especially when you’re coming off the back of a poor performance and even your own crowd are baying for your blood, never mind the opposition. When you’re backed into a corner, there’s only one way out.

It nearly has to be full-scale siege mentality stuff because you’re also fully aware that the other crowd are probably in the same position, and that their only exit strategy is the same as yours. So when you emerge from the trenches and go over the top, there’s no avoiding the hail of fire coming your way; you’ve just got to meet it head on.