Rebels to pass tougher test

There is a danger in trying to analyse tomorrow’s league semi-final between Cork and Down of not seeing the difference between empirical fact and subjective assessment.

The empirical fact when it comes to Cork-Down clashes of recent times is that Cork win by ever increasing margins. One point in September 2010 became 11 when the sides met in the league six months later and increased to 12 by July of last year. So when Cork spanked them by 13 in Páirc Uí Chaoimh just nine weeks ago, Down people had good cause to believe this would inform the narrative for the foreseeable future. A subjective assessment of this year’s league campaign to date tells another story.

Down take to the field in Croke Park tomorrow without two of their better players of recent years, Danny Hughes and Dan Gordon. They have been up and down ever since their one-point win over Donegal at the start of the campaign and only their away win in Castlebar and defeat of Dublin in Newry gave the impression of a team with some sense of purpose.