Rebels could catch fire

THE old chess proverb comes to mind when writing about Cork and Galway today — a player surprised is half beaten.

It’s such a pity from a Galway viewpoint that they are taking on Cork after having announced their credentials with a battling win over Armagh last weekend. The element of surprise is gone, Galway are firmly on the radar and Cork are prepared.

Even so, Galway have a lot more going for them this time than other ventures through the qualifiers. It took them nine years to record a win in the qualifiers and after seven defeats on the trot, the last four by a single point, the summer of 2013 represents a redemption of sorts.