We may all be back in October

FROM the outside, Cork hurlers appear perfectly prepared for an All-Ireland final. From what we know, they are injury-free, certainly not short on motivation and not lacking in confidence.

But, nobody doubts that the prospect of depriving Kilkenny of the three-in-a-row gives management and players the biggest incentive of all.

It's easy to forget that Cork opened their campaign against Kerry, which was no test; Limerick made them fight hard and Waterford won against the odds in the Munster final after having John Mullane sent off. Their form has been on an upward curve since they came out for the second half of the qualifier game with Tipperary in Killarney. It earned them an impressive win, boosted by the goals from Niall and Timmy McCarthy in a rare display of half-forward power. That day they turned the corner, demonstrated that they were going to be serious contenders.