Revenge can inspire win for Rebels

THE marquee show tomorrow afternoon in Croke Park may be the Division One decider, but in terms of portents for the summer the Division Two final can be equally instructive.

Cork and Monaghan share the similar ranking of lying a couple of rungs below the top of the championship ladder and league silverware would be useful in fuelling hopes that they can make that leap in standings.

Kildare may be aggrieved at being usurped in the Division Two table by arithmetic, but tomorrow’s finalists have done enough over the course of the spring to justify their places at GAA headquarters.

Cork have racked up impressive totals in front of goal throughout the campaign with Paul Kerrigan’s emergence and James Masters recovery from injury both welcome notes. Further back Ray Carey and Michael Shields have solidified the full-back line and enabled Graham Canty to figure further out the field.

Monaghan have recovered well from a stumble midway through the league series, when they were outfought by Kildare and scrambled for a draw against Meath.

Seamus McEnaney’s explicit wish for the league was to discover new reservoirs of talent and both Darren Hughes and Mark Downey have made vital contributions. The enduring class of John Paul Mone, Paul Finlay and Tommy Freeman has also been to the fore.

The most pertinent point of reference for tomorrow is the team’s clash four weeks ago in Scotstown when the ferocity of Monaghan’s challenge swept them to a seven-points success.

Cork’s squad has been strengthened since while the factors of a hostile local crowd and a tight pitch are not applicable here.

Yet judging by Conor Counihan’s reaction in the aftermath of that game, he will be seeking a great intensity to Cork’s performance here. The desire to right the wrong of Scotstown and a panel stocked with greater strength can swing this their way.

Verdict: Cork