Gardiner: we’re ready for Premier challenge

JOHN GARDINER last night admitted that Cork are aware that people want them to fail following their winter stand-off, as they prepare for Sunday’s Munster SHC quarter-final against Tipperary.

But the Cork captain insisted that he and his teammates are enjoying the build-up to another championship campaign.

“There’s definitely an element of that out there, even in Cork. They’re only waiting to come out, if we’re beaten on Sunday. We know that too. Are we enjoying it? Yes, that’s what it is all about, we enjoy playing hurling. At the moment we are enjoying the championship week. Tipperary in Thurles, if you don’t enjoy that you can’t enjoy anything. With everything that happened in the year, with all the stuff we had to do, this is the most important part of it. It is the most enjoyable part when you get to lead your county – a great honour for myself, my club and my family.” Cork last night named their starting 15 for Sunday’s match, which includes two championship debutantes in corner-back Conor O’Sullivan from Sarsfields and Na Piarsaigh’s Aisake O hAilpín who will start at full-forward. Gardiner expressed his delight at the inclusion of his clubmate O hAilpín but insisted that Cork cannot be depending on him to lead the way.