Cork likely to be well tested by Offaly

TEN years ago Cork and Offaly served up one of the games of the decade, a sensational All-Ireland semi-final played in teeming rain in Croke Park.

The initiative lurched one way and the other before the Leesiders beat the Leinster men to the finishing tape and secured a place in the big show that September.

Offaly were reigning All-Ireland champions in 1999 and had the bones of their great minor teams of the 80s. Cork were just then enjoying the fruits of a fine minor side themselves which had won the 1995 All-Ireland.

Expectations are a little lower this time. Offaly’s underage crops haven’t yielded as much for some time, while Cork have not reached a provincial final in the last three years.

This game has some of the necessary ingredients for a cult classic, however. There’s been a low-key build-up and it’s not being televised. That guarantees a cracker.

Cork come in trailing more form, having had a genuine chance of beating Tipperary in their Munster semi-final even if they appeared over-reliant on Ben O’Connor for scores.

They have made some interesting changes — Shane Murphy won’t weaken their full-back line, while it would be surprising not to see the usual personnel operating in the middle third. On the other hand, you can’t help but feel that the Wexford game in the championship was Offaly’s target game for progress. They disappointed in that match, and Denis Walsh will hardly have failed to notice the damage wrought by Stephen Banville, Wexford’s big full-forward: Aisake Ó hAilpín can expect plenty of ball.

Offaly boss Joe Dooley is further hampered by injury worries — David Franks and Rory Hanniffy should start, but Ger Oakley is a doubt and Dooley won’t want to face Cork without the strong defender, who’s also captain.

All things considered, a win for Cork, but it’s likely to be more of a test than Leeside fans expect.

* Verdict: Cork