Rebels to fall at penultimate hurdle

EVEN searching for pictorial reference points has been futile. Seldom can such powerhouses of the game have so little recent history. That makes the questions harder and the available evidence less reliable.

Is Conor Counihan’s Cork ready to rumble with opposition which believes it has a clear psychological edge for tomorrow’s All-Ireland football semi-final at Croke Park. We will learn much about the Aghada man as an inter-county coach tomorrow. 2009 is his first full season in charge and Tyrone is his biggest challenge. In fact, everyone’s biggest challenge.

Too much store is being placed in Cork’s loud statement against a Kerry side we now know was well off the pace last June. There was nothing in the quarter-final against Donegal to advance or dilute Cork’s claims; in many respects, we are looking at Cork against Limerick for the most reliable reference point for the Munster champions heading into their own UFC (ultimate football challenge).