Counihan cautious as Laois pay dearly for Cork’s travel

Cork may have been disappointed when stripped of home advantage for this tie but their trip to the midlands proved a perfect tonic for a side that shed points on its two previous away jaunts.

Going by the form guide this might have been a tricky assignment: after all, Donegal had beaten Cork and Laois had bettered if not battered Donegal but the vagaries of league football are many and complex and such linear patterns rarely run true.

“There is a big difference in a week,” said Cork manager Conor Counihan. “Things went for us this week. We would have been disappointed last week in Donegal while Laois played very well in stages against Dublin. It changes every week at this time of the year. Championship is the real test and I wouldn’t take too much from either team’s performance tonight.”