Cork quality should shine through

Offaly came to Cork last year as no-hopers against a team that had hammered Laois the week before (10-20 to 1-13) and were desperately unlucky to be beaten by a point, albeit against a side that played most of the game with 14 men after Pa Cronin was red-carded.

The Midlanders cursed their luck in front of the posts and also came up against an inspired Donal Óg Cusack in goal.

Offaly return to Cork this evening and, again, supposedly as no-hopers. But this is an Offaly team brimful of talent, loads of experience and with something to prove, up against a precocious Cork side still on a steep learning curve. Anything could happen here.