Cork in 1B pole position as Limerick and Wexford hope for slip-up

By Peter O'Dwyer

The situation entering the final week of Division 1B is very straightforward with quarter final spots already decided leaving just the promotion battle to be settled.

Limerick could only manage a draw against Brian Whelehan’s Offaly in Tullamore last week which means Cork are back in pole position in the promotion race, needing to beat Wexford to claim top spot.

Regardless of what Limerick do against Laois, if Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s side come out on top at Páirc Uí Rinn they will ply their trade in Division 1A again next year.

The Leesiders were lucky to overcome Antrim in Ballycastle last week with JBM admitting as much after the game.

“We maybe didn’t deserve to win, we were very, very lucky. Antrim put it up to us and they will be very disappointed they didn’t get something out of that game,” he said.

As it turned out, they clung on for the win and saw Limerick slip-up in Offaly.

Cork have failed to impress in the league this season though and look a million miles from the side that were a minute from being All-Ireland champions last September, even allowing for much changed sides that have taken to the field.

The opening period of the drawn game with Limerick in the first round aside, Cork have failed to impose themselves on the weaker counties they’ve faced and with Wexford still in the hunt for promotion, albeit as rank outsiders, Sunday’s result is far from a foregone conclusion.

Liam Dunne’s charges have already enjoyed a relatively successful campaign, are guaranteed a Division 1 quarter-final spot and can still claim promotion if they turn Cork over and Limerick either lose or draw in Portlaoise.

Dunne has made two changes to the side that beat Laois last weekend with Jack Guiney and Conor McDonald returning to strengthen the attacking line.

Jimmy Barry-Murphy welcomes Aidan Walsh back into his starting line-up after being on football duty last week and also includes Anthony Nash between the sticks, Shane O’ Neill and Stephen Moylan.

Moylan replaces Brian Harnett at corner-forward while Walsh’s return at wing-forward will see Daniel Kearney start in mid-field and Lorcán McLoughlin dropping back to the half-back line.

At the same time in Portlaoise there will be only one side with anything other than pride to play for.

Laois can neither be relegated or promoted but already have a quarter-final berth secured, while TJ Reid’s side need to win and hope Cork fail to beat Wexford to be promoted.

The Shannonsiders will be kicking themselves having seen their advantage in the division slip away last week. Given the relatively strong teams that have been fielded throughout the league, promotion was a necessity – especially after getting out of a tough away trip to Páirc Uí Rinn with a draw in the opening round.

Declan Hannon, Seamus Hickey and David Breen are all expected to miss out again as they look to make amends.

The final game in Division 1B sees Offaly take on Antrim in Tullamore with no more than pride and perhaps an opportunity to do some homework on the opposition at stake.

Both are already condemned to the fate of a relegation play-off and as such will play each other again in a meaningful contest a week later.

They loser of the game on March 30 will then face either Kerry or Carlow from Division 2A to determine who plays in 1B next year.

Cork v Wexford:

Cork: Anthony Nash; Shane O’Neill, Stephen McDonnell, Kilian Murphy; Lorcán McLoughlin,

Christopher Joyce, Stephen White; Daniel Kearney, Patrick Cronin; Brian Lawton, Seamus Harnedy,

Aidan Walsh; Patrick Horgan, Conor Lehane, Stephen Moylan.

Wexford: Mark Fanning; Keith Rossiter, Matthew O’ Hanlon, Bobby Kenny; Liam Ryan, Lee Chin, Ciaran Kenny; Diarmuid O’ Keefe, Harry Kehoe; Shane Tomkins, Conor McDonald, Ian Byrne; Rory Jacob, Jack Guiney, Liam Og McGovern