‘We had a session on Stephen’s Day at 9.30am’

An All-Ireland final appearance next month in Croke Park is the prize on offer as Cloughduv face Dunnamaggin in tomorrow’s junior hurling club championship semi-final in Fraher Field, Dungarvan. The Cork representatives finished 2018 as kingpins of Munster. It is now seven weeks since they defeated Waterford’s Ballinameela in that decider in early December at Mallow.

Truth be told, their passage to the All-Ireland series never looked in doubt, and they will be keen to replicate that high level of performance. It also brought the curtain down on a long but ultra-productive season. A welcome break? Maybe, maybe not?