Collins says relegated Rebels will rebound

Cork footballer Mark Collins is adamant that relegation to Division 3 will not affect Cork’s championship endeavours. Despite securing a narrow win away to Armagh on Sunday, Clare’s victory over Tipperary meant Cork suffered their second league relegation in four seasons and will ply their trade in the third tier next spring. Cork open their Munster championship campaign at home to either Tipperary or Limerick on June 1, and Collins is confident the drop to Division 3 will not negatively impact on their summer.

“The league isn’t going to affect how we perform in the championship,” Collins stressed at last night’s county championship launch. “We have to look ahead. It is very disappointing to go down to Division 3. It has never been done with Cork before. But we have to park it, we have to look forward to championship. June 1 is our target now.”