Ronan McCarthy: Reaching Super 8s vital to Rebels

Cork football manager Ronan McCarthy has said it is “vital” for the development of his team that they progress to the Super 8s. Cork were yesterday morning drawn against Laois in round four of the qualifiers, a hurdle no Cork team has managed to successfully negotiate since 2014.

Victory at Thurles this Saturday would guarantee McCarthy’s charges a Croke Park outing against reigning All-Ireland champions Dublin the weekend following and, in the process, bridge a three-year gap to the last time the county played a football championship game at GAA HQ. Cork’s second Super 8s fixture, should they buck the trend of four consecutive round-four qualifier defeats over the past four years, would also be played at Croke Park.