Donal O'Mahony: 'Growing up in Cork you would know the test of a fella was against Kilkenny'

The Rebels selector is hoping his side will pass the exam when they take on the Cats in the Division 1 semi-final on Sunday.

TALKING TACTICS: Cork coaches Tom Kenny, left, and Donal O'Mahony prior to the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship preliminary round quarter-final match between Westmeath and Cork at TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar in Westmeath. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Bullish. Ebullient. Cork selector Donal O’Mahony is either one or both as he contemplates the team's unbeaten league form in reaching Sunday’s Division 1 semi-final.

“There were two goals we set out at the start of the league,” he opens. “One was to get an understanding of the whole squad. We achieved that. The fact that we have been winning while doing that is a bonus. We have given fellas significant game-time. We weren’t taking off fellas who were playing bad in order to give them a fair crack of the whip.