Cork's presence in Sunday's Allianz National Hurling League semi-finals has taken a few people by surprise for a few reasons. After a somewhat unceremonious start they've helped set up an enticing league climax, along with the presence of Wexford and Waterford.
While Kilkenny close in on a fifth title in six years, it's been a while since Cork won (1998) and a lot longer for Wexford (1973) and Waterford (1963). Cork, however, have been largely indifferent towards the league in recent years, and on top of that there's the All-Ireland defeat hangover and recent rumours of player unrest.
Last week saw the withdrawal of Wayne Sherlock, Mickey O'Connell and Killian Cronin, all citing personal reasons, and depending on who you believe, there have been further stand-offs between players and management, along with some heated player meetings.
Such talk of unrest has been dismissed by defender Diarmuid O'Sullivan, but he did admit Cork's progress to meet Waterford in Sunday's double-bill in Thurles is a little unexpected. "Well I can't answer for Wayne Sherlock," he said, "obviously he has his own reasons. "But we're in a National League semi-final, with another national medal on offer in the next game, so you can take what you want from that.
"I suppose there's always that kind of eye on us, but then there's always going to be a settling in period with a new manager. We all knew that.
"Coming after Donal O'Grady and John Allen, Gerald McCarthy always wanted to bring in his own ways, which is natural. But when a new management comes in they always try to impress straight away. And in Cork you always have the pressure to succeed. I don't know whether you'd saw we're here by default or not, with some results the last day, but our aim was always to make the latter stages of the competition."
O'Sullivan has been restored to his usual full back position, having been tried out at full forward in the earlier stages of the league, although it will be later in the week before McCarthy finalises his team for Sunday. Jerry O'Connor is in contention to start, while twin brother Ben is still a few weeks off full fitness.
Kilkenny will also wait until later in the week before finalising their team to play Wexford, with Eoin McCormack doubtful with a finger injury and Jackie Tyrrell and PJ Ryan out sick this week. James "Cha" Fitzpatrick will make his return from club duty with Ballyhale, with club-mates Michael Fennelly and brothers Eoin and TJ Reid also in the reckoning.
Wexford will have midfielder Kevin Kavanagh available as his jaw injury sustained in Sunday's win over Galway is not as serious as feared, although centre forward Michael Doyle will be sidelined for several more weeks with suspected cruciate knee ligament damage.
In football news, Kerry manager Pat O'Shea has lost another of the county's most experienced players with the retirement yesterday of three-time All-Ireland winner Eamon Fitzmaurice - which follows last year's loss of Séamus Moynihan and Mike McCarthy.
The 29-year-old Fitzmaurice, best known as a centre back or centre forward, announced his decision to quit the county panel without any ill-feeling, instead blaming it on his own failure to nail down a starting place.
"I set myself a target that by the end of the league, I would be in a position to nail down the centre back spot. That didn't happen for different reasons . . . When I decided to come back I wanted to get back in the team and help Kerry anyway I could.
"But the fairytales don't work out for everyone. Séamus Moynihan came back last year and won a league, an All-Ireland and an All Star but it didn't work out for me and that is the way it goes. I have no regrets."
The Finuge club man won All-Ireland medals in 2000, '04 and '06 since making his championship debut in 1998. He also won two National Leagues, two All-Ireland under-21s and an All-Ireland minor medal.
Finally, Croke Park will host the interprovincial football final for the first time since 1991 after the GAA's Competitions Control Committee decided to fix the hurling and football finals for GAA headquarters next October under floodlights.
The stadium will stage a double-header of finals on Saturday, October 20th, with the semi-finals taking placed the previous Saturday at provincial venues. The semi-final draws are: football - Connacht v Leinster; Munster v Ulster; hurling: Munster v Leinster; Connacht v Ulster.
